My babies are all grown up!

[MerryMeridional]

Black runner/ cayuga mixes. I wasn't expecting eggs until 20 - 24 weeks of age. At 18 weeks and 2 days (from shipped date), I found a covered up pile of TEN eggs in the coop! So these gals started somewhere between 17 and 18 weeks. I am so excited! Every morning is an Easter egg hunt. They seem to like to lay together in a pile which helps.

Here they are enjoying their morning weeds.

I was worried about their overall production since I did not receive quite the breed I was expecting. They sure started early though! I can't get enough of these duck egg sandwiches in the morning.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Pretty girls! Those egg sandwiches are sure tasty!

 

[PaulX]

So envious! My runners are 23 weeks old and still no egg.

 

[MerryMeridional]

So envious! My runners are 23 weeks old and still no egg.

Oh no! Any day now....

What area are you in? I've heard some won't start til the following spring, especially if you are in a latitude with less light levels.

I wonder if feed/diet makes a big difference in when they start or if it is more about the individual bird. Or a mix of those two factors. I've been doing fermented feed since day 1 and they seem to benefit from it. But I've never had ducks before now or fed dry feed to have a comparison.

 

[PaulX]

Oh no! Any day now....

What area are you in? I've heard some won't start til the following spring, especially if you are in a latitude with less light levels.

I wonder if feed/diet makes a big difference in when they start or if it is more about the individual bird. Or a mix of those two factors. I've been doing fermented feed since day 1 and they seem to benefit from it. But I've never had ducks before now or fed dry feed to have a comparison.

My latitude is 14° north. The daylight only fluctuates between 11-13 hours. It is currently about 12:44 hours. It's still over 12 so should be enough. My pekin has been laying straight for over 3 months, eating the same diet as my 3 runners, so diet shouldn't be a factor I'm thinking.

I've been wanting to add a local 'cayuga' to my flock too. Have to resist the duck math .

Did your ducks ever flatten for you or for each other? My pekin was doing that for 3 weeks before laying. My runners haven't yet.

 

[MerryMeridional]

My latitude is 14° north. The daylight only fluctuates between 11-13 hours. It is currently about 12:44 hours. It's still over 12 so should be enough. My pekin has been laying straight for over 3 months, eating the same diet as my 3 runners, so diet shouldn't be a factor I'm thinking.

I've been wanting to add a local 'cayuga' to my flock too. Have to resist the duck math .

Did your ducks ever flatten for you or for each other? My pekin was doing that for 3 weeks before laying. My runners haven't yet.

They haven't flattened for me but I have noticed mating behavior.

I have a wild weedy area around my firepit that I let them forage when I am home to supervise (not covered and hawks are a concern). I put a kiddie pool down in that area when I was letting them forage there about 2-3 weeks ago and I noticed one of them flattening in the water while the others got on top and/or flapped on her a lot. So that fits with what you've seen from your Pekins. Then, I think a week ago? I noticed that Beyonce (the crested one) was flattened and frozen which the others were around her, mounting her and biting on her crest. I sprayed them with a jet of water to stop to prevent anybody from tearing her crest which I've read can happen.
I'm sure they are still doing it when I'm not around though.

 

[MerryMeridional]

Here was the first clutch of eggs. First when I collected them and a picture of them washed, right before they were popped in the fridge. I just have to share, I am so stinking excited over these eggs. Some were peewees but I think the sizes will balance out as the gals mature. The jumbo was actually a double yolk!