Ducks keep laying in the pond.

[Going Quackers]

That is music to my ears, though I just had a girl ask to buy duck eggs from me so I'll be rounding them up with peas tonight and closing the gate. Not only do I want duck eggs but I'd like to sell my extras and make feed money. Now I just need the hens to co operate

Prefect! we need to start selling ours too.. i have way to many eggs ... it's crazy!

 

[r4eboxer]

Well on Friday night the ducks went into my pen (big thanks to my 16 yr old son who fixed my gate for me). On Saturday morning I had THREE eggs!! I didn't even know all three of my ducks were laying. I bet the pond is plum full of eggs. Anyway last night I went out to try to pen them up again. They were over at the pond so I took a can of feed and started shaking it. That didn't get their attention so I opened up a can of peas. I coaxed them across the bridge, through the garden and past the feed barn, then they got close to the duck pen the did an about face and headed back to the pond

. So they learned REALLY FAST. I left the remaining peas in the duck yard and this morning when I went out to do chores the peas were still there. I just heard them making a racket so I figure they found them. Unfortunately these ducks are going to be penned and not allowed to free range. DH said we just need to get some ducks for the pond and others for laying. I said that's fine but the drakes can stay on the pond, my ducks are for eggs. I make the rules here not the ducks.

I hate to have to pen them up all the time considering we have such a nice place for them to free range but after all the only reason I got them was for the eggs.

 

[Baylor]

Maybe you can get a nesting box and put their eggs in it to see if they will start to lay in the nest with the other eggs? I have a 5 mn old swedish who just started laying for the 1st time 10 days ago. She laid 4 eggs randomly in the pen (they free range during the day - I started them young with the program of free range in the day but penned at night). By day 6 she was laying all her new eggs in the nesting box? I thought it was crazy she would do it so young but glad she is doing that every night now!

 

[r4eboxer]

Maybe you can get a nesting box and put their eggs in it to see if they will start to lay in the nest with the other eggs? I have a 5 mn old swedish who just started laying for the 1st time 10 days ago. She laid 4 eggs randomly in the pen (they free range during the day - I started them young with the program of free range in the day but penned at night). By day 6 she was laying all her new eggs in the nesting box? I thought it was crazy she would do it so young but glad she is doing that every night now!

Sounds like a good plan to me. What do u use as a nesting box?

 

[Baylor]

I went and bought a chicken nesting box at TSC. I am sure you could make one really cheaply with some plywood and wood scraps.