muscovy egg laying question

[H04]

whats the avg amt yearly they can lay eggs when the climate is warm? Ive read from 80 a yr up to 198????

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Does that correspond in any way with when they lay their first eggs? Seems like the drake thinks she is ready.

2-3wks & you should see your first egg.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

I haven't counted eggs. In the past I had 3 ducks laying and I let them set their eggs, well 2 of them. I really haven't gotten to eat many eggs except for Snows, she tried real hard not to mate with the first drake, but he won, and she started to sit one hatch the day he died. Now she won't have anything to do with the new drake. I cull tomorrow.

The other 2 hens set 2 hatches one right after the other and then I culled for various reasons. The Teens haven't started laying yet. Oh, other hatches were in winter and only drakes made it. They were tasty.

But Snow lays for 3-4 weeks then take a few weeks brake, lay etc. year round.

If drakes are mating they are ready and the girls will be getting ready. Give them layer food and oyster shell. When they start eating the oyster shell, that's when I know they are going to lay. I have a dish of oyster shell mixed with crushed egg shells out in front of my kitchen window. When I notice them coming over with the chickens to eat it, they are getting ready, you will see their bellies drop, they get the egg belly, expect eggs anytime after that.

MY girls always, lay their eggs first thing in the morning. They say they will lay with the first 3 hours after sunrise and I find that true with my girls. Once started they should lay for 3 weeks or so, until they need a break, if you don't let them sit their eggs. The first few eggs are smaller and usually infertile, go ahead and eat them. After that if you want them to sit their hatch, leave them in their nest or bring them in and give them back after you have a dozen or the ducks start to sit. (If you bring them in, don't forget to turn them, morning and night. I leave them and shut the ducks and chicken out of the duck house for a week, after that or around that time the ducks start sitting for short period and the chicken have to stay pened while the ducks roam. Unless you have one like my Snow White, she is just not a good breeder and is not interested in mating or sitting or mothering.