Musk duck

The musk duck is an also known species of Canard under the name of musky duck which indicates more especially its wild form.

Distribution

The musk duck is originating in the Mexico, the Central America and the South America; it is present in Guyana. A small population reached the Texas; one also finds it in Florida with the state semi-savage, where he lives close to the dwellings. It is easy with to domesticate, and, although it is a bird Tropical, he adapts to difficult living conditions, being able even to tolerate temperatures going until in lower part of 10° F.

Description

Contrary to musk duck domesticates whose plumage is clear, the musk duck in a wild state is primarily black, with white spots on the wings - nevertheless, the youthful ones are deprived by it. Like all ducks, it has three fingers connected by a skin forming a palm enabling him to swim easily. Its fourth finger, opposed to the webbed part of the leg, is so small that it is not to him great utility. The male is 86 cm long on average and weighs between 2,1 and 3,2 kg. Its dark plumage is coloured beautiful green or pink irisations, on the back and the chest. The female is a little smaller, with an oscillating weight between 970 G and 1,3 kg; its plumage, duller, is deprived of irisation. The musk duck easily recognizes itself with the red skin that it relates to the head, of the base of the nozzle to the neck, in particular in the male. Moreover, this one carries on the nozzle an extension of skin, contrary to the female. When it is in anger or that it feels threatened, the musk duck roughcasts a peak of feather in top of the head.

Cry

The male does not make traditional the corner corner but a kind of ha ha , dryness and deaf person. The duck emits a very light Co .

Crossing

The musk duck is different from European duck, but it can cross with him, giving the mulard , a duck Génétique lies sterile.

Reproduction

The duck lays from 8 to 16 egg S, in a hole of tree preferably. Domesticated, she will prefer to brood in a a little dark box. Often, it lays more eggs than it will not be able to brood, until a score, but only 16 among of them approximately will be really brooded.

The duration of incubation of the egg S is 35 days. During the incubation, the female leaves its nest approximately only 30 minutes per day, time necessary to provide for its vital needs like nourishing themselves, drinking and déféquer. The ducklings can put up to 12 midnight to break their shell. They always follow their mother - particularly the night - because this one lavishes the body heat to them which they do not manage yet to maintain all alone. The father does not take part in the breeding of chicks although it was noticed, in the moderated areas, that certain males could take share with the night warming of chicks.

Behavior

The domestic musk duck is able to fly. It can spend the night perched if it of to the possibility. The duck niche in sheltered corners, sometimes in height (boxes, hollow shafts, open attics).

The males of this species can sometimes be aggressive to defend their food, their territory or their female; the blows of nozzle are painful but without consequence. The female, as for it, does not hesitate to attack other ducks to defend its eggs or its Caneton S. the musk ducks like to be surrounded by congeneric with which they can communicate various ways: the male can inform another that he is not welcome by emitting a kind of deaf and jerked whistle, he can also frighten the intruder by carrying out a kind of dance or he advances by lowering and raising the head while emitting deaf cries. The unfavourable duck can answer by adopting the same attitude. The musk duck is especially active the morning and the evening, moment of the day when heat is burning in the tropical areas from where it is originating. The afternoon is devoted at rest, in the shade. The musk duck always lives close to water. It attentively maintains its plumage by many groomings during the day.

Food

Use by the man

the heart and the liver of musk duck are used in the manufacture of the homeopathic drug Oscillococcinum.

This duck and its mongrel, the Mulard, are the races most suited to the Gavage to obtain Foie gras. IGP duck of south-west , accepts only these races.

Breeding

The musk duck is very easy to keep in captivity: it requires little care. However, during the blossoming of eggs, it is preferable to separate the male from the ducklings because this one can wound them or even to kill them.

The musk duck to faculty to store reserves of grease, in particular in its liver (faculty which it transmits to the mulard). This characteristic is made profitable to produce Foie gras.

See too

List of the duck races

Reference

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