The Buff Orpington Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Any time from 4-6 months old.

Great avatar.

 

[Table4Six]

Ok, thank you!

 

[darrylv50]

I purchased 4 newly hatched Buff Orpington Ducklings May 31 of this year. They turned out to be 2 drakes and 2 hens.They live with my 8 layer hens and get along fine. I was checking out this thread because I haven't seen any eggs yet. I let them free range with the girls but haven't found any eggs around. I was beginning to think something was wrong because there were no eggs yet. Do they slow down with their laying in the winter like the chickens do? I'm looking forward to my first duck egg omelette. They are so hilarious to watch and talk to me all the time. I just love them.

 

[PearlTheDuck]

View attachment 1206479 View attachment 1206480 I purchased 4 newly hatched Buff Orpington Ducklings May 31 of this year. They turned out to be 2 drakes and 2 hens.They live with my 8 layer hens and get along fine. I was checking out this thread because I haven't seen any eggs yet. I let them free range with the girls but haven't found any eggs around. I was beginning to think something was wrong because there were no eggs yet. Do they slow down with their laying in the winter like the chickens do? I'm looking forward to my first duck egg omelette. They are so hilarious to watch and talk to me all the time. I just love them.

They are absolutely adorable!!
Ducks mature around 20-24 weeks old and yours are 28 weeks so they aren't too late, how cold is it where you are? if they have the correct feed and lighting, they will start laying then. Otherwise they'll start laying when the days are longer and it's warmer. I wouldn't worry, it's most likely because it's darker earlier and it's getting pretty cold out (depending on where you live)

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Buffs started laying eggs at 4 months old was not expecting that at all having only had Muscovy's before them Buffs and Runners hatched at same time. My Muscovy's never laid an egg till following spring after hatch usually around 8-9 months old, once the days start getting longer you'll see eggs.
Another thing Are your ducks breeding usually eggs come soon after breeding begins.

 

[Table4Six]

My buff hen started laying at around 4-6 months old.

 

[Table4Six]

I live in Florida though, so it never gets very cold down here.

 

[darrylv50]

They are absolutely adorable!!
Ducks mature around 20-24 weeks old and yours are 28 weeks so they aren't too late, how cold is it where you are? if they have the correct feed and lighting, they will start laying then. Otherwise they'll start laying when the days are longer and it's warmer. I wouldn't worry, it's most likely because it's darker earlier and it's getting pretty cold out (depending on where you live)

 

[darrylv50]

Thanks for your reply. I can't blame them for not laying yet. I'm in Southern Michigan and we have been in a deep freeze the last few weeks and also getting large amts of snow. I have a small kiddy pool for them with a heater and they splash around in it every day though.

 

[Table4Six]

Good thing you have a heater in your kiddie pool, so they can still bathe.