Hi,
I have three indian runner duck females, 2 one year olds and a 10 week old. The two older ones started laying well about a week after I got them, they live in a large pen with a safe house at night and I let the free roam around the garden as much as I can but only when I am around.
Since they have started going in the garden they have been very sparodic laying eggs I have now gone nearly a week with no eggs at all. I have noticed a few feathers around so they could be moulting or could it be a change in diet.
I am very new to duck keeping and have only had them about six weeks, is it normal for them to be this sparodic sometimes two eggs sometimes one but at the moment more often than not none. Any advice would be most appreciated
Thank you
Kaitlin
Farming Friends Forum » Ducks
sparodic laying
(13 posts)-
Kaitlin xPosted 1 year ago #
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hello, I asume you have had a big search under bushes, up corners behind any sheds etc, if my girls havnt laid by the time I let them out I have to do a search for eggs to,
what are they fed also the older 2 should be on layer pellets and the younger one on grower pellets if possible,
it could be down to molting also, sure others will think of other reasons maybemo xPosted 1 year ago # -
Hi Mo,
Thank you for your reply, I have also asked the same question on my other post.
The chap we got them off said that they should all be ok on Layers pellets which is what they are having.Do you think this is ok for the baby.
They are getting plenty of other natural stuff whilst foriageing. I am sure they are not laying any where else as I am watching them carefully whilst they are in the garden.
Just another quick question, my garden is enclosed so they can't get out, how likely is it for a fox or something similar to come in the day time, we dont have any stray dogs or ferral cats around.
thanks again
KaitlinKaitlin xPosted 1 year ago # -
Hi kaitlin, if you have ever seen foxes around during the day and more to the point seen them in your garden then having ducks will be more attractive to them. It all depends on where you live and your surroundings and how many foxes the area supports. We are lucky to be surrounded by fields and very rarely see a fox, so my ducks free range all day long. We always lock them away safely at night just in case.
Layers pellets are best for after they have started laying, so can you get some growers pellets so she builds up her body weight before she comes into lay. The others can eat the growers too if it proves a problem seperating the foods.
SarahSarah LPosted 1 year ago # -
hi again, I wouldn't be happy for a 10 week old of mine to be eating layers yet it doesnt contain the right ingredients to help her to grow healthy, if you cant feed seperatly which is hard i would put them all back on growers for awhile until she comes into lay which should be anywhere from 20-22 weeks old, it wont hurt your older girls and they arnt laying anyway at the moment it would seem
as for the fox that depeneds where you live, I see none but Lisa another member gets them in the daytime
do they have swimming water as you havnt mentioned that xmo xPosted 1 year ago # -
lol as per usual Sarah and me were typing at the same time but there you go we both have said the same lol
mo xPosted 1 year ago # -
Hi Sarah and Mo,
Thank you for you advice, I will get some growers pellets for little Ottie.
I havent seen any foxes in the day time for years so hopefully it shouldnt be a problem,I am just a little nervous of them out in the big bad world.
They have a ater in the pen to go and have a splash about in which I can empty every night as they are not the cleanest girls and I have a larger area for them in the garden which they love.
KatlinKaitlin xPosted 1 year ago # -
lol no ducks keep water clean for long, like you mine have the run of the garden while im home, although they have to take it in turns now, but are shut in a pen 6 ft tall with netting over when I go out
mo xPosted 1 year ago # -
My ducks were molting and almost all of them stopped laying during that time. Now that they aren't molting anymore, they are starting to lay again. I have them on egg laying pellets as you do. And realize some ducks take a break. Khaki's are the only ones I know of that lay about an egg a day. You might be careful of your ducks in the garden. They aren't suppose to eat spinach as it has too much calcium in it which isn't good for them. I was surprised to see how many plants they "shouldn't eat" as they are poisonious. Therefore, they don't get in the yard anymore. Had one get sick and she must have gotten to my clematis which now I know is poisonious for them along with rhubarb. Good luck on the eggs.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi Kathe,
Thank you, yes I did think they could be molting as I have found quite a few feathers lying around, I dont think there is anything in my garden that could harm them but thank you for the heads up
Kaitlin xKaitlin xPosted 1 year ago # -
my ducks have spinnach several times a week and have no problems with it at all
mo xPosted 1 year ago # -
Hi all,
I have just looked out into the duck pen and one of my girls has just layed an egg out in the open, which is great but at a strange time of day 20:15 ish it also has a very thin shell.
I have been giving them grit and oyster shell along with their normal feed. Is there something else I should be giving them to prevent this, any ideas why this has happened.
Thank you
kaitlinKaitlin xPosted 1 year ago # -
no, she was caught short as she has been out of sync it might have been a bit of a strain. I expect it waill all settle down again over the next few days. You already give them the right stuff. Mine forage on bugs and insects all day long and have layers and the occasional pasta, peas and other veg. They don't have oyster shell or grit though.
SarahSarah LPosted 1 year ago #
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