East Indies - when do they lay?

[Chickenmaven]

I bought a pair of East Indies from a well reputed bantam duck breeder. The facility was very nice. The birds I bought are really pretty. I was told they are a year old. I do believe this. Neither bird has any white on it - a sign of age.
For about 6 weeks, they have been in a very nice 12x12 run with all the frills. They are ...uhm..."intimate." I have gotten NO eggs. I know that the East Indies are seasonal. Is it possible that the Wife Duck could lay & set this year or is it too late? If she is only a year old, is it more likely that she will wait until she is two?
Thanks for thinking of us!

 

[Chickenmaven]

No one knows? Any idea where I could get this info? A search has left me nothing.

 

[Scott]

I would think they would already be laying... call ducks start laying in late feb/early march. I would think BEIs would start during that time as well. Its possible they are still getting used to their new home. But as long as they are mature, they should be laying right now I would think. They have swimming water, right?

 

[NYREDS]

I have just started getiing the occasional egg from my Indies which is normal in my experience. Mine typically lay most of their eggs in May through June. It is very possible that your duck may set this year IF she's from a strain with a tendency to go broody. One of the best known breeders in the country culls out ducks that go broody. He prefers maximum egg production & hatching in an incubator.
They don't need swimming water in order to lay eggs.

 

[Scott]

They do need swimming water in order to lay FERTILE eggs.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
No, they don't. I've raised them for years w/o swimming water & since my eggs hatch I guess they must be fertile. The belief that all waterfowl require swimming water to mate is just that, a myth.

 

[Scott]

Quote:
No, they don't. I've raised them for years w/o swimming water & since my eggs hatch I guess they must be fertile. The belief that all waterfowl require swimming water to mate is just that, a myth.

I didn't say they are incapable of mating out of water. Nonetheless, I've yet to see ducks mate out of water. Again, if you want fertile eggs and maximum hatch rates, you'd be well advised to supply them with clean swimming water.

If you want fertile eggs, supply them with the best possible conditions... which includes swimming water.

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

My East Indies breed on land all the time? One male Never goes swimming so the girls get attacked on the wire...LOL And ALL the eggs from that cage have been fertile and are hatching in 2 days

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

And My east Indies havent layed maybe 10 eggs? This year. I have 4 females that I am breeding from and lets hope They lay some more eggs!

 

[NYREDS]

I have bred waterfowl from every class up to & including Heavy Geese. I have never had facilities that allowed them swimming water & all have bred successfully.