So few cayuga eggs. WTheck?

[sianara]

My two cayugas laid 3 eggs between them last week and that's it! I mean what the heck? I figured once they got going (at 30 weeks old mind you) that they'd at least have the decency to keep laying all winter long. I know they don't lay alot but jeez I was counting on more than THREE.

 

[duckyfromoz]

With the shortening of day light hours you may find that providing a light source may be needed to trigger the right hormones for laying. They need around 16 hours of light a day for that to happen...otherwise you may have to wait for spring to see more regular eggs.

 

[katharinad]

They say they need 14-17 hours of light per day for egg production. They also need temps above 35 degrees I believe. I have a light on a timer in my duck house that comes on at 4am and turns of when the light is up. Check this out
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=405232

 

[sianara]

I am aware of the 14-17 hours of light requirement but I guess I was expecting these new ducks to lay like my new chickens usually do which is if they are hatched early/mid spring then they usually start laying that first late summer/early fall and lay all winter long and through the spring/summer irregardless of the # of daylight hours. The second fall is when they molt and stop laying for the fall/winter.

The only experience I've had with large ducks is my seven year old Golden 300 hybrids. Those girls laid year round for the first 3-4 years rarely taking breaks at all. Of course, now they've used up all their eggs and haven't laid regularly for about 3 years now.

Anyhoo, I guess the big chickens and pure breed big ducks are different in that way. I'm a little disappointed but it is what it is