My four runner ducks turned 1 year old this spring, and have been laying fairly regularly the whole time. They did a complete, death-defying molt starting the first week in September. It was our first full molt with them, they looked terrible and feathers everywhere! Last year they were still young, and they dropped feathers, but this one was epic. Beautiful new feathers came in (and our black duck is now a black and white duck) and they seemed to be pretty much back to normal by the end of the month.
However, they haven't laid an egg since early September. Not a one, that I can tell. They have some very regular spots besides their house, and otherwise there aren't a lot of places they could stash them and we wouldn't see them. Last year during the winter they laid less frequently then they did this summer, but it was consistent.
Everyone seems healthy, they get crumble and green veggies daily, plus they have the whole yard to graze in every day - bugs, worms, slugs, grass, etc. Nothing has changed in any way. We're in the Northwest, so days are short right now, but that didn't seem to bother them last year. Is this normal after a full molt or should I be concerned? I miss my eggs!
However, they haven't laid an egg since early September. Not a one, that I can tell. They have some very regular spots besides their house, and otherwise there aren't a lot of places they could stash them and we wouldn't see them. Last year during the winter they laid less frequently then they did this summer, but it was consistent.
Everyone seems healthy, they get crumble and green veggies daily, plus they have the whole yard to graze in every day - bugs, worms, slugs, grass, etc. Nothing has changed in any way. We're in the Northwest, so days are short right now, but that didn't seem to bother them last year. Is this normal after a full molt or should I be concerned? I miss my eggs!
