Should my pekin be laying now?

[khs2424]

I see them mating but I haven't seen any signs of her "laying" or seen any nest. They are kept free range on our pond and are fully mature I think. Hatched on July 13th. Is she laying and I just haven't found them or is it still to early in the year or are they still too young?

Thanks

 

[Kevin565]

She is old enough but it's not really the right time for laying in many climates.

 

[dukzzz]

my pekins started mating before they started laying. She'll probably start laying once it warms up a bit

 

[khs2424]

Well, the day after I posted this I found an egg. I've found two since then. Only problem is they were all cracked. Not sure if she not getting enough calcium or if they froze. It was pretty cold those few days. Any ideas? Should I just put out some oyster shell to be safe?

 

[NYRIR]

I offer my ducks when laying free choice oyster shell. Could have been frozen as well though!
Congrats on the egg

 

[jdywntr]

Congrats on your eggs! My muscovy just started laying 5 days ago. If the eggs are cracked they probably froze or were handled roughly, stepped on etc. If it is calcium usually they will be soft shelled.

 

[khs2424]

Congrats on your eggs! My muscovy just started laying 5 days ago. If the eggs are cracked they probably froze or were handled roughly, stepped on etc. If it is calcium usually they will be soft shelled.

Yea, I'm leaning towards frozen. It was more like they were split down the side than cracked by a pointy rock or something like that.

 

[slink1211]

My Pekin is laying now and has been for about a month. They started mating about 2 weeks before and then a nest showed up, then eggs! I am in Indiana and we have had a very mild winter. Mine were also born sometime in June or July.