When do ducks start laying and how long?

[blondiebee181]

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.

I've heard stories on here of chickens in Alaska surviving the winters without any extra heat/light.Chickens can survive pretty cold without lights as long as they're draft free, but still ventilated enough they don't get frostbite. Here in Boise, ID the nighttime temps rarely get below 20F. If you don't mind giving them the winter off, just make sure your coop is sealed up (save for a small window as a vent) and make sure you have a dry space in the yard or a dry run they can go to shelter from the cold. I myself will be tarping my 10X20 foot run and using some old tube socks filled with rice or something to cover the cracks in the bottom of the coop. I'll probably forgo the lights and just let nature do it's thing...will hate to miss out on duck eggs though.

 

[Going Quackers]

My first ever ducks started at 4mths, i actually had some wacky amounts of eggs this past winter... but i think it does depend, as well some breeds are just better layers, period.. frankly mine give us plenty so i am not worried about it..

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Poultry don't need heat sources. They wear down coats and if provided a proper house don't need heat. We also don't add lights to increase laying because the birds just don't need to be forced into molting, or forced into laying. Laying takes a ton out of ducks, they deserve what ever break they and their bodies choose each year to regrow feathers and rest.

 

[zooweemama]

We personally have chosen to not add lights or heat. We'll give them a solid shelter from the elements and predators and let nature do it's thing. Since we have a mild climate (fall/winter ranges from 30s-50s with rain)- we hope that it won't be too extreme on their laying. I tried to be savvy about our chicken breeds too- I tried to also pick a good winter layer to hopefully offset that.

 

[chicks4fun]

I guess I will have to rethink the light thing. I didn't use it at all this past winter but some nights the year before when it was wicked cold I just felt so bad for them---I even blanketed our horses and I don't do that normally either. I know I am putting my human values on them but sitting in a warm house ---well I just felt guilty. I really love my critters.
I know for the horses if not blanketed they get a better winter coat but on the coldest windy days with a ridiculous wind chill I gave in.
I don't want to mess up my chickens or ducks so I will try to not turn on the light.

 

[DuckLady]

We have a very dim light in our duck garage. Not for laying but because it is pitch black in there at night. Ducks and geese don't sleep all night like chickens. Enough to let them see but not enough for them to read by.

 

[blondiebee181]

We have a very dim light in our duck garage. Not for laying but because it is pitch black in there at night. Ducks and geese don't sleep all night like chickens. Enough to let them see but not enough for them to read by.

terrielacy, do you think my ducks will lay by late Oct/early Nov? Or do you think they'll wait?

 

[DuckLady]

I would say that October is too early and they may not lay until Spring, like CelticOakFarms said. But depending on the temps where you are, they might start laying in winter. It will just depend on the duck.

When we lived in more temperate Oregon, they laid almost all year round. Now that we live in the mountains of NE Washington the ducks are freeloaders from about November to about March.

I hope you do get eggs this winter, but they might be too young yet.

 

[blondiebee181]

I would say that October is too early and they may not lay until Spring, like CelticOakFarms said. But depending on the temps where you are, they might start laying in winter. It will just depend on the duck.

When we lived in more temperate Oregon, they laid almost all year round. Now that we live in the mountains of NE Washington the ducks are freeloaders from about November to about March.

I hope you do get eggs this winter, but they might be too young yet.

I hope too, I've never had duck eggs...we live in Boise, ID...it gets pretty chilly but never below about 15 F

 

[chicks4fun]

I have a Pekin duck who quit laying earlier this year when her sister was lost to a fox. I purchased some "fertile" eggs because she also just went in the chicken coop and wouldn't come out. She sat on these eggs and one baby hatched. Now she has a "baby" who is bigger than she is and she is still not back to laying eggs. I think the baby may be a drake but I'm not sure but he makes a very different sound than she does.
She is barely two years old. Any idea what I can do to get her laying again? When her sister was with her they laid eggs all the time, plus she loved to swim in our pond & creek. Now she hangs out with the baby & the chickens and won't go to the creek at all (fox got her sister in the yard not at the creek so I have no idea what's with this).
Just wondering. . . . . how can I encourage her to lay again?