Muscovy Duck Pricing Information
Large Drakes - fully mature breeding adult $25 each
Large Hens - fully mature breeding adult $18 each
Medium Drakes and Hens - ready for market > 12 weeks $15 each
Ducklings from 5 to 12 weeks $9 each
Ducklings from birth to 4 weeks $7 each
Please contact us via email for current prices and
availability
Our Muscovy Ducks are Free Range and are part of
our miniature ecosystem that includes the other animals here at
Glass House Farms. They are fed no antibiotics or hormones. All of our Muscovy Ducks are hatched and raised by
their mothers not hatched in incubators or artificially housed
indoors.
Prices may vary with market conditions ~ Quantity discounts are available ~ Glass House Farms: July 11, 2009
Muscovy Duck Description
The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck which is
native to Mexico, Central and South America. A small wild
population reaches into the US in the lower Rio Grande River
basin in Texas. There also are feral breeding populations in
North America in and around public parks in nearly every state
of the USA and in the Canadian provinces; feral populations also
exist in Europe. Although the Muscovy Duck is a tropical bird,
it adapts to icy and snowy conditions down to –12°C (10°F) and
below without ill effects.
All Muscovy Ducks have long claws on their feet and a wide flat tail. The drake (male) is about 86 cm long and weighs 4.6-6.8 kg (10-15 lb), while the hen (female) is much smaller, at 64 cm in length and 2.7-3.6 kg (6-8 lb) in weight; domesticated males often weigh up to 8 kg (17 lb), and domesticated females up to 5 kg (10 lb).
The wild Muscovy Duck is blackish, with large white wing patches. Domesticated birds may look similar; most are dark brown or black mixed with white, particularly on the head. Other colors such as lavender or all-white are also seen. Both sexes have a nude black-and-red or all-red face; the drake also has pronounced caruncles at the base of the bill and a low erectile crest of feathers.
The term "Muscovy" means "from the Moscow region", but these ducks are neither native there nor were they introduced there before they became known in Western Europe. It is not quite clear how the term came about; it very likely originated between 1550 and 1600, but did not become widespread until somewhat later.
The species was first scientifically described by Carl
Linnaeus in his 1758 edition of Systema Naturae as Anas moschata,
literally meaning "musk duck". His description only consist of a
curt but entirely unequivocal [Anas] facie nuda papillosa ("A
duck with a naked and carunculated face"), and his primary
reference is his earlier work Fauna Svecica.
This non-migratory species normally inhabits forested swamps,
lakes, streams and nearby grassland, and often roosts in trees
at night. The Muscovy Duck's diet consists of plant material
obtained by grazing or dabbling in shallow water, with some
small vertebrates and insects. Ducks generally feed on larvae
and pupae usually found under rocks, aquatic animals, plant
material, seeds, small fish, snails and crabs.
This breed is popular because it has stronger-tasting meat,
like roast beef. The carcass of a Muscovy Duck is also much
heavier than that of most other domesticated ducks, which make
it ideal for the dinner table.
