Surprise to me!

[CrazyCrttr75]

I have 3 ducks. A pair of Rouen, Noah and Xena, and a female Mallard Luna. They were 22 weeks old this past Wednesday. I knew it was close to maturing/laying time (and they've been sexually active for a while now. Don't know if that matters or not.) so I've been checking around their pen and coop daily. I thought that I read that with new layers, if they become mature during wintertime that they often will be delayed in laying until the spring so I knew that was a good probability. So when I checked around their area and in their coop today out of habit, I was quite shocked when I saw this:

Eeeeeeee! We got our first duck egg! I don't know if it's from Xena or Luna. If one is starting to lay then maybe the 2nd girl isn't far behind her.

Now of course it's in the most awkward corner for me to get to in their coop. But that's ok. At least I don't have to go hunting for it. I took the egg out but I am leaving the little nest intact to see if she'll lay in the same place or if she's going to try and explore around.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I have 3 ducks. A pair of Rouen, Noah and Xena, and a female Mallard Luna. They were 22 weeks old this past Wednesday. I knew it was close to maturing/laying time (and they've been sexually active for a while now. Don't know if that matters or not.) so I've been checking around their pen and coop daily. I thought that I read that with new layers, if they become mature during wintertime that they often will be delayed in laying until the spring so I knew that was a good probability. So when I checked around their area and in their coop today out of habit, I was quite shocked when I saw this:
View attachment 1626763

Eeeeeeee! We got our first duck egg! I don't know if it's from Xena or Luna. If one is starting to lay then maybe the 2nd girl isn't far behind her.

Now of course it's in the most awkward corner for me to get to in their coop. But that's ok. At least I don't have to go hunting for it. I took the egg out but I am leaving the little nest intact to see if she'll lay in the same place or if she's going to try and explore around.

My baby runners are 28 weeks and just started laying this week. It's so cool to find the eggs!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a girl duck that when she first started to lay she laid infront of the coop door. Later she had a nest out in the open, just 2 and it started to rain. I gave the eggs to a broody frizzle, and she hatched out 2 ducklings. Later when they grew up, they would see the broody hen, and look at each other, like, that is our mom, and start to nod their heads at her.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

This may be a dumb question but do ducks need extra calcium once they start laying like chickens do? I just feed them purina flock raiser pellets right now.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I give mine oyster shells and have recently started giving them calcium gluconate because they were having issues with "shaky legs".

Anyway, I put a little container of oyster shells wired to my fence that the girls can eat when they feel the need and they do a lot! I put little drain holes in the bottom so water doesn't sit in it. Works good.