Pekin ducks laying

aj161

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My two female pekins are about 6 months old they were laying a egg a day for a few weeks and now I haven't found a egg in about a week. Is this normal or am I missing something. Im new to ducks and have all different kinds this year and hoping to get good egg production eventually. Any suggestions would be appreciated
 
The female Pekins I have, when they were laying, (they stopped once we got rid of their drake buddies) would just stop, drop, and go. I'd find eggs in the most random places. Yours may be hiding them. They'll lay practically anywhere, so I'd start egg hunting.
What are they being fed?
 
I've been feeding them non medicated chicken grower feed according to my feed store it's specifically for ducks too. Also they get fresh greens and lots of water daily
 
Today I have searched for a hour or more in a 20x30 area that's the room they have unless we let them out and nothing idk I do have baby chickens also with them would they eat the eggs possibly?
 
I don't think chicks would eat the eggs. And if they did, there would be evidence.
Mine either stopped laying and I have no clue why, or they're hiding them. :idunno try switching to a layer food.
 
Your ducks may be burying their eggs or rolling them in the mud so they're camouflaged. I've been known to stand right by an egg for 15 minutes while I'm out playing with the chickens and ducks before I finally notice it's there. If there are any piles of leaves, grass, straw, etc; check in the piles. I also had a duck that found a spot under a small bush pile where she dug a hole and buried her eggs for several days before finally I saw her going in there and figured out what she was doing. There were several eggs buried under some dead leaves, and the ground looked completely level and undisturbed because she covered the hole so well. My ducks have all been generally good about laying purposefully in a nest, but the downside of that is they do hide their nests well.

Has it been particularly hot for the past week or two? They might have stopped laying due to the heat. My two girls have stopped laying for the past few weeks as well, but they're molting. Yours may be a little young for a molt, but if you notice they've lost a lot of feathers recently, that could be the cause.
 
Im having similar problems lately. they just arent laying like I think they should.
I have one Pekin that has been laying reliably since she was 16 weeks old, she is 24 weeks now. She takes a day or two off per week. I have 6 other ducklings that are 20 weeks old now, 2 Pekin, 2 Rouen and 2 Golden 300 (bread to be "super"layers. ) I also have 2 drakes (20 weeks) that keep the girls busy.
About two weeks ago it became evident that one of the young 'uns started to lay. I got an egg no bigger than a quarter, the next one was about golf ball sized, round and now they seem normal, yet still small. And not every day. Not even every other day. Sometimes I havent gotten eggs for days at a time at all.
The days have actually cooled a bit so it's in the 70-80's typically. They are locked in their pen from night fall to 9 am. I have never found an egg outside their run ever. I recently drained their pond to see if they were laying there. No luck.
I cant figure out why they are not laying.
They get a layer pellet with 18% protein. Enough to feed all night and still have some left in the tray in the morning when they are let out to forage. They get free choice Oyster shell and ground chicken egg shell, (some sprinkled over their food occasionally just because) Plenty of fresh water. Occasional treats such as meal worms and of course all the bugs & vegetation they can find in the yard all day. They have been eating all the squash and squash leaves they can reach through the fence.
The eggs I do get are generally well formed (after the expected new layer adjustments) and very hard shells.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to inspire my flock to get busy laying?

Will too much "hop on pop" stop them from laying?
I would love some suggestions as to the cause as well as any suggestions that may bring them into laying. I know its hard to hurry nature but sometimes you come across some old farmers trick that can help in these matters. If anyone has that info kindly cough it up. Thanks All!
 
DH hung a hatchet in the duck pen last night before bed to "inspire" the ducks to lay. After two disappointing weeks, getting only one or two eggs a day, then 2 days ago getting 2 very soft shelled messes along with the traditional 1 perfect egg; I got one egg yesterday. We felt like they needed some incentive. THEN: This morning I got 5 perfect eggs! Coincidence? yeah, Probably, but Im leaving it hanging up there!
 

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