McDiver is on strike

[jxp]

First a bit of background. She is a khaki born in the spring of '23, so currently 2+ y.o. She's always been a consistent layer since starting besides a small slowdown this past winter. Up until this past spring she'd always laid inside the coop along with the chickens they were raised with.

In the spring and early summer, she tried twice to hide her clutches under a bush and once under a grape vine. We figured something was up when she and Quackers stayed at the back of the yard and he was the only one who came for breakfast. By the third time, I let her keep the eggs since she seemed so determined. But far too soon she left the nest she'd made and spent most of her time hanging out in a totally different part of the yard.

She hasn't laid, not one single egg since around early-to-mid-June. Believe me, we look. We live in the city so there's not a lot to search. Also, I never hear them mating anymore.

They still go around together every place within the yard. Both seem otherwise healthy and quite content. It's not the heat because until earlier this month we've hardly been above 90°. There's no predators hanging around. They're quite used to my dogs who don't chase or bother them.

I'm not Mother Nature and I know there's nothing I can do to make her begin laying eggs again. I was just hoping anyone who's had a duck on egg strike can tell me about your girl's experience. How long did it last? How old was she? All that kind of things. TIA

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They do their best laying during their first season or two. Going broody will shut the egg laying down, and it can take some time to start back up. She may be done for the season at this point. What are you feeding? Feeding a higher protein ration may help, but I wouldn't hold out for eggs this year.

 

[jxp]

Thanks for responding. Truly.

She's eating the same feed as she's been on since she came off starter. They also free range all day and get fresh veggies twice a day. Usually cucumbers or watermelon in the afternoon for the high water content and then something like lettuce, spinach, or kale about an hour before sundown.

For the past couple of weeks, I've upped the protein for everyone because one of the chickens is going through a molt and I'd like her to grow feathers back AQAP to protect her from the August heat. One day they'll get tuna, one day eggs, one day pork, one day sardines, and on and on . All the birds eat together. There's enough food to go around for everyone and there's no food fights.

The ducks have 24/7 access to both the pond and fresh drinking water.

I just don't recall any of my birds ever going for over 2 months without one single egg - neither this batch nor when I lived in the country. Not even in the winter. I suppose Quacker will know before I do when she's coming out of it. If I hear him trying to drown her out there I'll know to look for eggs.