Duck / Goose help

[BirdGurl]

Trying to figure out y my mallard and goose aren't laying. Anyone?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Trying to figure out y my mallard and goose aren't laying. Anyone?

How old are they and have they laid at all this year? and

 

[BirdGurl]

My husband and I got these birds in March. They were 10 months old. The Mallard was already laying. The goose was not and I think it was because she was just to young.
I took the mallard eggs for a while and then decided to let her hatch them. There were 5 in the nest. My male goose kept chasing her from the nest so I tried to move her nest into the barn. When we weren't looking she flew out the window and was off the nest for almost 15 hours. That night it was unseasonably cold. The next day I moved the eggs back to the original spot and she proceeded to lay on the eggs again. The goose stepped on all but 1 egg. When the egg started getting gray patches I knew it wasn't viable. I took the egg and she hasn't laid again since Mothers day.
The goose laid 6 eggs she stepped on one and broke it (or it could have been the male goose again) . She layef on the eggs for a month. Something told me they weren't viable so last week I candled them and discovered they weren't .....I took the eggs away about 2 week ago. She hasn't laid anything since. Are my goose and my mallard done laying until next spring?
I also have 2 male geese. I believe they are brown Chinese .... How can I tell which male is the females mate. Also my male mallard TORTURES one of the male geese. He constantly chases him away from all the birds.
I have 1 female goose, 2 male geese, 3 female pekins, 1 male pekin, 1 male mallard and 1 female mallard. I appreciate any help.

 

[ducklover87]

Your mallards and geese are I believe seasonal layers. Your goose most like is done for the year. I think mallards are seasonal layers too. I know wild mallards are but not sure about domestics. If they are seasonal they are most likely done laying. It depends I know geese usually pair up but if you only have one goose maybe they share her? That sounds odd for a goose though. You should see if one gander protects her more than the other that could be a way to tell her mate too. I'm just getting into geese though so I may be wrong. Someone more knowledgeable in that area should be able to answer that question more knowledgeably. Maybe you could separate your male mallard from everyone else for a day or so. Someplace where he won't be seen by the other ducks and geese. Then when he's allowed back his social standing will be lower and he may not do that anymore. If he still does I'd separate him for a Lil longer and see if that helps. If not him and his lady friend may need their own pen.

 

[Onyx9370]

Hello I have 2 ducks about 19 weeks old. I was just curious if anyone knows about when they start to lay. Thanks , oh one is a Khaki Cambell and the other is a Rouen.

 

[ducklover87]

Hello I have 2 ducks about 19 weeks old. I was just curious if anyone knows about when they start to lay. Thanks , oh one is a Khaki Cambell and the other is a Rouen.

Anytime now

 

[Onyx9370]

Thanks! I wasn't sure if they started around the same time as chickens. I guess ill be doing a quick search in their run everyday.

 

[BirdGurl]

Thank you ducklover!!!! I'm new to this and are learning new things everyday! I kind of figured that must b the case with the mallard.

Tammy

 

[Miss Lydia]

My husband and I got these birds in March. They were 10 months old. The Mallard was already laying. The goose was not and I think it was because she was just to young.
I took the mallard eggs for a while and then decided to let her hatch them. There were 5 in the nest. My male goose kept chasing her from the nest so I tried to move her nest into the barn. When we weren't looking she flew out the window and was off the nest for almost 15 hours. That night it was unseasonably cold. The next day I moved the eggs back to the original spot and she proceeded to lay on the eggs again. The goose stepped on all but 1 egg. When the egg started getting gray patches I knew it wasn't viable. I took the egg and she hasn't laid again since Mothers day.
The goose laid 6 eggs she stepped on one and broke it (or it could have been the male goose again) . She layef on the eggs for a month. Something told me they weren't viable so last week I candled them and discovered they weren't .....I took the eggs away about 2 week ago. She hasn't laid anything since. Are my goose and my mallard done laying until next spring?
I also have 2 male geese. I believe they are brown Chinese .... How can I tell which male is the females mate. Also my male mallard TORTURES one of the male geese. He constantly chases him away from all the birds.
I have 1 female goose, 2 male geese, 3 female pekins, 1 male pekin, 1 male mallard and 1 female mallard. I appreciate any help.

Your mallard may lay again before the season is over, but the goose is through for this year. My Muscovy's are seasonal layers but after being broody they will begin to lay again in about a month of either hatching ducklings or just going through the brooding with out actually sitting on anything. I agree with ducklover, I believe the only way you will get ducklings though is to give your mallard pair their own space so she can brood with out interruptions. And having 2 ganders and 1 goose most likely is going to cause problems next breeding season with your 1 gander being constantly ostracized by the mated pair especially the gander. If you could get another goose it would help a lot and you still will probably have to separate them during breeding season.

 

[BirdGurl]

I saw the funniest thing yesterday .... My mallards were courting! They looked like a seesaw! One would stand tall and the other would bob down to the ground .... They did this facing each other while walking in a circle. Then the mallard female laid down in a puddle, the male mounted her and when he was done he fell off to the side. I laughed so hard! I'm hoping she lays again!