Ducks Not laying

[StephM606]

Hi all. I have 6 ducks, 4 are female. One of the females is about a year and a half and was an amazing layer up until she had started a nest and an animal found the eggs early this summer. She stopped laying after that and hasn't started up again. The other 3 females are going on 8 months and haven't laid any eggs. They have a nice run with a creek where they can forage and are also given grain. Any tips or tricks? I love the ducks, but if they aren't going to provide eggs we likely will not keep them too much longer. I just want to make sure I try everything I can before getting rid of them so any and all advice is welcome. Thanks!

 

[RBG-DUCKS]

Have you tried giving them waterfowl layer pellets? Maybe try that for a few months and see if they start laying? Then if you really wanted to you could try to ween them off of it and back onto the grain/forage diet.

 

[Freie Family Farm]

Could be based off weather depending on location. I have a feeling I'm not getting any till spring since there isn't much sun lately

 

[Isaac 0]

I agree with @Freie Family Farm , at this point, depending on your location, it's unlikely you're going to get any eggs, until next spring.

 

[threebrookscorner]

We added new ducks to our flock in june 2019 and on Christmas morning received our first egg from them. Molting, stress and the time of year affect our egg production but they should all be laying regularly by early spring. I mix one bag of 16% layer feed with one bag of purina duck chow for their food

 

[meyerc06]

Agree with all of the above! One other thought - she may also have moved her nest to a different, more well-hidden location. Might want to do a little egg hunt just incase

 

[StephM606]

Thanks, I'll try that!

 

[Ratchnick]

They need 14 hours of light minimum to lay, 16 is better. You can provide artificial light on a timer.

 

[Kaw]

They need 14 hours of light minimum to lay, 16 is better. You can provide artificial light on a timer.

Thank you. I was wondering if that might be an issue with our ducks, although I hear ducks can lay eggs year round
Our females born in May and June haven’t laid any eggs, unless they are at the bottom of the pond. Is that a possibility?

 

[hellfire]

Hi all. I have 6 ducks, 4 are female. One of the females is about a year and a half and was an amazing layer up until she had started a nest and an animal found the eggs early this summer. She stopped laying after that and hasn't started up again. The other 3 females are going on 8 months and haven't laid any eggs. They have a nice run with a creek where they can forage and are also given grain. Any tips or tricks? I love the ducks, but if they aren't going to provide eggs we likely will not keep them too much longer. I just want to make sure I try everything I can before getting rid of them so any and all advice is welcome. Thanks!

Ducks are generally seasonal layers so spring through to summer. They don’t lay in winter. They’ll start around spring time again. Also depends what breeds they are?
Chickens often stop laying or really drop off in winter too.
Also your hatch in may June won’t lay until the following spring.