What age do Ducks start to lay?

[SandyM]

At what age are the ducks sexually mature?  I ended up with 8 drakes and only two little hens when I bought my Indian runner ducks.   I'm going to have to get ride of the girls or most of the boys as I don't want the girls to deal with that all the time.  They were born April 29th so they are now 3 months, 16 days old.  That means that the girls might start laying soon?  I thought I would be fine until next spring but it sounds like I need to separate or sell now, right?

I'm new to backyard poultry ... And so new to ducks I don't even have them yet. They arrive next Tuesday. My question: why do you need to seperate them?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, I also read to let your ducks out of the coop after 10am to ensure they lay eggs in their nest. Before that and you could be searching your property for eggs.

I just read that's wy people buy fake eggs.,. To entice them into a nest. Ahhhhh! I get it. A light bulb went off. I was like why would people waste their $$ on fake eggs?? Now I kno why!

I used golf balls with my chickens but I do have fake ceramic eggs for my ducks and geese. they look so real unless you have the real and fake you cannot tell the difference when they are in the nest.once the fake get a little dirty it can really be hard to tell fake from real except the fake are lighter in weight.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm new to backyard poultry ... And so new to ducks I don't even have them yet. They arrive next Tuesday. My question: why do you need to seperate them?

The only reason to separate drakes from ducks is if you have your numbers off and the ducks are being over mated. I have 1 drake to 5 ducks and don't have that problem but at one time I had 4 drake to 8 ducks and that can be a bit too many drakes so I had to make the hard decision to re home 2 of my drakes. The best ratio is 1 drake to 3 or more ducks. But when you get your duckling you have a way to go to worry about separating them just enjoy them.

 

[SandyM]

I used golf balls with my chickens but I do have fake ceramic eggs for my ducks and geese. they look so real unless you have the real and fake you cannot tell the difference when they are in the nest.once the fake get a little dirty it can really be hard to tell fake from real except the fake are lighter in weight.

Thanks!! Good to know

 

[SandyM]

The only reason to separate drakes from ducks is if you have your numbers off and the ducks are being over mated. I have 1 drake to 5 ducks and don't have that problem but at one time I had 4 drake to 8 ducks and that can be a bit too many drakes so I had to make the hard decision to re home 2 of my drakes. The best ratio is 1 drake to 3 or more ducks. But when you get your duckling you have a way to go to worry about separating them just enjoy them.

l

Thank you

 

[Miss Lydia]

l

Thank you

 

[alscatS]

So I have been told the bright orange-y beak is a good way to 'sex' ducks - they are coming onto 10 weeks and I want to reduce my numbers, but I am trying to keep 3/4 females to one drake...The drake feather (curl) has not come out yet.... thoughts.

 

[Amiga]

I would go by voice not bill color.

 

[alscatS]

I would go by voice not bill color.

who has what voice again? there is a quack and a whisper if I remember?

 

[Amiga]

Yes, girls quack, boys whisper.