My ducks aren't laying yet...?

[Gorsedd]

I got ten ducks just hatched (all sexed female) near the end of April this year. During the summer heat here in Texas one of them died. Near the end of August dogs got into the run during the night. They came on the property chasing one of our wild deer, killing the deer and then going after the ducks. They killed 5 of the ducks (or they died of fright?)...

Of the 4 remaining, 2 were missing, 2 remained. I put the two remaining in the small coop I have to keep them safer, until I can shore up the fencing of the run. It's still a work in progress, and since our property is fenced, we hadn't been worried until the dogs attacked.

Of the two missing ducks, both were found. One the same day, the other two weeks later, living under the neighbour's house. One of the two that had originally survived passed away after a couple of days. Perhaps she was scared and hurt?

Anyway, I am left with 3 ducks now at the end of September -- 2 black swedish, 1 white crested. None are laying yet.

I check daily for eggs, as they ought to be old enough. Could shock have scared them? They are on laying pellets, garlic/yeast supplement, and oyster shell for feed, and let out daily to forage in the run/yard. Is it just too late in the year? We're in SE Texas, so it's still in the 80's here...

I just can't figure. If a snake or something were getting in and eating the eggs, what signs would there be?

Thanks!

 

[Pyxis]

! Sorry for your losses

If you got them at the end of April, that would make them about five months old, and ducks generally start laying at six months, so it's not unusual that you haven't gotten any eggs yet. Keep an eye out, though - they could start at any time now since they're approaching the right age!

Now that the days are shortening (if you're on my half of the world, you could be in Australia, in which case they would be lengthening and you can ignore this) they may actually not lay until spring unless you give them supplemental lighting - just like chickens they don't usually lay unless they are getting about 12 to 14 hours of daylight a day, so while they may start laying for you, they may also wait until spring.