Breeding In Winter

[Gkundern]

I thought you said you had too many ducks a while back and were trying to get rid of some. Why are you adding more?

 

[SolarDuck]

Drakes will mate at anytime the key is if the hen is laying eggs in the winter. Some take the winter off from laying.

Interesting, mine are muscovies about 7 months old I hope they lay this winter and don't wait too long before they give me some eggs.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Interesting, mine are muscovies about 7 months old I hope they lay this winter and don't wait too long before they give me some eggs.

I am not sure about Muscovies as I have never had any. I have had young Khakis start laying in January. It is my older Khakis, Welsh Harlequin, and Swedish which seem to take the winter off.

 

[FunQuail]

Why is it bad if the hen isn’t laying but they are still mating? I’m a little confused here.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Why is it bad if the hen isn’t laying but they are still mating? I’m a little confused here.

I didn't say it was bad, just, you can't hatch ducklings without eggs.

 

[Ratchnick]

My ducks don't mate in winter, surprisingly i still get eggs but.

 

[Ratchnick]

As far as breeding crested ducks, people have genetic defects that are much worse and they still have kids.

 

[christylynne11]

I have personally had to deal with several ducklings that hatched with brain damage due to both parents unknowingly carrying the crested trait. In my experience, half of the ducklings that hatch with a crest will suffer for several weeks before dying. The other half will survive. They will die in your hands after you've spent several days or weeks feeding them every 2 hours and providing vitamin supplements because they can't walk around in their own. This is something you will have to be prepared for if you choose to breed any crested duck, because all of the offspring will also carry the crested gene, whether they have the crest or not.