The Muscovy isn't technically a duck - it's a perching New World species. Red caruncles on the face, nearly silent, strong fliers if not wing-clipped, exceptional pest control, lean dark meat. The 'guard goose of ducks'. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Muscovy Duck as started birds, adult birds, and breeder pairs and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | Central and South America - domesticated 1000+ years ago |
|---|---|
| APA recognized | 1874 |
| Conservation status | Common |
| Also called | Cairina moschata, Muscovies |
| Adult weight | Drakes 10-15 lb, Hens 5-7 lb |
| Size class | Heavy |
| Eggs per year | ~100 |
| Egg color | Cream |
| Egg size | Large |
| Broodiness | High |
| Cold hardiness | Good |
| Heat tolerance | Excellent |
| Noise level | Very quiet (hiss, no quack) |
| Flight tendency | Strong flier - wing-clip required for confinement |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
Indigenous to Mexico, Central America, and South America. Domesticated by Aztec and other Mesoamerican civilizations 1000+ years before European contact. Brought to Europe by Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s. The name 'Muscovy' is misleading - has nothing to do with Moscow; likely derived from 'Muisca' (a Colombian indigenous people) or 'musk' (the breed's slight scent). APA-recognized 1874. The only domesticated duck NOT descended from the wild Mallard.
Best for: pest control, quiet meat duck, mosquito control, foraging
Lay in clutches of 8-15 with a 35-day incubation (vs 28 for true ducks).
| Indoor coop space | 6 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 20 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 12 in per bird |
Space: PERCH on roosts (unlike true ducks). 6+ foot fencing needed unless wing-clipped.
Feeding: Layer 16% + insect supplements. Excellent foragers - 40% of diet can come from grass and bugs.
Health: Susceptible to bumblefoot from concrete - keep on dirt or grass.
Climate: Tropical origin - heat-tolerant. Tolerates cold to 20F with shelter.
You can request Muscovy Duck through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 3 request pages for started birds, adult birds, and breeder pairs, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Muscovy Duck are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Muscovy Duck hen lays roughly 100 eggs a year, and the eggs are large and cream. Lay in clutches of 8-15 with a 35-day incubation (vs 28 for true ducks). Broodiness is rated high. Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
Yes. The Muscovy Duck is rated beginner friendly. Temperament: quiet, curious, broody, foraging, pest-controlling; cold hardiness: good; heat tolerance: excellent; noise level: very quiet (hiss, no quack). It is best for pest control, quiet meat duck, mosquito control, and foraging. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
Browse this breed by stage of development: