Ducks not laying

[TTownChics]

So my ducks haven't laid in forever. I used to get 2 eggs a day consistently until earlier this year where one of my pekins broke her foot and then it was just one egg.
I've seen my cayuga go in the coop and lay but she has stopped now too. I don't get it. It's been over 5 months and I've barely had any eggs. I have found some busted and I suspect the chickens are pecking at them but that's been maybe 5 or 6 that I found that way. I have looked everywhere and there are no eggs and no new ducklings running around (I have a drake). I think it's been a least 4 to 6 weeks since I've seen an egg at all.

Nothing has changed other than the duck going in the chicken coop to lay. Unfortunately I work full time so I can't watch their behavior all day. They are acting like they always have.

I'm at a loss. Any ideas?

 

[Abriana]

Maybe a camera would help. You could put it in the chicken yard and one in the coop so you can see what they're all up to

 

[TTownChics]

Yeah maybe so. I would have to save up for it but that's a good option. I can't see the side of the house. I see where they have started a nest but nothing in it ever. Last year they would lay in a few nest spots.

I forgot to mention they are about 18 months old or so.

 

[chickens really]

Lots of Ducks lay for a season they are not Chickens...Yes, sounds like the Chickens ate the Duck eggs...Collect them daily...

 

[TTownChics]

Lots of Ducks lay for a season they are not Chickens...Yes, sounds like the Chickens ate the Duck eggs...Collect them daily...

We do. So ducks don't lay for a few years like chickens? I didn't know that. :/

 

[chickens really]

We do. So ducks don't lay for a few years like chickens? I didn't know that. :/

Sorry, you misunderstood ...
They will lay for months and then stop..Then the next season they will begin again...

 

[TTownChics]

oh gotcha. Well hopefully they will start soon. I just thought it was odd that they laid through the winter and stopped in spring. We will see! I really love those duck eggs!

 

[lomine]

Once a chicken starts eating eggs it is hard to get them to stop. And even worse they teach other chickens to do it to. Ducks will also eat eggs. Sometimes increasing the protein in their diet can help but for some it becomes habit. She may want to do a search on egg eating and ways to combat it.

As for the duck that just recently stopped laying. She may be getting ready to molt. Mine stopped laying about 2 weeks ago. This past weekend they dropped their flight feathers and are starting to drop the rest. They also need extra protein while molting to help them grow new feathers. She should start laying again a few weeks after she is done molting.

 

[buggymuffin]

While ducks do lay more seasonally, they usually don't stop until fall/winter. It is possible they are hiding them somewhere. We had a duck that was stuffing eggs into an opening in a wall in the barn. I found about a dozen one day. She would have never been able to get them back out to sit on them, but she was keeping them "safe." Make sure they didn't find a place to hide them in the coop. It only needs to be big enough for the eggs to fit through, not the duck.

 

[chickens really]

All my Duck Hens are done now for the season....Young layers will continue into Fall....I have never had and egg eating Duck...Not a Chicken either ...I have an egg eating Dog that helps herself ....