The Duck Thread

[GAIL328]

A cayuga.

 

[Amiga]

All very lovely

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

How do you know when a duck lays an egg? She's right about that age but I know she won't for a bit since her incident with the coon but my drake just figured out he's a boy and well she isn't letting him but still I would like to know what to even look for with her

Thank you

 

[Betsy57]

How do you know when a duck lays an egg? She's right about that age but I know she won't for a bit since her incident with the coon but my drake just figured out he's a boy and well she isn't letting him but still I would like to know what to even look for with her

Thank you

How do you know when a duck lays an egg? When you find one. The male isn't needed for an egg to be laid, just for a fertilized egg.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

I know he's not needed but don't they hide their eggs? These are my first ducks

 

[houseofknauss]

How do you know when a duck lays an egg? She's right about that age but I know she won't for a bit since her incident with the coon but my drake just figured out he's a boy and well she isn't letting him but still I would like to know what to even look for with her

Thank you

duck eggs don't look like chicken eggs, they feel more waxy and are not as clean as chicken eggs. I have found that if I don't feed a layer pellet mix to the ducks they don't lay as much and will completely cut out during the winter. this past winter I had my ducks in the coop with the chickens(it was warmer for them) and they got fed the same as the chickens and they laid all winter. I think they are right around 5 to 6 months to start laying if I remember correctly what mine did.

 

[Amiga]

I know he's not needed but don't they hide their eggs? These are my first ducks

You are right - some ducks indeed hide their eggs, and hide them well. My ducks do not, 98% of the time. It all depends on the duck. Keeping them close until later in the morning may help. Or you could play egg detective (kind of a fun game, I like it), in which you just take a few extra minutes to poke around in the bedding, peek under the ramp, rustle around in the tall grass and watch to see where they go.

 

[Betsy57]

I know he's not needed but don't they hide their eggs? These are my first ducks

If you can keep them locked up until about 9 am or so, they normally will lay in their quarters. So then just look through the bedding for the eggs. If they go outside before they have laid an egg, you just have search. Like Easter morning. Once you find their egg(s), they typically lay in the same place. At least mine do. So then I have put a bit of straw down in those areas and they continue to lay there. Easy as pie. Not an issue.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

Ok good to know! another waiting game with her but I'm excited

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

Will she make a nest on her own or should I help her?