When will my Musovies start laying?

[Skye'sDucks]

My Muscovy ducklings are now 11 weeks old, and I've recently been dealing with getting rid of drakes and reintroducing my adult drake to the flock. That's led me to wondering when will they start laying?

I just looked it up and was searching around and it says anywhere between 5-7 months. Their exact hatch date was May 11. I'm guessing that time frame should be what I expect?

What are you guys' experiences?

My ducks free range in a big area so I want to try to set up nesting sites near the gate with either golf balls or fake eggs to *try* to make it easier for me to collect them, but knowing how ducks are, I'll probably have to go searching.

My other question was this: Are my new laying hens' (the 11 wk old ducklings) first eggs safe to eat? And are my adult hen's (mother) first eggs of her second 'clutch' (I'll be taking them as soon as I can find them when she starts laying again) safe to eat, too?

And then one last question. When should I be expecting eggs from their mother again? I just reintroduced the drake, and I have no idea if any breeding went on. (It was hard to tell)

I'm fine with waiting, just curious!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Where are you located? Mine don't start until the following spring. Here we have a long cold winter. It may be different in a warmer place.

 

[CayugaJana]

Where are you located? Mine don't start until the following spring. Here we have a long cold winter. It may be different in a warmer place.

Although I don’t have muscovys, I would agree. Don’t be surprised if they wait until next spring to start laying. Eggs are safe to eat unless they have had medication or if it’s cracked.

Sometimes if one is cracked slightly and it’s still warm from laying I still scramble it up and eat it. When they lay in their pool.... I toss them. Or scramble them shell and all and feed it to them.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

My muscovies are almost 5 months old and not laying. I have been told to wait until spring. I look everyday in their coop and run just to be sure.
Bunch of freeloaders right now.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Where are you located? Mine don't start until the following spring. Here we have a long cold winter. It may be different in a warmer place.

I'm in Florida, that's why I was curious. I didn't know if the warm weather almost year around would cause differences or not.

Although I don’t have muscovys, I would agree. Don’t be surprised if they wait until next spring to start laying. Eggs are safe to eat unless they have had medication or if it’s cracked.

Sometimes if one is cracked slightly and it’s still warm from laying I still scramble it up and eat it. When they lay in their pool.... I toss them. Or scramble them shell and all and feed it to them.

Alright, thank you. As I was saying, I'm in Florida so wasn't sure if the warm weather affected them in any sort of ways.

My muscovies are almost 5 months old and not laying. I have been told to wait until spring. I look everyday in their coop and run just to be sure.
Bunch of freeloaders right now.

Haha, okay!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mine have always waited till following spring after hatching. I have a friend in Texas that has Muscovy's that lay and hatch all year round but I never asked her at what age they began laying. I am sure glad mine take the winter off.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Mine have always waited till following spring after hatching. I have a friend in Texas that has Muscovy's that lay and hatch all year round but I never asked her at what age they began laying. I am sure glad mine take the winter off.

Alright, thank you.

 

[CayugaJana]

I'm in Florida, that's why I was curious. I didn't know if the warm weather almost year around would cause differences or not.



Alright, thank you. As I was saying, I'm in Florida so wasn't sure if the warm weather affected them in any sort of ways.



Haha, okay!

Gotcha!

Their laying cycle is based off the amount of daylight. So it should be around the same for you as it is for me in the Midwest. I think temperature plays a part but daylight is the main factor.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Gotcha!

Their laying cycle is based off the amount of daylight. So it should be around the same for you as it is for me in the Midwest. I think temperature plays a part but daylight is the main factor.

Ooh I see. Thanks for telling me.

 

[CayugaJana]

Ooh I see. Thanks for telling me.

I sure hope they start laying for you this fall. It’s so exciting! But don’t think they are defective if they don’t.