One of these is not like the other!

[happy duck]

YAY!!!!
You might not know who laid it...I don't really know who lay from my girls I just guess. Look at there feet...whoever has the lighter feet means they are draining the color to use for there eggs. Mine don't use a nesting a box.....even if I gave them one I don't know if they will use it. Mine just lay on the ground in the coop and don't think another thing about it. Your ducks will lay in time. This Muscovy of yours might even take a brake and it will be fine. Mine take brakes all the time because they are new layers. Your other girls will come soon just wait. I am so so happy for you. I was so giddy when mine started to lay, and that was not long ago so I am still in the happy boat with you! *I did not read the posts above so if I have missed something then let me know!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

YAY!!!!
You might not know who laid it...I don't really know who lay from my girls I just guess. Look at there feet...whoever has the lighter feet means they are draining the color to use for there eggs. Mine don't use a nesting a box.....even if I gave them one I don't know if they will use it. Mine just lay on the ground in the coop and don't think another thing about it. Your ducks will lay in time. This Muscovy of yours might even take a brake and it will be fine. Mine take brakes all the time because they are new layers. Your other girls will come soon just wait. I am so so happy for you. I was so giddy when mine started to lay, and that was not long ago so I am still in the happy boat with you! *I did not read the posts above so if I have missed something then let me know!

Muscovy mature later than other domesticated ducks, so that is why I wasn't expecting any eggs yet. It is surprising that I even got one since they should be starting their fall molt soon. I also know that new layers are sporadic in their laying.
However, I've never heard about the feet changing colors. Which I don't think would apply to my girls as all of their feet are a pale yellow. It would be really hard to detect.
Where did you find that info regarding the feet? I am interested in reading more.
A sure way of figuring out who is laying is to do a pelvic "exam" of sorts. You just place your fingers around the outside pelvic area to see how spread apart their bones are.
I won't be doing that either. I don't handle my ducks that much and even though my girls are much more tame than the drake, they do not like to be held much. Plus, I would have to suit up to protect myself from their evil claws and the poo they tend to expel when frightened.

 

[happy duck]

Muscovy mature later than other domesticated ducks, so that is why I wasn't expecting any eggs yet. It is surprising that I even got one since they should be starting their fall molt soon. I also know that new layers are sporadic in their laying.
However, I've never heard about the feet changing colors. Which I don't think would apply to my girls as all of their feet are a pale yellow. It would be really hard to detect.
Where did you find that info regarding the feet? I am interested in reading more.
A sure way of figuring out who is laying is to do a pelvic "exam" of sorts. You just place your fingers around the outside pelvic area to see how spread apart their bones are.
I won't be doing that either. I don't handle my ducks that much and even though my girls are much more tame than the drake, they do not like to be held much. Plus, I would have to suit up to protect myself from their evil claws and the poo they tend to expel when frightened.

I did not know about Muscovys maturing later then other domestics....good to know. I don't remember where I read about the feet, but I have been looking at my ducks feet lately and it seems to prove a point!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I did not know about Muscovys maturing later then other domestics....good to know. I don't remember where I read about the feet, but I have been looking at my ducks feet lately and it seems to prove a point!

I checked. No ducks feet look any different.

 

[happy duck]

I checked. No ducks feet look any different.

Ok.....my ducks feet are orange so it might be more visible, but I am going to confirm what I said when I get home from vacation. I want to make sure what I am saying is totally true! I got a message from the person who taking care of my animals and she said I got 3 eggs on Monday which means my last girl started to lay. I will definitely check her feet when I get home and I have some pics to confirm!

 

[Raenh]

Wish mine were laying! - Donella's tummy seems to be on the ground at times, and she was occassionally pecking at the calcium bowl- but I haven't found even one egg.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Wish mine were laying! - Donella's tummy seems to be on the ground at times, and she was occassionally pecking at the calcium bowl- but I haven't found even one egg.

Mine only laid the one egg. Lol

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Congratulations!
First Egg Day always feels like a holiday!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Ok, so I found some info on bill and feet color changing of pekin ducks when they become layers, but the info I found didn't pertain to other breeds. Most likely because the bill and feet of pekins are orange. Plus, pekins produce a a lot of eggs. So, it probably doesn't apply to all ducks. I am going to keep looking though.

http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-do-i-know-which-of-my-ducks-are.html

http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-do-you-make-duck-egg-yolks-more.html

 

[happy duck]

Yeah I am going to keep looking too! I really want to be able to back this up and not have said stuff that goes to waste. My pekin is a male so I could not be able to tell on his feet, but I have 3 buffs so there feet are pretty easy to tell....