Mating but no eggs?

[JustMarie]

My mallard duck is 20 wks old and shes not laying yet but i've seen my drake which is 20wks too, mate with her many times. Is this normal for them to be mating before she starts laying?

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

A drake will mate with a hen no matter if she is laying or not. His mating activities will not stimulate her to lay. I know when I had ducks, they were seasonal layers. They wouldn't lay year-round like the chickens.

 

[TK Poultry]

mallards especially are (I do believe) seasonal layers so if your girl isn't old enough to lay soon she might not until next spring....

 

[JustMarie]

Hmm seasonal layers.......I didn't know that. I just thought since she was being willing for him that she might lay soon, i should have know she was just being a lil hussy. Do they just lay in the spring or in the summer, also is she going to be broody at all

 

[TK Poultry]

mallards are very good broodies.......she could lay before fall

 

[desertdarlene]

I know that wild mallards will often mate without any result. This is especially true when they're mated right after the mom makes her first appearance after the ducklings hatch. But, I don't know about young ducks haven't laid eggs yet.