Welsh Harlequin quit laying in fall?

[2ducks4moi]

I have two ducks, both 1.5 years old. The Campbell has been giving us an egg a day, but in the last two months, nothing from the Welsh Harlequin. This is the "hider" and usually we will find the egg stash sometime in the week, but so far, nothing! Unless there are 60 eggs rotting under the shed, aghhh! Any advice? She did molt quite a few feathers this fall, but so did the other and she kept laying. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have two ducks, both 1.5 years old. The Campbell has been giving us an egg a day, but in the last two months, nothing from the Welsh Harlequin. This is the "hider" and usually we will find the egg stash sometime in the week, but so far, nothing! Unless there are 60 eggs rotting under the shed, aghhh! Any advice? She did molt quite a few feathers this fall, but so did the other and she kept laying. Thanks for any advice!

You might better look under that shed. lol I had a Muscovy duck get under the ramp going into their house she had to do the limbo to get under there honest. She had a nice stash of eggs before I found it. I quickly put hardware cloth around the outside to keep her out.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

My ducks (one of which is a WH) are mostly 1-3/4 years old, so pretty close to the age of yours. Last winter they laid right through... I have 10 girls and most of the winter there were at least 5 eggs - usually 6 to 8 - the very lowest day was 3. All of them were laying and some took off a day or two occasionally so I wasn't at "max" production, but I was still giving eggs away. I thought they must be super ducks when I read about other's ducks quitting.
Now It has been over a month since I have gotten an egg from any of them. They are ALL slackers!

My Blue Swedish, Roxette, held out for 2 weeks longer than the rest of them. All that time, I got just her egg. So most of my ducks quit between 1-1/2 and 2 months ago.

I think it has something to do with age. Hours of light and temperature affect laying cycles of ducks and chickens. But I think a duck's first laying season is super strong (Their equipment is brand new!). After that, they are more "normal". If it has been two months and she's still acting normally, then she isn't egg bound. She is probably just taking a break (maybe for the whole winter). It might have started a little early because I assume, like mine, she didn't take a break (other than maybe missing a day or two) last winter.

Ooooooor, you might have a pile forming under the shed. If you are in an area like I do, they will freeze and crack and stay preserved until the spring thaw when you will have 100 or so cracked eggs leak all over and rot under your shed.