Pela Phillips
Chirping
This is my first year raising ducks. I started out with four cayugas, 3 ducks and 1 drake. Last month we lost two to a coyote or neighborhood dogs. We found one dead and one had been carried away, we never found him. We had eggs for another three weeks, but we have had no eggs from the remaining two ducks for a whole week. I have checked all of their usual hiding spots but I think they just aren't laying. They spend the night in a shed and free range our fenced yard all day. I have four main questions about the whole situation: 1. How can I tell if they are molting? Is it obvious? 2. Would a raptor have been able to carry away a large cayuga drake or am I correct that it way probably a canine? 3. If they aren't laying because of stress, wouldn't they have stopped right away 3 weeks ago when the attack happend? 4. I realize they could be stressed after losing half their family and/or molting. Will they start laying again and, if so, when? We are expecting 2 or three more ducklings so eventually we will have eggs again but I'm disappointed that I will soon need to begin purchasing chicken's eggs when our supply runs out.
