The Duck Thread

[gander007]

I have a question for y'all. Have you noticed that you ducks stop laying when it gets hot? I'm getting less eggs this week but we are almost at 100 degrees. Also do ducks molt their first year? They were born in Dec so should I expect a fall molt this year or will it start next?

My ducks stop laying around the end of spring and pick back up around the fall but I have had Khaki Campbell's that would produce egg's in temps as high as 120 F degrees but it depends on the duck really as other girls would lay as few as 30 egg's a year but they get taken out of the flock ......

Molting, I really only notice that happening after the ducks are a year old and they go broody ......


The nice thing about some animals is they are not like computers and each one is a little different depending on where they live and what they get to feed off of and different poisons in the area and ducks are really susceptible to poison and changes in the environment ....

 

[jtn42248]

I have a question for y'all. Have you noticed that you ducks stop laying when it gets hot? I'm getting less eggs this week but we are almost at 100 degrees. Also do ducks molt their first year? They were born in Dec so should I expect a fall molt this year or will it start next?

My Cayugas have gone from 14 eggs a day to 4 and those have all been laid in their house overnight. I do have two Khakis that have laid an egg a day every day since they started and that is over a year now. I think it must be partly breed and partly season, don't know about heat having much to do with it. My chickens have gone from an average of 20 eggs a day to less than 10 in their second year of laying. I have not noticed any degree of molting with my ducks though. What I have noticed is that my Khakis (male and female) have all lost color. Where they were a pretty khaki green/brown they are now a pale beige and the male has lost his beautiful darker wing feathers. There has been no change in their environment or diet other than the heat so it may have something to do with that.

 

[allergymama]

My Cayugas have gone from 14 eggs a day to 4 and those have all been laid in their house overnight. I do have two Khakis that have laid an egg a day every day since they started and that is over a year now. I think it must be partly breed and partly season, don't know about heat having much to do with it. My chickens have gone from an average of 20 eggs a day to less than 10 in their second year of laying. I have not noticed any degree of molting with my ducks though. What I have noticed is that my Khakis (male and female) have all lost color. Where they were a pretty khaki green/brown they are now a pale beige and the male has lost his beautiful darker wing feathers. There has been no change in their environment or diet other than the heat so it may have something to do with that.

When mine stop laying so much we start hunting for eggs...usually someone is trying to build a nest

 

[OldMissionChick]

Our ducks have been laying strange too. Had been getting an egg a day from 1 Rouen and our 1 Peking. The past few days it has only been 1 from one or the other, not sure if our 2nd Rouen is laying yet. But on a good note more chickens have started laying

 

[needlessjunk]

Hmmm... We went from 5 eggs a day down to 2-3 the last 4 days. This morning there was only 1 egg. Apparently everyone thinks laying in the bushes is great so I've been locking them back in their house as they start nesting. Right now it's not a big deal where they lay but I don't want them to get in the habit of it once it starts raining.

 

[OldMissionChick]

How long does it take eggs to hatch once the hen starts sitting? We have 1 Peking & 2 Rouen hens, 1 Peking drake, 1 Rouen drake & 2 KC drakes.

 

[needlessjunk]

How long does it take eggs to hatch once the hen starts sitting? We have 1 Peking & 2 Rouen hens, 1 Peking drake, 1 Rouen drake & 2 KC drakes.

About 28 days

 

[Nason11]

Hi everyone. I am new to this forum and a new duck owner. I recently obtain 5 call ducks and their time at my place was short lived as some critter had gotten to all 5. With some changes to the pen and keeping a closer eye I now have 6 khaki's. They are still young. But on this damp day I got the idea of going slug hunting. Very easily filled a tubberware dish full. My question is has anyone ever thought of gathering slugs/snails and freezing them in small portions for winter time treats for the ducks? Maybe it is a crazy idea but I thought it is something to do on a rainy day and the ducks may appreciate an unexpected winter treat once or twice a week in winter. Thoughts?

 

[OldMissionChick]

About 28 days

Thanks! I wasn't sure if the different breeds had different incubation time. Now thats from the day she starts sitting not the day she lays correct?

 

[Debs Flock]

@Nason11 - I wonder if anyone has tried freezing. Some ducks might prefer fresh. I think it's worth a try, though.

@OldMissionChick - so if I counted right, you have 4 drakes and 3 females? Do they all get along okay? I'm pretty sure you count the days once she starts sitting. Good luck with the hatch!