Ducks not laying!

[Lover duck duck]

Trust me: If one of your ducks has a problem to get rid of an egg you will notice that very quickly! One of my F&W Runners, Katharina Duck has recently started to lay stopping in August when she had her babies. Last week i noticed a very sudden change in her personality, she is usually very cheeky and that morning she just walked out of the house, no quack, did not even looked at me and did not ate any catfood-treats. Around noon i saw her resting under a shrub, apart from the rest of the flock and when i approached her, she just stood up, looked at me and just sat down again in the same spot. Resting most of the afternoon, just a few trips to the water and in the evening she walked back into the house like a toddler with an overflowing diaper.
Next morning there was that 100 gram (4oz) egg in one of the nests and Katharina was back to cheeky and quacky again. (whew!)
If your duck behaves normal, eats, drinks and poops, she definitely not egg-bound.

Awesome! I’m glad she’s ok. I would have freaked out before even the afternoon came. Thank you.

 

[DuckyDonna]

i wish i had experience with ducks in florida

All i know is here chickens and ducks laying is affected by weather and also daylight hours. Shorter days mean less eggs, My ducks wont lay till the days get longer and the weather gets warmer


But in the morning iam sure someone with florida experience will be on! @DuckyDonna has lived in florida

True but I didn't have ducks then or know anything about them. @Trimurtisan lives in Florida!

 

[Trimurtisan]

I live about 30 south of Orlando. Yesterday I got 8 eggs from 16 females. They are all old enough, but they matured over "winter" and not all have started yet. (is 45°f cold enough to be winter? ) I feed 22% game feed and all flock mixed at 1:1. They get oyster shell on the side. They get a large breakfast and then free range for the rest of their food. Snacks consist of scratch, sardines, veggies, and fruit scraps. Toes, they love to nibble on toes too.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I live about 30 south of Orlando. Yesterday I got 8 eggs from 16 females. They are all old enough, but they matured over "winter" and not all have started yet. (is 45°f cold enough to be winter? ) I feed 22% game feed and all flock mixed at 1:1. They get oyster shell on the side. They get a large breakfast and then free range for the rest of their food. Snacks consist of scratch, sardines, veggies, and fruit scraps. Toes, they love to nibble on toes too.

As said: The temperatures doesn't seem to be important, i had ducks laying during periods of frost… For sure the length of daylight is important, the shorter the days the smaller the chances for a healthy breakfast are. And there is less foragable protein (insects) available. My ducks are so viciously gobbling down their cat-food traits, i fear for my fingers every morning!

 

[Lover duck duck]

I live about 30 south of Orlando. Yesterday I got 8 eggs from 16 females. They are all old enough, but they matured over "winter" and not all have started yet. (is 45°f cold enough to be winter? ) I feed 22% game feed and all flock mixed at 1:1. They get oyster shell on the side. They get a large breakfast and then free range for the rest of their food. Snacks consist of scratch, sardines, veggies, and fruit scraps. Toes, they love to nibble on toes too.

I am smacked between Orlando and cocoa beach in an equestrian community. Last two days got to be 80 degrees and temperature just went down at night into high 50’s but last night it went down to 49 degrees but temperature will be in low 70’s. I think what they have said in regards to shorter days making them lay less. I read an article on metzer farm’s website about it and they also said the same. They recommend using artificial light if you want to continue laying pattern but I don’t sell my eggs and don’t eat my ducks they are pets so I will let them do their natural thing.

 

[DaphneTheDuck]

I have one runner and she hasn't laid a single egg! Is this house big enough for her to lay an egg (one other duck sleeps in there)

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes!

 

[Isaac 0]

Yes.

 

[DaphneTheDuck]

Thanks. And do I need more bedding?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Looks okay as long as she can noodle it around to her liking!