Ok, so I am a newbie to ducks. I have 4 Khaki Ducks and 1 Khaki drake and 2 Pekin ducks and 1 Pekin drake (that I will be rehoming very soon). They are all around 5 months old. My Khaki drake has been trying to mate with the ducks but unsuccessfully since he has not been mature enough. Today was the first time I saw his penis, so I guess he is now mature enough. But the ducks have not yet begun laying. So I have a lot of questions:
1. When do you think my girls will start laying? What do I need to do to prepare for eggs?
2. How often will my drake mate and will all of my duck's eggs be fertile?
3. Can you eat fertile duck eggs?
4. I have heard that Pekins and Khakis are not the best mothers; will I need to incubate the eggs if I want them to hatch?
5. My plan is the eat my ducks eggs until next spring and then incubate them and hope they hatch; will that work?
6. What should I keep an eye out for regarding health or other problems or complications?
7. Will I need to feed the ducks differently once they begin to lay? Layer feed? Wheat? What about the drake?
8. How often to Khakis and Pekins lay? Every day? Every other? Do they lay in nesting boxes? What time of day do they lay?
I appreciate any and all thoughts and info. Thank you!
1. When do you think my girls will start laying? What do I need to do to prepare for eggs?
2. How often will my drake mate and will all of my duck's eggs be fertile?
3. Can you eat fertile duck eggs?
4. I have heard that Pekins and Khakis are not the best mothers; will I need to incubate the eggs if I want them to hatch?
5. My plan is the eat my ducks eggs until next spring and then incubate them and hope they hatch; will that work?
6. What should I keep an eye out for regarding health or other problems or complications?
7. Will I need to feed the ducks differently once they begin to lay? Layer feed? Wheat? What about the drake?
8. How often to Khakis and Pekins lay? Every day? Every other? Do they lay in nesting boxes? What time of day do they lay?
I appreciate any and all thoughts and info. Thank you!