Purchased ducks won't lay

[Gigglebox]

I purchased 2 buff females about 3-4 weeks ago. The seller says they were 6 months old and already laying. They are in with my flock of 51 ducks and 5 drakes, could it be a group mentality thing? Like they'll start laying when the others do? The others are about 12 weeks old (white layers, cayugas, KC's, runners).

I tried the golf ball trick to no prevail.

Birds are pasture shifted and fed supplemental organic feed am & pm.

Thoughts?

 

[Kevin565]

It's actually fairly common. Moving to a new place can be very stressful on the birds. I'd give them a few more weeks to adjust.

 

[Gigglebox]

I knew there would be an adjustment period but just figured 2-3 weeks max *face palm* thank you!

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I think it is the stress of the other birds. As newcomers they are on the bottom of the pecking order and they may not be used to that.

 

[Gigglebox]

Hi all, thanks again for the responses. JUST to follow up, the ducks started laying anout 4-5 days after my first post

In a somewhat unrelated note, I think one of the white layers that hatched on April 20th is starting to lay, too! Hopefully it won't be long now until they all start...

Cheers!