My rouens are not laying. at all.

[Onnie1776]

In May, I got two Rouen ducklings. They are +6 months old and have never laid an egg. I know Rouens are not prolific egg layers, but I thought by now I would have had at least one egg. They seem perfectly healthy in every way. Should I be worried?

 

[DuckyDonna]

I only have runners but how different can that be right? My first 2 hatches were born the end of May and they never laid until January so if it were me I wouldn't worry!

 

[Ratchnick]

If you live in North America and don't have artificial lighting that's why no eggs yet.

 

[DuckyDonna]

If you live in North America and don't have artificial lighting that's why no eggs yet.

Idk about that cause I'm in the same place with no artificial lighting and my 2 young girls that were just born the 1st of June are already laying! Based on my past experiences with the other 3 hatches I was completly surprised.

 

[Loopeend]

No. 4-6 months is 8-12 years in human-terms. Some humans start at 18 That's 9 months for ducks and chicken. They are not so different as us on some subjects

 

[Ratchnick]

Idk about that cause I'm in the same place with no artificial lighting and my 2 young girls that were just born the 1st of June are already laying! Based on my past experiences with the other 3 hatches I was completly surprised.

Sounds like they are some good layers! Seems like the ducks that lay a bunch of eggs like Campbell or harlequins will lay through the winter the first year or two without lights. What kind of ducks are they?

 

[PirateGirl]

If you are in North America, at this point, I would not expect eggs until after the solstice, which is December 21, when days start getting longer again.

 

[Onnie1776]

Thank you to everyone. I am glad my girls are fine. They are pretty slow to do everything it seems.

They have a little pond and for the 1st 5.5 months of their existence they avoided it like the plague. I tried chasing them in the water, but they acted like it was hot lava. They wanted no part of it. I had to set each of them up with a dishpan of water to sit in. About 2 weeks ago I came out and both were in the pond. No clue why the water is suddenly ok, but they definitely think it is. They are in the pond all day long until I put them away at night. Maybe laying eggs will be a similar thing. I will come out one day and there it will be - a magical duck egg. I have heard duck eggs are AWESOME for baking, so I can't wait!

 

[Loopeend]

Thank you to everyone. I am glad my girls are fine. They are pretty slow to do everything it seems.

They have a little pond and for the 1st 5.5 months of their existence they avoided it like the plague. I tried chasing them in the water, but they acted like it was hot lava. They wanted no part of it. I had to set each of them up with a dishpan of water to sit in. About 2 weeks ago I came out and both were in the pond. No clue why the water is suddenly ok, but they definitely think it is. They are in the pond all day long until I put them away at night. Maybe laying eggs will be a similar thing. I will come out one day and there it will be - a magical duck egg. I have heard duck eggs are AWESOME for baking, so I can't wait!

That is kind off the fun thing about ducks! They can be strong-minded; and suddenly change for no reason! Always a mystery what is going on in their little heads..

They are indeed good for baking; I heard from bakers. Uninvited. I have a fair share of meeting strangers that as soon as they learn I have ducks.. they are/used to be bakers and want my eggs?? They swear by it. They are golden eggs for them. I'm not a baker. But apparently it makes better dough? And you notice as an experienced baker that makes dough a lot? Maybe it's because there is more egg-yolk in duck eggs or the egg-white is more dense and has more enzymes? Just trying to find an answer; the bakers never could gave me any they just said "duck eggs are the best for making dough, just because, we don't know why". Since some of them have been making dough 10 hours a day for over 45 years.. there sure must be some thruth in it =/

I hope they will lay soon. 100% sure they WILL lay someday