➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[NanaKat]

Do ducks lay eggs all the time like chickens? I’ve heard geese, even domestic, lay seasonally. Tell me a little about quackers. I’m curious.

I have Cayuga cross and Pekin ducks.
A few of my 10 duck hens began laying again mid winter. All were laying by the middle of February just not every day. Since March 3, I'm getting 10 eggs a day...some days 11 because one hen likes to lay every 18 hours.
They will lay until fall and take a break for moult just like my chickens. Then slowly begin to lay again.

I use duck eggs for baking all the time...cookies, cakes, soufflé, breads, etc. The whites don't whip like chicken eggs for meringue (sp) because they are a thicker consistency. Cooked for breakfast, you can't tell much difference.

 

[NanaKat]

And I love a good broody hen! They are great to watch and each hen has her own personality!
My laying flock has several right now.
One hen is so determined she actually pulls rocks together to set on, and she makes the best mom when presented with newly incubated chicks.
Another hen named Alice will not set more than a week and then begins stealing chicks from other hens. A few years ago, I found her with one abandoned chick and she had not been brooding.
One Orpington hen will brood in an empty nest, not allowing any hen in her spot. She will only eat and drink after everyone has gone to roost. If I move her to a broody cage, she will break brood. So I give her chicks in her nest and she then calls them to the ground from the nest box and raises them.
Some of my banty hens will select a spot in the barn, secretly lay their clutch, disappear only to show up with their babies.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

And I love a good broody hen! They are great to watch and each hen has her own personality!
My laying flock has several right now.
One hen is so determined she actually pulls rocks together to set on, and she makes the best mom when presented with newly incubated chicks.
Another hen named Alice will not set more than a week and then begins stealing chicks from other hens. A few years ago, I found her with one abandoned chick and she had not been brooding.
One Orpington hen will brood in an empty nest, not allowing any hen in her spot. She will only eat and drink after everyone has gone to roost. If I move her to a broody cage, she will break brood. So I give her chicks in her nest and she then calls them to the ground from the nest box and raises them.
Some of my banty hens will select a spot in the barn, secretly lay their clutch, disappear only to show up with their babies.

Wish I had a broody hen!

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I have Cayuga cross and Pekin ducks.
A few of my 10 duck hens began laying again mid winter. All were laying by the middle of February just not every day. Since March 3, I'm getting 10 eggs a day...some days 11 because one hen likes to lay every 18 hours.
They will lay until fall and take a break for moult just like my chickens. Then slowly begin to lay again.

I use duck eggs for baking all the time...cookies, cakes, soufflé, breads, etc. The whites don't whip like chicken eggs for meringue (sp) because they are a thicker consistency. Cooked for breakfast, you can't tell much difference.

Thanks. I've always been curious about ducks and their egg laying habits. Not ready to jump into that pond--yet.

 

[Kiki]

You must hatch local eggs.

I've only been incubating poultry at this elevation but I've worked with psittaciformes at high elevation and plan on working with chickens there as well. I've even considered utilizing a hatchery at lower elevation to compensate so oxygen generation wouldn't be necessary.

Someone had to ask Google about this P word.



eta.
I have been reading all (years worth) the digital magazines over at The Poultry Site.
(Don't tell Nifty)

 

[Kiki]

Happy Easter to all. Tonight I went to lock up my girls and one is on a nest with a fake egg and seems to be staying there. St. Bridget (patron St. of chickens) please let me have a broody so I can go buy eggs and put them and her in the broody cage.

 

[Kiki]

And I love a good broody hen! They are great to watch and each hen has her own personality!
My laying flock has several right now.
One hen is so determined she actually pulls rocks together to set on, and she makes the best mom when presented with newly incubated chicks.
Another hen named Alice will not set more than a week and then begins stealing chicks from other hens. A few years ago, I found her with one abandoned chick and she had not been brooding.
One Orpington hen will brood in an empty nest, not allowing any hen in her spot. She will only eat and drink after everyone has gone to roost. If I move her to a broody cage, she will break brood. So I give her chicks in her nest and she then calls them to the ground from the nest box and raises them.
Some of my banty hens will select a spot in the barn, secretly lay their clutch, disappear only to show up with their babies.

Isn't it so neat how you know each one of your hens, their habits.
I have a bratty bossy Gold Laced Wyandotte that is driving me nuts because she is mean at eating time.

 

[Kiki]

Thanks. I've always been curious about ducks and their egg laying habits. Not ready to jump into that pond--yet.

You don't need a pond...get a kiddy swimming pool!

 

[Kiki]

Is it Thursday yet?

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

You don't need a pond...get a kiddy swimming pool!

From the woman who says no ducks!