Muscovy duck problems

[EllieMay2001]

I read online that muscovy ducks can hatch lots of eggs. 8-16. My hens are only laying 3-6 before they start sitting. Are the hens too old? My drakes are getting pretty old too. Is there a certain age where you conclude your drakes are too old to fertilize eggs? I like my drakes through, right now their genetic combo gets me a rainbow of different color hatchlings.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mine this time of year aren't making big clutches either, so could have something to do with the warmer weather. My drake was fertile up to the end, he was around 13.

 

[justin shrew]

well, i think i depends on the season. we have a mama duck about 7 years old and her brood of 3 years. from the beginning of the season when the is high rainfalls and plenty of insects fostered by rains, most of the hens usually produce a clutch up to 20 eggs then go broody. but as the season goes or the lost in the first clutch, the hen might lay again,less eggs usually 10 or just 12 then go broody.
-So i thing the clutch number of the muscovy duck depends on the season,unlike other ducks that has an stable clutch number.

best wishes...