Question about Ducks....

[LunarAngel]

Are Black Swed. good setters? We have a female of that breed and a Fawn-and-White Runner/Buff (who finally realized she's a girl!) mix. How will she set?
And will ducks mate before they're ready to lay eggs? That's what ours seem to have done.

A few weeks ago, the Black Swed, Kuro, decided that she was a girl duck. And the boys decided they were boy ducks. And even though they've mated about 50 times now, there still aren't any eggs. Baka, the other female, has just decided she's a girl and has only mated a few times. But all of them are 5 mo. and 1 day old today, so they should start laying, right?

And I usually let them out at about 8:30 a.m. every morning (going to be about 7:45 since I have to go to school again), and I've heard they lay in the mornings, so will the girls lay in the coop or wait? And I'm only at this house every other week, and my Mom lets them out between 8:30 and 10:00 or so. So even if they do start laying outside of the coop, will they wait or lay the eggs in the coop?

These are our first ducks, and so far... CHICKENS ARE EASIER!!! But I think gerbils are the easiest... puppies have to go out too much and kittens are evil

.

Please, someone HELP ME!!!

 

[GloriaH]

I raise Welsh Harlequin Ducks. Your girls may already be laying. If you are letting them out that early they may be laying outside of the coop. If you could keep them in for a few days you might find eggs in the morning. Or Let them out a little later than you do you might find them. I incubate my eggs so I don't know how well the ducks set. I also have two blue sweedish but mine are crested. I love my chickens but the ducks have a special place in my heart.

 

[LunarAngel]

I don't think it should matter if they're crested, should it? There isn't just a "crested" duck, is there? I know that Kupo (drake runner/buff) is a crested. But Baka isn't, and I think they might be related.

Thanks for the info, though. I ought to try leaving them in a little longer and seeing whether they lay eggs or not. Poor girls... they haven't been getting much food lately because of the big males. They'll let the girls in, but Kuro isn't too friendly.

Thanks!