[fiestyredhead331]

Got 6 POL Aylesburys 8+ weeks ago. They are a good size now and eating well (quick enough to tell you if they are hungry!) but no sign of any eggs as yet. They seem to have started moulting now, same as the chickens.
having not had ducks before, any advice, tips etc? They share their house with 7 young Muscovy and the occasional chicken.

thanks in advance 

[HesterF]

Might not lay until the spring. I got a mature pair of Silver Appleyards (good layers) August last year and she didn't lay anything until the spring. I've got two older ducks laying at the moment post-moult but none of this year's hatch are laying yet - including an Aylesbury.

When they said POL, do you know how old they actually were? Just that ducks grow really fast so they can look practically adult by eight or nine weeks - a long way off lay. They also go through a second moult in their teens (maybe 14-18 weeks) into full adult plumage so my guess is that yours were younger that you thought and have just gone through this second moult. Which in turn may mean that they're not even 20 weeks now.

H

[fiestyredhead331]

thanks for that HesterF, it does make sense, especially if they are going through a 2nd moult now. I bought them from someone I hadn't dealt with before.
The chickens I get elsewhere and I know they will lay within 4-6 weeks, sometimes earlier.