Ducks Not Laying

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Can anyone help me, please? I have Pekin ducks which are 2 1/2 years old. They have layed well until about three months ago. I keep them for eggs, not meat. We have had an exceptionally dry and very warm summer. They get fed well and have an acre to range on. Now I am only getting 2 or 3 eggs a week from 9 ducks. They have molted but seem to be over that. Was hoping since it cooled off two weeks ago, they would begin laying better again. They have sufficient water, 2 wading pool that I change water daily, and plenty of buckets of water around to drink that I change at least twice daily.

-- Hazel in WA (hazelm@tenforward.com), October 03, 2000

Answers

Is it possible that they have gone broody and hidden a large clutch of eggs somewhere? Our ducks do that. The other thing is that for the best egg production,Khaki Campbells or Runners will give more eggs than Pekins, which are a meat breed.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), October 03, 2000.

I don't have an answer, just another question. Do ducks lay all year round?? I know geese don't. Geese lay early spring through about June or July. I would think maybe they're just stopping for the upcoming winter like geese do. Even chickens really slow down during fall & winter, but pick right back up in the spring. Just a thought since a duck seems to be a closer relative to a goose. I'd love to know if they do usually lay all year. I just got 4 Buff ducks.

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), October 03, 2000.

Hazel, I'm amazed that you are still getting eggs from your Pekins. I've had them for years and they only lay in the spring. I can keep them laying for a while longer by removing the eggs but before long they just quit. I had always assumed that was just the way it was with Pekins. I think you're doing great!

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), October 03, 2000.

I have Reuens, and the first year, they did lay a few eggs in the winter. Not consistently, just one every now and then. The next year, they quit in about late June, and this year, the same. No eggs at all since the end of June. Same diet, housing, etc. Can't explain why the first batch did lay in the winter, and these don't. The eggs would just be out on the ground and would usually freeze before I found them, though. Is there a type of duck that is better at setting? My first batch had three nests going, the hens were all setting, then when the first nest hatched, the rest got up and left their eggs, as if they thought they were done, too. Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), October 03, 2000.

When I was a kid, we had Mallards. The hens were quite prolific in laying, but they also liked to hide the nests, and were quite brave about defending them. They can't really injure you, but they can make you uncomfortable, and make it very difficult not to step on them! Since we were frequently unsure of how long they'd been setting, opening an egg was a matter for trepidation (made Mom do it). Always opened them over the sink or the garbage can, never the pan or bowl, in case the embryo had begun to form.

Our hearts weren't really in raising them for the eggs though, we just liked having them, and we had many, many clutches hatch. I think there is nothing in the world cuter than a newly hatched Mallard!

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), October 03, 2000.



Oops, I forgot to mention, they only laid in the spring into EARLY summer.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), October 03, 2000.

Jan, you asked what ducks are best at setting? Well I'm no expert -- but we have, had almost every kind of duck at one time or another--& the best setting duck I ever had was a little tiny Indian hen. She sat & hatched as many eggs as she could set on. She was such a good Mother & was so proud of her babies---the neighbor's dogs got through our fence & killed her & her babies before I could get to the house & get a gun. She was a young hen & it was her first hatch!!! The dogs got her mate the next day. I got the dogs the next week!! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), October 03, 2000.

Thank you all for your replies, they are much appreciated. Rebekah and Jan, Pekin ducks are very poor setters, I have never had one even look like she was trying to set. Mine lay in nest boxes in their house, occasionally I find an egg outside of the house, but there is not many places to hide nests as I have rose beds and other shrubery fenced off. I know they are not the best duck for laying, but I have had such good luck with them previously. I enjoy their arguing and chatting with each other, and are such clowns to watch. Peg, Perhaps where you live makes a difference. It's very mild climate here in the banana belt of WA. Joy, I have them for their eggs. I like the duck eggs better than chicken. I was told by a man who bought duck eggs from me that they have a different type of protein than chicken eggs and one who is allergic to chk eggs can eat duck eggs. He couldn't eat anything chicken. Sonda, I have to keep them penned in the orchard in July and Aug. because of the eagles raised on the nearby river teach the young to hunt over my property. Have lost 2 to eagles, and 2 to a racoon. Have 3 small dogs and 2 cats, who just ignore them as do the ducks ignore the dogs and cats. It just makes me sick when I lose one so know how you must have felt losing yours. Thanks again, ya'all!

-- Hazel in WA (hazelm@tenforward.com), October 04, 2000.

i needed to know something about mallard ducks. i read on a site that mallards are solitary breeders. does that mean that the females dont need a male to hatch and lay eggs????well if you could help me out i will be very thankful for it. please email me asap if you have the time.

-- Joey (me_2cute@hotmail.com), September 01, 2001.

We have a beautiful pair of Orpington Buff Ducks (A fox claimed the third) The female layed an egg a day (really tasty) for the fitst year, but in the last 9 months has completely stopped. Both ducks are healthy and happy, but no eggs! Would love to hear from anyone who knows why... or even if they only have a short laying cycle?

Dan fron Bath, UK

-- Dan White (dan.vobster@btinternet.com), January 11, 2002.



This winter we have been very fortunate -- we are still getting 3 eggs a day even in these dark winter days, from 7 ducks (with the full support, no doubt, of the one drake.) They are a mixed bag of 2 Pekins, 1 chocolate runner, and 4 blue Swede mutts. We are also in NW WA (Poulsbo), and last year we got no eggs Nov-Feb.

Perhaps the Buff Orpingtons in the UK are have stopped laying (besides the seasonal thing) they need something you're not giving them. I have read that ducks need more Vit B than chickens. Maybe some brewers yeast in their food would help. Also, maybe they need more food period -- since they are spending nutrition keeping warm in winter. Or maybe they're just duds...it happens.

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), January 11, 2002.


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