Swedish ducks - what age to lay eggs?

[Mojo Chick'n]

Heya all -

not sure if anyone knows or not, and I tried to do a search, but didn't see anything on it -

I found a duck egg this morning that looks a little too big to be from my call duck girl. She had stopped laying (molt) and yesterday I caught her and her drake (also molted) doing their business - so I thought she might start laying again, but then this egg is a bit bigger than her usual eggs.

I also have three swedish girls who are just 4 months old - I thought they wouldn't lay until next spring, perhaps, but maybe this is one of their eggs?

The egg isn't huge, but that could mean it's a "pullet" egg from the swedish, or just a big egg from the call duck. It is longer than a chicken egg, not much bigger around, though. The call duck had been laying eggs the size of a medium chicken egg.

It is the same color as my call duck eggs were, though.

Any Ideas or Opinions?

eta - my swedish boy has been practicing hard to be a daddy, btw - so I know HE is ready at least

also eta - just checked Metzers - they say ducks are mature at 20-24 weeks - the swedish are 18 weeks. But I figure personal experience (you guys) trumps a website.

meri

 

[dun chick]

I think the ducks are similar to chickens. It usually takes 20-24 weeks. I don't have swedish(so want them though) but have a few pekins and it was always around 6 months. You could have an early layer though like we see with some chickens.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I guess I'll have to try catching them on the nest (actually inside the dog house

).

I guess I should just be happy that whomever it was laid A) before they went out for the day (to hide it in the woods) and B) in the proper spot (the doghouse).

I'll have to see if I have a open spot in the incubator to find out if it's fertile or not.

problem is my call duck breeding pair (the only adult ones I have) get blue/black/splash babies out of their eggs (like the swedish).

I may not know until it grows bigger than mama and daddy whom it belongs to.

thanks -
meri