Ducks not laying

[FlChickie]

I have 4 Cayuga hens about a year and half old now and they have stopped laying completely for 6 months, one started laying again about 2 weeks ago and has stopped again. I don't know if something is taking my eggs or they are just on strike, is there anything I can do to boost egg production again. They started laying again after they had figured out how to get out of the pen and get in my fish pond. I also haven't seen my drake breeding at all anymore. But I usually shoo them out of my pond before I see anything, but they have a pool in their pen and don't seem to like that as much. Any suggestions? My future plan is to build them a new pen and their own fish pond, which I know moving them is going to stop them laying for a little while. I'm wondering if I should just do that sooner than later while they are already on a mutiny.

 

[jdywntr]

Cayuga don't need a pond to breed. I rarely ever see my drake mating with the hens but then I am not outside all the time.

You should expect laying to lessen in the fall/winter due to the amount of daylight. Being in FL, with very hot summers, production can also go down.

What are you feeding? Do you offer a calcium supplement? If they aren't laying in a coop then something could be getting to the eggs. Crows, snakes, rats, cats, dogs, etc etc etc.

 

[cooprunbuilder]

A big pond full of clean fresh water, plenty of day light or artificial light, never fails, and as for the lack of eggs it could be anything, lack of a substance in diet, could be anything.

 

[FlChickie]

Thanks, I'm going to be moving them to a new pen and nothing has been taking my chicken eggs in the next pen over so I just don't think they are laying. Any suggestions on supplements for feed, right now they are getting layer pellets, rolled oaks and black sunflower seeds on occassion, plus I've fenced off my pond and they get to free range when I'm home in the evenings. We'll see how this goes. I'm really hoping to hatch some ducklings this spring.