Do ducks not lay around this time?

[Tlammy]

my ducks are 4 years old.. and im a newbie... so do they slow down/stop around this time.. or is it that im not feeding them layer feed?

 

[Kevin565]

Laying has a lot of different factors. Generally by now they should be done for awhile. However, today my mallard picked up laying. I believe it has to do a lot with how much sunlight their getting.

 

[cfdf]

I have a a Khaki Campbell that lays an egg a day year round. I don't think she has missed a day since I got her. I have a Mallard I bought this March and she hasn't laid an egg yet. So...don't really know the answer to your question but that's what's going on here.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

My pekins laid a few about a month ago, but now nothing..

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

How about Buff/Orpington ducks? I have a pair Drake and hen and I got them in April i bought them as ducklings from TSC. So I know they probably wont lay until Spring time but I was wondering if its a natrual instinct for my hen to automatically want to sit on her eggs? She hasnt laid any yet but was wondering if when she does should I gather them daily or can I let her set on them?

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

My ducks have always laid really well in the winter for some reason...I have 8 hens and on average I get 7 a day. My geese are even laying. My chickens are not really laying all that well right now (4 hens and 1 egg a day from just the one chicken). But in the winter I do let them have the choice of corn or layer. Usually the layer goes pretty quickly. It could also depend on the breed of duck. What kind of ducks do you have?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
If you want ducklings then try to see if she'll sit but she probably won't till warmer weather. If she starts to lay in the winter then gather them up or they will freeze if it gets real cold in your neck of the woods.

 

[Rosebud 18]

I thought my runners had slowed down but I found another nest with 23 eggs in it this morning. My pekin layed for about 6 weeks (in sept. and oct.) and then she just stopped. Last year when she started laying she layed through feb. My swedes and harlequins haven't missed a day since they started laying. They all started laying in sept. So who knows the reason. It could be the feed or weather or temps.

 

[Going Quackers]

I was surprised because one of my Muscovy laid this morning, we were the coldest we've been so far.. -7C sorry no clue the Fahrenheit

 

[GrannyCarol]

Most ducks lay poorly or not at all in the winter. I think its a combination of cold weather and short hours of light, possibly feed as well. In the summer they have at least 14 hours of light, warmth and things like insects for greater protein and greens for vitamins.

Some breeds, which are bred to be good layers, will lay throughout the winter. Some individuals will also.

Most poultry, as they become older (past two or so), become more seasonal in their laying. I have some older ducks that lay only in the spring and summer that used to lay all year. You said yours were four years old, they will probably not lay in the winter. I would not feed them layer feed when they aren't laying. I do keep oyster shell available for those that do lay in the winter. Also ducks take a break when they are molting, it would be hard on their bodies to grow feathers (they use a lot of protein) and to lay at the same time.

Breeds that are bred for meat have not been bred to lay all year, because most people want their ducklings in the spring and summer for ease of raising them. It is hard to breed for more than one trait and really make progress. Therefor most Pekins don't lay that well, but most Khaki Campbell do. Because brooding keeps a duck from laying, most breeds bred for laying have had broodiness bred out of them. Many of the meat breeds do brood, it's a useful trait in a meat duck.

None of these are specific, there are always some meat ducks that lay great and some layers that take time out to brood (but you don't get as many eggs a year from those!). There are some breeds that try to do both, they won't be quite as good as the specialists, but can be useful all purpose birds for many situations.

I hope that helps!