[NicandChic]

Let our 2 white Campbell's out their barn this morning & spotted what I first thought was a clump of feathers on their straw...but nope an egg  looked to my right and found a clutch of 4 more (only cleaned them out 2 days ago) I wasn't expecting anything until spring! I've just fried one and it was lovely, shells are white and very hard, huge big orange yolks.
Our first ever eggs, I can't stop smiling how ridiculous is that  hmm maybe don't answer that!

So a question, would the 2 ducks lay eggs together in the same place or is it maybe just one that's laying?

  love my girls.

[Backinwellies]

It is fun when they start laying .... my first on 22nd Dec .... now 4 a day .... and yes they do lay in same place

[madchickenlady]

wow, lucky you. Great start to the new year  Nothing from my two yet, or the 10 or so wild ducks that reside on my pond (and eat all my duck food)  Mind you, I wouldn't know where to start looking as mine won't use the duck house! 

[Backinwellies]

MCL  .... try the bottom of the pond!

[madchickenlady]

anyone got any diving equipment! 

[MAK]

Our ducks have been laying a few weeks now. 2 of them lay in the same place but the others seem to watch me gather their eggs and every 3 days or so they lay them elsewhere. Bit of a mission some mornings especially if they leave them under and amongst the bay tree - ouch! 

[NicandChic]

It is very exciting, It's made my day, just back from a family dinner...and I'm just off out to have a wee egg check  do they lay at certain times of day?
I'm thinking I might make them a wooden box as I found the eggs in one of 2 cardboard boxes I have in the barn for them or may just see what happens, if they decide to have them somewhere else, they both free range so guess I should have a look about 

[F.CUTHBERT]

We shut ours in a shed every night, if we don't foxy has them, so they normally lay in the shed. Ducks always lay in the morning so when they really start laying we don't let them out till 9.30-10am to make sure we get all the eggs and they don't end up in the bottom of the pond.
When we are just getting the odd egg we let them out earlier and have the odd search round in case there is one laying under a bush somewhere. When I find the nest they usually stop laying in it though. Ducks especially when they are young can be pretty care free where they drop there eggs so are better in the shed. The only problem is trying to keep the eggs clean.

[Rosiecrad]

Thats great I remember our first eggs and its sooo exciting!

Our ducks have never laid well tbh. They come in at night and I try to let them out as near to 10 as poss but it does depend on what we are doing. We have 2 big ponds and I suspect there are quite a few at the bottom.
Just a reminder, duck eggs don't last as long as Chicken eggs- I've been told a week, where as hen eggs will keep for 3 weeks!

Rosie

[Slimjim]

No eggs from my  two for months now, but at what age do they a) stop laying altogether and b) die ?

[NicandChic]

Looks like 2 eggs a day so far, our girls are shut in at night also due to Mr Fox! (Whom in Boxing Day enjoyed Harry Heron  hoping it was old & sick)
I've heard the eggs don't last as long, I've been washing them & putting them in the fridge in day order so I can keep track, we've all enjoyed some so far...the dogs & my parents included, with the remainders I boiled them and gave them back to the girls to eat (read the shells good for calcium etc) not sure they ate much though!

Slim jim, I hope the two aren't always linked   

[F.CUTHBERT]

I also wash our eggs, well who wants eggs covered in shite, let them dry off in the cardboard egg box then transfer then through to the fridge as they are needed. They will still hatch pretty well at a week to ten days old. So I would not worry too much about the freshness of the eggs until they were getting near 3 weeks old.

[NicandChic]

Ahh we've only 2 girls so no flap of tiny wings here, but hopefully the tweet of chicks soon, borrowed a friends incubator & got some hatching eggs on the way - 12 Wyandotte eggs, been reading up on home rearing, dispatching etc 
Last night I had to don my wellingtons & herd my 2 from our neighbouring field, they've found a large puddle they enjoy swimming & dabbling in thankfully it was a clear night, stars shining & moon out bright.
Love living in the country