pekin duck question

[penelope77]

my pekins are around 7-8 months now. i had someone tell me they wouldn't start laying till spring. anyone know if this is true?

 

[chickensandmore]

Well everything that I have read seems to say they should have already started, My understanding is that Pekins lay year round from about 51/2 months ..
I just got a dozen day old ducklings a month ago.. I am hoping for spring..
Just wondering is the age correct.. they get so big so quick..ours seem to grow each time we go to the barn..
I hope some else comes along and sets this question straight ..

Good luck with your Ducks

Don

 

[jhm47]

I've raised quite a few Pekins over the years. Here in South Dakota, they usually quit laying in late summer/early fall, and resume laying in early spring. They are fairly good layers for being classed as meat birds. If you really want lots of duck eggs, get some production runners. They will lay as many eggs as the best laying chicken hens.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I was under the impression that Pekins only layed once in the spring??

 

[FisherMOM]

Mine are 5 1/2 months old and just started laying. I am in Western NY .. if that matters. They have been laying eggs for over a week now.

 

[penelope77]

hmmmmmmm they must have read this post cause yesterday we got three duck eggs!!

 

[FisherMOM]

Yippee Penelope! I got three duck eggs today. Now all of my girls are laying.

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

I am curious, do they lay in boxes you have prepared? I am freeranging but currently pen at night. I have muscovies, pilgrim geese, and africans. I was wondering what I need to do to be able to gather eggs next spring when they lay. I had one mature hen that layed in the pen most of the year and then started disappearing in August and I assumed she went broody or something and then got eaten.

 

[FisherMOM]

All 3 of mine laid then in the same section of the open last night. I think that I need to make them a nest box/area. Looks like they would use one.

 

[Fudgie]

I just lay out straw for them and fluff it up good, they make a couple of nests in there and I leave em. they use the hollows they made to lay in.