Newbie question about duck eggs - Help!!!

[goosemama]

First year for ducks - bought 4 Pekin end of April at feed store and 6 Rouen ducklings on June lst. I thought they all would start laying eggs next Spring as wild ducks do. I've seen the Pekins mating and I've put low boxes w/pine shavings in the corner of the henhouse floor just in case. Books I have read say they will lay in Spring, but some info on Forum seems to say they will lay at a certain age. Help I'm really confused! Rouens are just changing feathers so have 3 males & 2 females and of the Pekins 2 males and 2 females which I am happy about.

 

[Wifezilla]

Egg laying depends on breed. Some, like runners, khaki campbells, or welsh harlequins start laying at a certain age. Other ducks...like rouens...are usually seasonal layers.

Not sure about pekins, but someone here has a muscovy (which is supposed to be a seasonal layer) that started laying.

 

[pirtykitty]

What age do the Welsh Harlequins start laying????? Mine are going to be 16 weeks old September 7th... Someone told me not to let them start laying till 28 to 30 weeks.. by not feeding them layena till a month before.. What do ya'll do.. Oh my cayugas are going to be the same age..

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Here's from Holderread:
In a paragraph about using artificial light in Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks: When pullets are exposed to excesssive light or increasing day lengths between the ages of 12 and 22 weeks, they will begin to lay before their bodies are adequately mature. Early laying (before 18 to 20 weeks of age) can result in a shortened production life, smaller and fewer eggs, and greater possibility of complications such as prolapsed oviducts.
In his bulletin Managing Ducks for Top Egg Production: Laying ducks should be put on a ration formulated for producing birds as soon as they start laying, but no more than two to three weeks prior to the anticipated first eggs. Placing young ducks on a laying ration too early can cause permanent damage due to a calcium/phosphorus imbalance.

 

[headred]

My pekin, born early March, just layed her first eggs about 2 weeks ago. Someone (I have 5 total hens, 4 khakis) has been laying membrane eggs (no shell) and somebody else is laying teeny tiny eggs. So, I would think yours might start laying soon!