So I have 3 peking ducks. 1 male, 2 females that I am concerned about what to do with.
The 2 females aren't producing any eggs. I got my ducks in December around Christmas. Its now August. Still no eggs. (Although to be fair 1 of the pekings is a month younger than the others. I'd gotten her later to compensate in the other direction from having too many males.)
The buff duck female that came with my first group in December barely started producing eggs a week ago. And it seems that's producing much later than normal, but I don't mind. (I only say this part because it may help in figuring out 'possibly' when the others should start laying.)
Anyway that's ...wow. Almost 8 months with the pekings not producing. And they are a larger duck.
I do really like the pekings. I would even say I care about them.
But this is a self sufficiency project to put food on the table, to counter food inflation that is going up.
There's a guy in my area selling 3 welsh harlequinns. And I'm starting to feel tempted to consider how much longer I should give the pekings, as compared to the alternative? And I doubt those harlequinns will be around long. (They are supposed to be a calmer duck also.) (I also have a batch of ducklings in the back also, so I'm not sure I can get away with having more without having some 'out going' to match the incoming.
I'm trying to weigh out the pros and cons of this. What do you think?
The 2 females aren't producing any eggs. I got my ducks in December around Christmas. Its now August. Still no eggs. (Although to be fair 1 of the pekings is a month younger than the others. I'd gotten her later to compensate in the other direction from having too many males.)
The buff duck female that came with my first group in December barely started producing eggs a week ago. And it seems that's producing much later than normal, but I don't mind. (I only say this part because it may help in figuring out 'possibly' when the others should start laying.)
Anyway that's ...wow. Almost 8 months with the pekings not producing. And they are a larger duck.
I do really like the pekings. I would even say I care about them.
But this is a self sufficiency project to put food on the table, to counter food inflation that is going up.
There's a guy in my area selling 3 welsh harlequinns. And I'm starting to feel tempted to consider how much longer I should give the pekings, as compared to the alternative? And I doubt those harlequinns will be around long. (They are supposed to be a calmer duck also.) (I also have a batch of ducklings in the back also, so I'm not sure I can get away with having more without having some 'out going' to match the incoming.
I'm trying to weigh out the pros and cons of this. What do you think?
