The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Maria1969 on October 24, 2011, 04:03:48 pm

Title: Ducks...Not laying
Post by: Maria1969 on October 24, 2011, 04:03:48 pm

Hello All :wave:

I bought 2 female Campbell ducks from Colchester auctions around 3mnths ago, since bringing them home we have only had 1 egg, now I know ducks take a while to settle down and these are very skitish (alot more happier than they were) they have a nice enclosed run which is about 14ft x 6ft, a nice bath & house too.

Do ducks stop laying with age? as I have no idea how old they are (how to you age a duck??) and am I doing something wrong??

Any advise to a newbie duck keeper would be much appreciated.

Maria :&>

Title: Re: Ducks...Not laying
Post by: Sylvia on October 24, 2011, 05:36:54 pm

Give them time, don't let them out before true daylight when they will have laid in the house. Ducks are such reliable layers it comes as a big surprise to me when they stop :o

Title: Re: Ducks...Not laying
Post by: little blue on October 24, 2011, 05:56:53 pm

could be the more wintery weather too - ours stopped, though when we get a few days of sun, we get one egg!

Title: Re: Ducks...Not laying
Post by: northfifeduckling on October 25, 2011, 08:34:22 am

our egg numbers go up and down by the day at the moment with winter coming. the younger ones certainly do better, I think (what way is there to tell, who's laying  ;D) What do you feed them? :&>

Title: Re: Ducks...Not laying
Post by: Sylvia on October 25, 2011, 03:59:33 pm

Mine get the same as the laying hen, pellets, mixed corn and spare greens. At the moment I am getting from two year old ducks an egg each per day.

Title: Re: Ducks...Not laying
Post by: northfifeduckling on October 25, 2011, 07:06:50 pm

same for feed here. Most of mine are a bit older and I get between 2 and 5 eggs out of 9 girls a day , the others have retired for either the winter or for good.... :&>