When do ducks start laying and how long?

[blondiebee181]

Hey duck people,
I have two 2-month-old Indian Runner girls. I'm predicting the beginning of November for their laying (just in time for Holiday baking!

) BUT, I hear a lot of duck breeds don't lay in winter, will mine? I also heard chicens need at least 13 hours of daylight in order to lay, are ducks the same? I want to put a small solar powered light in the coop, but my ducks have a seperate house. Also, I don't have plans to build them seperate nest boxes, I'm just hoping they will lay in their straw bedded dog house...anyone with thoughts on that?

 

[blondiebee181]

Oh yeah....and are their prime laying years about the same as chickens? Which is what, like the first 3?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

if they are just now 2 months old you may not see eggs until next spring. The shorter days can effect their laying and to a point where if they havent laid before the days start to get dark early they often wait till the next year. When they do start to lay they might do it in their pool, in the dirt, under the bushes or in the dog house. Ducks are far better for egg production than chickens and lay longer.

 

[Blondiega1]

Mine (pekins) started laying right at 20 weeks old.

 

[zooweemama]

We have 22 and 19 week old ducks. We are getting 1 egg a day by someone. Not sure who. At this age I am hoping they all begin laying by October or I might not see much before Spring.

 

[blondiebee181]

Laaaaaame! Will putting a light up help? Or is it just an instinct because it's getting colder they know to wait until Spring?

 

[Kevin565]

Laaaaaame! Will putting a light up help? Or is it just an instinct because it's getting colder they know to wait until Spring?

Yes but I'm not a fan of it. Ducks deserve to rest their bodies just like any other creature.

 

[blondiebee181]

Sorry, wasn't aware it was inhumane, just thought it's what people did.

 

[Kevin565]

I wouldn't say inhumane but it does burn them out quicker. Once they use up all of their eggs that's it. I prefer spacing them out overtime rather than back to back.

 

[chicks4fun]

I sometimes put a light in the coop when it gets really cold. I don't do it to try and make them lay. Last year, very mild winter, I didn't use a lightt but the previous winter I did.
What should I do? Not trying to mess their systems up.