Three grown up ducks but only one egg per day?

[quackiemama]

My girls get sneaky in the spring. I have found hidden nests full of eggs. I think they cross their little legs and wait to lay until I let them out. So, you might be on the look out for a hiding spot.

I noticed Maryann made a nest yesterday in the run but I could not find any eggs. Then today somebody went back in the house and made a beutiful nest but I still could not find any dang eggs. I keep looking for a hiding spot

 

[quackiemama]

Yes I have 4 quackers and one definite drake. I did notice tonight the run was full of feathers so it looks like some of my girls are finally molting. Ginger was the only one that did a good molt in March.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Yes I have 4 quackers and one definite drake. I did notice tonight the run was full of feathers so it looks like some of my girls are finally molting. Ginger was the only one that did a good molt in March.

Good to know. I know some people have asked about eggs and they had boys. I for instance just hatched 4 ducks out of what I thought were goose eggs. I am finally getting goslings today.

 

[WVduckchick]

I agree with all the responses!
It could be any number of things. I’ve had them squeeze in to spots that you never dreamed they would lay in, hide them, cover them up, lay in the pool, or drop them in the middle of the yard. I’d look for hidden spots first.

Also look at their bellies at different times of the day, see if one hangs lower than the others. Mine look like they are about to drag the ground some days, if they lay late in the day. Also watch for one to disappear for 30 minutes or so at a time.

Or try the vent coloring!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I've got some experience with how to tell who's laying. Grab the duck, wrap it in a towel, put her on her back and put food coloring around her vent. Obviously different colors! It helps to have 2 people for this because the vent isn't all that easy to find, at least for me it wasn't. You've got 3 ducks so you only really have to do this to 2 of them and in the morning you'll be able to tell who's doing what!

I did my Eva's vent blue when she was having her issues back the beginning of February and I can still see it on her butt feathers but it's not on the eggs still.

They may be alternating days, they may not all be laying. I think the food coloring is your best bet! One of my ducks just resumed laying today from her winter break, so now most of my flock (ducks and chickens) are laying again, I'm still waiting on one last duck to lay again after winter break. They certainly can take their time about it.

Good idea with the food coloring! - In Theory! The only time i have been able to locate a vent on a duckling was in February when i wanted to try vent sexing to find the Buff Orpington drakeling. The first duckling i picked up voluntarily showed me where the vent sits by firing a poopedo straight into my face. I gave up on the idea of vent sexing after that.
With my three grown up girls - no way! It would take six people to do that: One for each wing, one for each leg one for the head and the sixth one for the color…
When i came back from my physical therapy yesterday i had three ducks eating ants on the gravel in front of my garage. Got out of the car and told them »Girls you're not supposed to be here! How did you got out?« Nona quickly ran back to the patio, slipped under it and emerged inside of the fenced area, but Katharina and Curiosity put up a fight when i cornered them. My arms look like i wrangled a cat and it took me just 3 seconds to grab the duck, lift it over the fence and let go. No vent coloring!!!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

My girls get sneaky in the spring. I have found hidden nests full of eggs. I think they cross their little legs and wait to lay until I let them out. So, you might be on the look out for a hiding spot.

Checked everywhere and have not found a hidden nest. I can't look under the patio (see message above!) and i hope they are not laying there.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

the day before yesterday I thought I had collected all the eggs and when I was turning the hay with my fork I stuck an egg that was in the nest I collected the eggs from. They can be sneaky!

They did that too, i suddenly found seven eggs buried in the wall of the nest they all share. Those rascals left the wooden eggs in the middle and hid their eggs in the straw walls.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Devil's advocate here. Do all 3 have a big loud quack? Do any of them sound like they have laryngitis? If they have no voice they will never give you eggs. But yes I totally agree spring is the time to mommy hormones. They will bury them in preparation for sitting.

Definitely girls! Not only do they quack, they also have laid eggs last year. All of them! Had three eggs a day for two weeks. Then they all stopped.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Thank you all very much for your ideas and suggestions. I think i will wait until May before i become so worried that i will give all three girls a physical. - They are all nice until i pick them up and they all have very sharp toe-nails.
I will also watch out for 30 minute breaks and in any hidden spot - just remember i need to look behind the AC compressor unit…
And i will move the DuckyCam, so that i can see who is sitting on that nest.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Ok, so maybe my description of what I did to color her vent wasn't clear because after her bath I left out the part about how I brought her into my kitchen, spread a beach towel onto my counter top, wrapped her up in it, had my husband hold her down while I dug around until I found the "vent". Believe me, I had to dig awhile until I found the thing! Dropped blue food coloring in it and done deal!

And, as a special coincidence, tonight she's eggbound again so we may be doing this another time real soon!