Muscovy Boys
On Saturday at 12noon we picked up the two muscovy drakes who were dumped at Lake Geneva in Federal Way, WA. Two neighbors around that lake had cared for them as best they could, even buying them the right kind of food. One even gave us a generous donation for their care (thank you, Misty!)
The two boys settled right in and had some food and water.
Here they are eating and drinking before we drove them to the vet.
The healthier boy is very, very attached to his brother who has the injured leg, and he watched over him while the veterinarian did the exam.
The one with the darker head is the one with the injured leg. It doesn’t look like he was attacked, but rather, he has septic arthritis in his leg from a foot wound that probably started from being kept on concrete or other poor surfaces. Duck feet are very sensitive and prone to pressure sores, and these two both have sores on their feet. The septic arthritis means the foot infection spread to the joints and now it is serious. He also has a bit of angel wing, where the bone turns out a bit from the weight of the feathers, but the vet couldn’t find any bite wounds or bruising injuries.
You can see how much the white-headed boy adores his brother. We heard that the dark-headed duck was staying under a boat for protection, and the light-headed brother never left his side. We’re not sure how long they were at the lake before we were able to rescue them, but a third muscovy that was dumped with them was killed by a predator (likely) and these two would not have lasted much longer.
Both of these goobers have slight respiratory infections and parasites as well. Round worm and coccidia I think. So they both have antibiotics and two different anti-parasitic medications, as well as pain medication for the boy with the bum leg.
It is really beyond me how anyone could dump these ducks like trash at a lake and think they could survive on their own. Domestic ducks cannot survive in the wild, and dumping them causes terrible suffering. It is animal cruelty, plain and simple. And these boys are only between 5-6 months old… just little boys. People tend to dump male ducks because they don’t lay eggs and too many males fight with each other and can hurt hens. Dumping is illegal and as I mentioned, cruel.
Thankfully the nice people who were caring for these guys kept calling around until they found a nut like me to come and pick them up. I think they will stay here with us until the dark-headed duck’s bum leg infection is cleared up, and then they’ll go to the same sanctuary that is taking in George. Hopefully we can move them outside once George is gone, and then maybe when they finally leave, it’ll be warm-enough for Lester Leroy and Flapper to move outside.
As you can see, I am already dreaming of the day I don’t have waterfowl inside my house. 
Until that day, these kids are more than welcome to rest and rehabilitate along with the entire motley crew. We are accepting donations for their care, and you can learn more by visiting our rescue fund page, here.
Stay tuned.
12 Comments
The way they love each other is so touching. Animals are so dear and sensitive.
Hooray for Tiff! Hooray for Misty!
You know I’ve already got two drakes and (good for me) you live too far away or else I’d take them. I just love scovie guys, they are the sweetest (as you know), and it’s visible in these videos.
You’ll have fun with them while they stay, they aren’t mature enough to fight (but Malley is;-) I hope the injured leg will heal as good as possible, good thing you’ve already got a place for them.
They look very sweet.
I won’t even start to say what I think of people who dump ducks……
Tiff you are a wonderful human.
I have a question how do you prevent the new boys from spreading parasites to the others until the antibiotics kick in or is it once they are on antibiotics, it takes care of itself very quickly?
The other thing are all muscovies considered domesticated? I ask because I lived in Florida for quite a while and would see muscovies all over the place and no one ever said anything about them being domesticated and now I just wonder if I was just unaware that they were in a horrible situation
Jenny – they must stay separate from everyone else until the parasites are gone, which can be confirmed with a follow-up fecal test. At least two weeks. Other than that I just have to be careful not to track feces around on my shoes and keep their area clean.
Scovies in Florida are a feral, invasive species that acts essentially wild. They all started as dumped domestic ducks, but they do well in warm climates. Because they are invasive, many Fish & Wildlife departments and even private companies kill them by the thousands.
that is so sad. Do you think people in Florida should try to help individual muscovies if they are not injured. I ask because you never can tell I might go back to Fl. one day
There is a Muscovy duck rescue in Florida called Duck Haven. If muscovies aren’t injured they don’t need help and are best left alone. The Florida ones are not dumped pets like these two, but wild feral ducks. They are fine in the wild.
Oh, those are beautiful muscovies. Like Mr. Moor, it’s probably good I’m far away too as I find those two very hard to resist. I’m so glad you know a spot they can go for a good life as male muscovies are often hard to place. Please tell us about the capture. Did they walk right up and let you pick each up? How wonderful people did care about them and found you (and that you are a duck nut). What a lot of work you have taken on but I think we can see they are happy and grateful for it.
Yes, Marlys. I walked up to the neighbor who was feeding the healthier one and just picked him up. Actually I was going to feed him a snack first but she said “are you afraid? Just pick him up. He won’t mind.” The injured one was near the lake under a boat so I made sure to get between him and the water. But it didn’t matter because he also just let me pick him up. He is pretty sick. I hope he can recover. His leg joint is seriously infected – looks worse than Lester’s leg on x-ray, though Lester probably sat longer on the ground, injured.
The boys are so cute and sweet! Tiffany, you are so awesome!
Pringles says you might as well stop dreaming. If your house ever becomes devoid of waterfowl i will pack my bags and come for a vacation.
I’m dreaming of the day when I don’t have satanic conures in my apartment, but that may not be for another 20 years. Maybe they can chill with Pringles at your place for a while.
Crossing my fingers that the leg heals up.