When do ducks stop laying

[fduncan]

I was wondering about what age ducks stop laying ? We got a soon to be 3 year old pekin in September didn't get any eggs all winter we got 3 last week and now back to nothing is she done laying or just taking a long break for the winter ?
thanks
Fallon

 

[Amiga]

Hi, fduncan, ducks can continue to lay for several years, though they tend to lay fewer after the first few years, from anything I have read. My runners have started taking longer winter breaks from laying, but I still expect they will lay quite well overall. The breed used to be prolific, and I am told that unless a breeding program aims specifically for egg production, that the pet quality breeds may or may not produce many eggs. I am happy, nonetheless, we have more than enough eggs, and they are pets.

 

[fduncan]

Thanks Amiga I know nothing about ducks as i didnt plan on having any till I inherited her during my dad and step moms split up . Her not laying isnt really a problem we love her to deaths so even when she stops laying she'll be here . But now that I know she'll keep on laying I might start looking for her a boyfriend so I can hatch some baby's from her Thanks

 

[Amiga]

Thanks on her behalf for taking her in. Ducks do much better with duck company. The thing to watch out for is an aggressive drake (ain't it one thing after another???) In fact a general rule of thumb is if you have one drake, get three to six (!) female ducks. Apparently many drakes just - well - can't control themselves.

That does not mean there are no sweet drakes, or that a pair won't work. But I have read of more cases of one to one not working than working, seems to me. In any case, a duck who is over-mated doesn't care about statistics. So you need to watch closely and introduce them s l o w l y.

Also, the stress of a recent upheaval could affect her laying. Ducks have emotions, and that affects them in all kinds of ways.

 

[fduncan]

There's no way we would have let her go some where else my kids lover her to much Oh wow good to know about more females being better looks like my husband may have a new project building a duck pen so we can add several more then She currently lives with the chickens as she grew up with them . Her and the barred rock rooster are buds always together My step mom tried to buy her some friends last year but bought geese thinking they were ducks . But they were to aggressive to have with my kids so we had to rehome them . We'll definitely work on adding 3 or 4 more this spring . Yeah we thought she was upset for a while about the move she wasnt her normal friendly self . Thank you for all the great advice
Fallon

 

[tomingreeneco]

She should lay better as the days get longer. Might be going through a molt right now which would slow down or halt egg laying altogether.

 

[clacka]

I have call ducks which layed from February till the last few weeks since then I haven't had a single egg it's been 3 weeks now I was advised they would stop laying while they were moulting will they continue to lay until winter once they have finished this process

 

[unlucky picker]

A man told me to get wild game bird feed to get my ducks laying. And two days later I had eggs.