Indo-duck and musk duck are they the same thing or not, differences and which is better

Many farmers wonder whether Indo-duck and Muscovy duck are the same thing or not. In addition, it is not clear what category the common duck should be classified into. It is obvious that these varieties have many common features, but there are also significant differences between them. Each of the presented types has its own advantages and disadvantages, which play an important role when choosing poultry for farming.
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What is the difference between Indo ducks, Muscovy ducks and regular ducks?

The Turkey duck, which is popularly called the Muscovy duck, contrary to popular belief, is not a hybrid of a duck and a turkey.The bird belongs to the arboreal species, which distinguishes it from the standard representatives of the group, most of which are waterfowl. The name "Indian duck" is an abbreviation of the phrase "Indian duck." This is due to the fact that Indian tribes were actively involved in breeding mallard ducks.

• the body is elongated, wide, the head is elongated, the neck is short;
• there are red skin growths on the front part;
• there is a crest on the head (it rises when frightened);
• specific gait - when moving, the mallard shakes its head back and forth.

By crossing female common ducks with Indo-duck drakes, a hybrid duckling can be obtained. Such offspring are called mulards. The similarities between musk ducks and mullards are very great.

What is better to choose

Compared to ordinary ducks, musk ducks have a number of advantages:

1. Endurance - easily tolerates low temperatures. The room where ducks are kept does not need to be heated. It is important that the floor is always dry in cold weather.
2. No reservoir required.
3. Strong immunity to viral infections.
4. The drake is easy to distinguish from the female (the latter is half the size).
5. Muscovy ducks are exemplary hens: they patiently hatch eggs, do not leave the nest, and take care of their offspring.
6. Birds eat little, while ordinary mallards are constantly hungry. Favorite foods are earthworms and insects.
7. The meat has better qualities compared to ordinary ducks.A dietary and at the same time nutritious product obtained from indo-ducks, it is much tastier, more tender, and does not emit a specific smell. The proportion of muscle mass in meat is 43-48%.
8. The bird lays eggs well. The eggs are suitable for human consumption. At the same time, the eggs of the common mallard are not suitable for eating due to their low taste.
9. The Indian duck does not create noise, unlike its waterfowl relatives. The exception is the hiss of the drake, which is why these birds are sometimes called mute birds.
10. Has a friendly disposition.
11. Clean.

In addition to its advantages, the musk duck has a number of disadvantages that must be taken into account when choosing:

1. The bird grows one and a half times longer than an ordinary duck (but reaches a larger size).
2. Long incubation period - more than a month.
3. Birds are greedy for shiny things, so they can easily swallow a dangerous object (nail, wire, screw, glass).
4. They do not tolerate dirt, so the bedding in the room where the birds are kept must be changed regularly.
5. They do not tolerate dampness.
6. Indian ducks fly fast and high, so they need to trim their wings. Otherwise, they will simply fly out of the yard.
7. They do not tolerate the proximity of other birds. Therefore, they have to be kept separately from the rest.

Muscovy duck is the third name for an Indian duck. At the same time, these birds are in no way related to standard mallards. Breeders have also developed hybrids obtained from representatives of both varieties - mulardas. Compared to classic ducks, the Muscovy duck has a number of advantages that set it apart from other ducks.