egg layers

[birdman4259]

I am new to keeping ducks so will have lots of questions. Lets start with do I need a drake for them to lay? I have chickens too and was hoping to keep them in the same coop? Do ducks use a nestbox like chickens ? Or just some straw or shavings on the floor?
Thanks in advance for any input.

Sandy

 

[Onlyducks]

Ducks lay whether or not there is a drake. The only difference is the eggs are infertile without the drake. Some ducks will lay in a next box, some lay on a nest they make from straw or shavings and some just lay anywhere. I have put ceramic eggs in the nest area to encourage the ducks to lay the eggs there, but that's not a sure thing. Last year, all my Pekins laid in the nest area they made with their pine shavings. This year, my muscovies lay in the nest about 80% of the time. Just depends on the duck. I don't know if chickens lay every day, but ducks don't always do so. This year, I have 5 female muscovies and am currently getting one egg per day. A couple tried sitting on the eggs, which slows or stops production.

 

[birdman4259]

Thanks for the reply. I am assuming that any nestbox should be at ground level?

 

[Onlyducks]

Yes, ground level for the nest box. I noticed on the Muscovy thread the owner had a ladder up to the nest box. Muscovies have claws on their feet and are very good climbers, so in their case, a raised box works (though the ducks don't always cooperate and use the box
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/130753/muscovy-keepers-share-your-pics/9260).

 

[birdman4259]

Thanks again.