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One of the many things I didn’t know when I started raising Muscovy ducks was that these unique-looking waterfowl aren’t actually ducks at all! I’ll explain more about that (and their distinct lack of quacking) because bringing these fun, jumbo-egg-laying birds to my homestead actually felt a little bit like raising chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks all in one, and that is an experience worth having on any homestead.

I love trying new things on my homestead, so even knowing all the conflicting opinions out there about raising different types of poultry together, I still jumped at the idea of raising Muscovy ducks and chickens together on my land.

It’s hard to pick my favorite part of raising Muscovy ducklings. From their funny red caruncles to their inability to quack, Muscovies are a unique homesteading experience right off the bat. I find these ducks are fun and easy to raise, and since they multiply quickly, they make great meat birds and provide a good amount of eggs as well.

Raising Muscovy ducks for meat can bring a low-maintenance, steady yield of tasty, protein-rich meat to your homestead table. I love the taste of duck meat, and since it’s often hard to find, many homesteaders I know raise enough of these birds to sell locally for a nice profit.

I’ve been raising Muscovy ducks for a while now on my homestead, but when I was just getting started, one of the first things I wanted to know was: what do Muscovy Ducks eat? I did some research and asked neighbors, friends, and books, but ultimately, I learned from doing and seeing what worked.