Hi there, I saw this duck at the park by my house and I noticed that his beak looks strange. I'm worried that something is wrong with him but I really don't know much about ducks. Thanks for any suggestions!
Is something wrong with this duck?
Another picture
Last one
I've never seen one like that but in your third photo I notice that it has some black feathers so maybe this is natural for this breed. If it's eating and looks healthy otherwise I would say it doesn't have a problem.
MollyD
Hmm interesting. Certainly doesn't look like the beak on our duck or any duck I've ever seen.
Almost looks like it's wearing lipstick :)
Sure is a beautiful duck.
It was pretty... and it looks healthy so I guess it can eat ok, even though it looks like it can't shut it's mouth all the way. People come down there to feed the ducks all the time so hopefully it will be ok
rntx22 if you look in your second picture the mouth is shut all the way. It's just that black pattern that makes it look like it's open.
MollyD
What makes me a bit uncomfortable about that duck is that its out in a wild place (even if its a public park) but is the color of a domesticated. It resembles the Pekin but slimmer. If it flies ... then its a crossbreed ... probably Mallard and Pekin. There's a lot of crossbreeding happening with domestic birds being dumped at public parks. I've seen Swedish Blue ducks in the parks settings. They 'll cross with the Mallards ... to get totally black flying ducks. This backward breeding doesn't have too many negatives because the further out from the parks ... the domestic traits dilute and only the truly wild survive and the purebred Mallards are the only ones who'll cross with the domestic breeds of ducks but the it does make for a visits to the park ponds a bit less enjoyable for me personally. I appreciate the various wild breeds. Seeing the wild/domestic mixes makes me a bit uncomfortable.
I have no background with Muscovy ducks ... I do not even know if they'll cross breed. 95%+ of all duck breeds come from Mallards that were domesticated in various regions of the world.
Kelly in Moxee
It's too bad people don't try to find proper homes for pets they can no longer care for. Even if someone can't place the animal most shelters will take poultry at least around here.
Yes, Muscovies will cross.
Well.... the original duck in the post is still fine. I think you were right about the mouth just looking like an optical illusion because of the colors.
Now I have a new problem. We have many muscovies (domesticated) that inhabit the grounds around my condo (it's next to a lake). It's that time of year - babies everywhere. I got home from work this evening and sitting in the area under my condo where I park was a mother duck with a dozen brand new teeny yellow ducklings. Very cute, and not unusual for this time of year. They usually scurry away when I pull up.
Well, when this momma tried to get up I could see she was severely injured and could barely drag herself a few feet. I can't tell if it's a her leg or back, but I noticed her vent area looked bloody. However, it seems most like she is favoring one leg, so I think maybe she was hit by a car or something.
Anyhow, she was struggling so hard to try and move out of my way that I just backed up and parked somewhere else. I tried to bring some seeds down to her and her babies, but other ducks saw me and they came running. It is so sad because she is defenseless. She sat there a few minutes hissing at the other ducks while they pecked at her and her babies. Then she (painfully) hobbled off slowly. I feel like I just made things worse by making her move.
I know nature will take it's course, allowing the "survival of the fittest" and unfortunately this means she and all her babies will probably die. I am torn between intervention or letting nature take its course. There is a serious over-population of these ducks at my condo and in the fall the complex management has someone (the city??) come capture several ducks and take them..... away. (They use our HOA dues to do it. I hate to think of what they do to them. They are probably euthanized, but I like to think they are being taken to a nature preserve).
So - do I just let them die (whether from starvation/dehydration, or the many stray cats, hawks, and large snakes around) or wait a few months for the possibility of the duck catcher coming to take them away???? It's no good either way, and I can't stand the thought of that momma and each of her babies suffering under my condo. This sucks.
I would call either animal control or an animal rescue organization. If you report it, you will know you tried. I would go for animal rescue/wildlife rehabilitation first.
i know there is a site just for rehoming muscovies who need rescuing. so many people would dearly love to have them!
hope you can google and find it, and animal control or zoonosis may help too...
meanwhile, they are so docile, with a fishing net i bet you could catch those babies before they are killed. feed them seeds and grass...
perhaps, also [i am still brainstorming TRYING to help], post on Dave's in the Texas forum, or the farm life or pet forum, or just search and see who here is near you that could adopt them...
tf
Well, it's been 2 days and I have not seen the momma or any babies around.... will let ya'll know if I see them again