When do ducks start laying eggs??

[dillonkane1994]

I have two cayuga ducks, a male and a female, they were born November 8th, 2010. About how old are ducks when they start laying eggs?

 

[critterranch]

5 to 6 months my guess would be march or april perfect time for spring

 

[Amiga]

First, congratulations!

If I recall correctly, my very precocious runner girl started laying at just over sixteen weeks around 6/25/2010. She was hatched on 2/22/2010. By the time everyone else had started to lay, it was 8/2010. That would be four to six months.

I have been told that it varies by breed, by the seasons in relation to when they reach maturity, diet, light, and so forth.

I began giving free choice oyster shell to increase calcium intake when my runners (all girls) began to display breeding behavior. That worked out pretty well with the timing. Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks (from memory, it's not right in front of me right now) recommends starting extra calcium about a month before they begin to lay. With a drake and a female, you want her to have the extra calcium, but not him. Free choice is the best way to go, IMHO.

Enjoy your lovelies!

 

[Jen333]

Congratulations!! We just ordered 1 male and 1 female cayuga ducks. Our first time with ducks and we are sooo excited

Do you like having cayugas? Are they really quiet as people say? I think they are beautiful ducks!

 

[FenDruadin]

Five to six months is a good estimate, and since yours will mature in the Spring it will probably be on the earlier end of the range rather than the later. Congrats on your duckies--cayugas are gorgeous.

 

[Thezookeeper:)]

Quote:
when they are housed together how do you keep the drake from getting to much calcium.

 

[Amiga]

From what I have read here (from those who have drakes), drakes do not eat, or don't eat as much, oyster shell if it is free choice separate from the food. I would love to hear from those with drakes to see if that understanding is correct.

If one uses layer rations, then everybody gets the extra calcium and there is no way for the drakes to avoid it.

 

[AdamD77]

So if I give all my ducks layers pellets, does that mean the girls don't need any extra oyster shell?

 

[Deester]

We've had 3 female Cayuga since April, still waiting for their first egg. As far as being quiet, well they are pretty good. They can make a racquet when they are excited or want to be let out. I'm told the males are just about mute.

We got them because they are a quite breed and of course because they are so beautiful. I think they are nosier than I expected but they only have times that they are excited and it shows. Overall they are a quite duck. I don't have experience with others to compare.

That said I wouldn't change a thing.

Deester

 

[Amiga]

So if I give all my ducks layers pellets, does that mean the girls don't need any extra oyster shell?

It will depend on the girls. I have a few who really need extra calcium (have not figured out why), so they get layer pellets, free choice oyster shell, and calcium gluconate liquid added to their pellets. sheesh.

Bean, our drake, is in a separate pen, with his two girls, so they get less calcium supplementation. and I have read that many drakes do okay with a bit of extra calcium.