Wow! Ducks are Darn Good Layers.

[Tevyes Dad]

This has been my first year with ducks laying eggs. I read a lot and expected our egg supply to stop through the winter. I am in the Northern US so the winter days are pretty short here (8:47 today according to my smart phone). I haven't used any artificial light (other than a red heat lamp) and here are my results so far. I have 11 girls so assuming no bonus eggs, 11 eggs max/day. Two were born in fall of 2013, the rest March of 2014 so everyone was in their first season by summer. One of the older ones, Ettie, went BROODY last summer and hasn't laid an egg since (at least not until this month). I reached a high of 9 eggs/day I think I was missing Ettie's and almost every day one duck took the day off (not the same one). But every day without fail, our Pekin, Snow, put one out (her eggs are notably bigger and pure white so I can tell). She is an egg laying machine! Around the end of November, the supply died down to 2 or 3: One from Snow, and one or two from our WH, Rhiannan, and our Blue Swedish, Roxette, (I am guessing they took turns and sometimes hit the same day - this is based on their eggnant statures, I can't positively identify their eggs.) The Winter Solstice was on the 21 of December this year. That means the 22nd had slightly more daylight than the 21st. Well Christmas Day the ducks gave us 4 eggs (and the neighbor kids brought them individually wrapped zip-locks full of lettuce

- so cute!). The following day we also got 4 eggs and since then, we have gotten 6 eggs every day. The mix changes a bit, so I am pretty sure everyone is participating. 1 egg from Snow, and 50% from the rest of the ducks. I was planning on being eggless throughout the winter, but I am still getting enough to have to give eggs away! Our duckies are so good to us! Meal worms all around

 

[Americano Blue]

This has been my first year with ducks laying eggs. I read a lot and expected our egg supply to stop through the winter. I am in the Northern US so the winter days are pretty short here (8:47 today according to my smart phone). I haven't used any artificial light (other than a red heat lamp) and here are my results so far. I have 11 girls so assuming no bonus eggs, 11 eggs max/day. Two were born in fall of 2013, the rest March of 2014 so everyone was in their first season by summer. One of the older ones, Ettie, went BROODY last summer and hasn't laid an egg since (at least not until this month). I reached a high of 9 eggs/day I think I was missing Ettie's and almost every day one duck took the day off (not the same one). But every day without fail, our Pekin, Snow, put one out (her eggs are notably bigger and pure white so I can tell). She is an egg laying machine! Around the end of November, the supply died down to 2 or 3: One from Snow, and one or two from our WH, Rhiannan, and our Blue Swedish, Roxette, (I am guessing they took turns and sometimes hit the same day - this is based on their eggnant statures, I can't positively identify their eggs.) The Winter Solstice was on the 21 of December this year. That means the 22nd had slightly more daylight than the 21st. Well Christmas Day the ducks gave us 4 eggs (and the neighbor kids brought them individually wrapped zip-locks full of lettuce

- so cute!). The following day we also got 4 eggs and since then, we have gotten 6 eggs every day. The mix changes a bit, so I am pretty sure everyone is participating. 1 egg from Snow, and 50% from the rest of the ducks. I was planning on being eggless throughout the winter, but I am still getting enough to have to give eggs away! Our duckies are so good to us! Meal worms all around

I love my ducks!!! The eggs are the best for baking!

 

[Sfraker]

Go ducks!

My 4 WH girls started laying the end of July. In November one stopped laying and has not started back up. But the other 3 have not stopped. I do not use any artificial light. They are just laying fools.

Love my ducks and the breakfast/baking goods they provide.

 

[Richb353]

I am pleasantly surprised by the eggs I've received from my little hobby farm. My 10 girls had maxed out at 9 eggs a day for nearly a month. Today was my first day at just one egg, and you can see most of the girls are molting. There are feathers all over the place.

Just as pleasant is how receptive people are at work are towards "fresh from the farm, free range, hand gathered" duck eggs over store bought. No eggs are wasted.

Enjoy,
Rich

 

[Tevyes Dad]

I am pleasantly surprised by the eggs I've received from my little hobby farm. My 10 girls had maxed out at 9 eggs a day for nearly a month. Today was my first day at just one egg, and you can see most of the girls are molting. There are feathers all over the place.

Just as pleasant is how receptive people are at work are towards "fresh from the farm, free range, hand gathered" duck eggs over store bought. No eggs are wasted.

Enjoy,
Rich

Down in Florida, you still have a pretty long day. Your ducks just played hookie for a day

. You'll get at least half a dozen tomorrow. I haven't had any problem getting rid of my excess eggs either. There is just the two of us and 9 eggs/day builds up quick!