- May 28, 2012
- 419
- 605
- 276
I have about 20 full grown laying ducks. All but 4 are under 2 years old. I’m getting 3-7 eggs a day. How can I get it up?
Back story- I’ve been hatching ducks all summer. First hatch was April, got 2 ducks, integrated with the flock in June. Second hatch was 17, integrated with the flock in July. Third hatch was 7, integrated in mid August. I also added 7 adults the end of June.
Is the lowered production from the stress of adding ducks (slowly) over the summer? I think the 3 eggs a day was due to heat, I’m usually getting 6. But with them being mostly year old I would expect closer to 20 a day. I was getting 13-15 a day in the spring with 18 layers.
Would juvenile drakes add stress too? There were 20 drakes in with 40 hens until I sorted them Monday. Most of them were under 12 weeks though.
Food hasn’t changed, pen is large enough for up to 70 birds, especially when they free range all day which they do since it’s summer. Plenty of fresh water and food, I feed twice a day in multiple feeders so all have plenty of space to eat. Pen is cleaned often and nesting areas have fresh hay weekly or more.
I’m hoping maybe with the drakes out they will lay more? The drakes are in a chicken tractor until their date at the butcher Wednesday.
Oh- I was getting up to 9 eggs a day before I added the adults. 4 of which are adult hens.
Back story- I’ve been hatching ducks all summer. First hatch was April, got 2 ducks, integrated with the flock in June. Second hatch was 17, integrated with the flock in July. Third hatch was 7, integrated in mid August. I also added 7 adults the end of June.
Is the lowered production from the stress of adding ducks (slowly) over the summer? I think the 3 eggs a day was due to heat, I’m usually getting 6. But with them being mostly year old I would expect closer to 20 a day. I was getting 13-15 a day in the spring with 18 layers.
Would juvenile drakes add stress too? There were 20 drakes in with 40 hens until I sorted them Monday. Most of them were under 12 weeks though.
Food hasn’t changed, pen is large enough for up to 70 birds, especially when they free range all day which they do since it’s summer. Plenty of fresh water and food, I feed twice a day in multiple feeders so all have plenty of space to eat. Pen is cleaned often and nesting areas have fresh hay weekly or more.
I’m hoping maybe with the drakes out they will lay more? The drakes are in a chicken tractor until their date at the butcher Wednesday.
Oh- I was getting up to 9 eggs a day before I added the adults. 4 of which are adult hens.
