tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post657687689221711218..comments2024-03-08T05:16:41.496-08:00Comments on Metzer Farms Duck and Goose Blog: How Do I Know Which of My Ducks Are Laying Eggs?John Metzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-2057295950696233712018-02-12T20:03:21.868-08:002018-02-12T20:03:21.868-08:00To know which are laying, use the information in t...To know which are laying, use the information in this blog. The cause for it stopping lay could be many things. You can read our article on maximizing egg production and see if you are missing anything: http://www.metzerfarms.com/MaximizingEggProduction.cfmJohn Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-75781948177633206432018-02-08T09:38:43.925-08:002018-02-08T09:38:43.925-08:00I have five Indian runner ducks three female to ma... I have five Indian runner ducks three female to male the female started laying eggs great I was getting about three eggs a day now all the sudden I'm getting 2. How do I find out which one is not laying eggs and what would be the cause?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-65454655359350227822017-07-08T12:02:33.096-07:002017-07-08T12:02:33.096-07:00Read our blog on Niacin. That might be the proble...Read our blog on Niacin. That might be the problem.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-79761480884066899452017-06-24T09:50:44.818-07:002017-06-24T09:50:44.818-07:00They may not be laying as your days have been gett...They may not be laying as your days have been getting shorter. Now they will be starting to get get longer but it is colder. If you want them to start laying, I would put a light on a timer in their night pen and add a few hours of light in the morning and evening. I have a couple of blogs on using artificial lights. Ducks can easily handle cool weather so 12 degrees C should not inhibit them at all.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-17097422108875575392017-06-22T20:30:49.179-07:002017-06-22T20:30:49.179-07:00Hi there, we have 2 pekins and 2 isla brown chooks...Hi there, we have 2 pekins and 2 isla brown chooks (one of which is a few years old and no longer laying). The others are all more than 6 months old now but have not commenced laying. We think the ducks are girls due to their loud honks. They have been fed layer pellets for the last month and have a free range day run...at night they share a small chook house which they all willingly climb into together. We are at the start of Winter here in Australia - frost at night and cool 12 degree C days. Will we need to wait until Spring for laying to start? (I am also worried about a couple of crows which seem to be hanging around but I haven't seen any broken egg shells). Thanks for this blog- it is really helpful and informative :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-27900227603777595912017-06-14T22:22:49.001-07:002017-06-14T22:22:49.001-07:00Unless he is ill, I would guess it is a nutritiona...Unless he is ill, I would guess it is a nutritional problem. If he is less than 3-4 weeks, he needs a starter feed of at least 20% protein. Older than that and he needs at least 16% protein from a balanced poultry feed.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-29515819639463475072017-06-12T17:31:35.076-07:002017-06-12T17:31:35.076-07:00I have a pekin duck who has a very pale bill since...I have a pekin duck who has a very pale bill since it was a baby and now is having problems walking. It's using it's wings to help walk. Can you help me outAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09744347462603710434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-26441703971565487002017-06-12T17:29:07.767-07:002017-06-12T17:29:07.767-07:00I have a pekin duck who has a very pale bill since...I have a pekin duck who has a very pale bill since it was a baby and now is having problems walking. It's using it's wings to help walk. Can you help me outAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09744347462603710434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-6366081814521307492017-06-01T08:17:50.017-07:002017-06-01T08:17:50.017-07:00The mule females will not lay as well as a KC. On...The mule females will not lay as well as a KC. Once her ducklings are "weaned" she will probably lay another set of eggs - my guess she will start laying about six weeks after the last hatch date.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-65802560473305812512017-06-01T04:33:08.887-07:002017-06-01T04:33:08.887-07:00I have 13 mule ducks (muscovy-khaki Campbell cross...I have 13 mule ducks (muscovy-khaki Campbell cross). I know they will be sterile but when they get old enough to lay what are the odds that they will lay as well as a khaki? The mom is the muscovy in this mix. Also when will she start laying again? She laid 23 eggs n hatched 14 of the 21 I left her with.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12822118089231706819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-69060480812924087892016-10-25T17:23:33.803-07:002016-10-25T17:23:33.803-07:00Definitely they are good to eat. Many people pref...Definitely they are good to eat. Many people prefer duck eggs - especially for baking. Pekins typically do not have the instinct to sit on and hatch their eggs. But I would collect the egg(s) daily, rinse them and put in your frig until you use them.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-84659348376691020502016-10-24T14:27:32.638-07:002016-10-24T14:27:32.638-07:00We have two Pekins - both 18 1/2 weeks - and appar...We have two Pekins - both 18 1/2 weeks - and apparently one male and one female (based on their recent behavior in their pool!). This morning we found our first egg - a little earlier than expected, but exciting nonetheless! They are suburban pets and we are not interested in hatching her eggs into more ducklings. Are the eggs ok for humans to eat, assuming they're collected in a timely manner? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-46183700983542593752016-09-27T20:53:41.428-07:002016-09-27T20:53:41.428-07:00Every living organism is different. I would not w...Every living organism is different. I would not worry that one is starting lay at a different age. If they have access to feed and water for at least 10 hours a day, that is sufficient. If you start to provide food at night, you will need to provide water, too, which can become a mess.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-43135936929407557372016-09-27T19:18:46.376-07:002016-09-27T19:18:46.376-07:00We have 4 free range Pekins. 3 have been laying 1 ...We have 4 free range Pekins. 3 have been laying 1 egg a day for two weeks in their duck house. They are 6 months old. The 4th duck is not laying. Why would this be? They are all from same flock, so same age. We have restricted feed and water at night. Now that they are laying, do we need to provide both of these in the pen? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00067778883571553042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-77399594201994993482016-04-10T20:03:51.522-07:002016-04-10T20:03:51.522-07:00Any of the breeds you list can lay blue and/or gre...Any of the breeds you list can lay blue and/or green eggs. For a list of breeds and their percentage of these eggs you can go to our chart: http://www.metzerfarms.com/DuckBreedComparison.cfmJohn Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-79664798960394654832016-04-09T17:54:06.801-07:002016-04-09T17:54:06.801-07:00I have a quite a few ducks, mostly Kacki Campbell,...I have a quite a few ducks, mostly Kacki Campbell, but also runner, mallard and "Barnyard mix". Lstely I've been getting several eggs a day that have pastel blue shells. What breed would have light blue eggs?Dan Rossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-83720213897532400202016-04-01T08:32:01.835-07:002016-04-01T08:32:01.835-07:00Some sort of stress: nutritional, lack of drinking...Some sort of stress: nutritional, lack of drinking water, frightened by something, extremes in temperatures, being harassed by something, etc. There is always a cause - figuring it out is the problem. Something changed in their environment or care.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-21357346408165722072016-03-31T20:22:28.086-07:002016-03-31T20:22:28.086-07:00My two hens (one a mexican mallard and other a Pek...My two hens (one a mexican mallard and other a Peking) quit laying about 3 wks ago. My MM is a consistant layer (she is 3 yrs old this summer) and my Peking is about 9 months old and had not started laying yet (At least I don't think she had since I know my MM is a good layer). why would she quit laying? I live in CO and we had warm weather for a bit and lately it has been really erratic with snow, warm , freezing etc etc etc. I am high altitude so one reason for the erratic weather. <br /><br />They also live with a African goose hen and many chickens (Hens and few roosters) would that additionally affect their laying?<br /><br />Thanks Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12828557154176624762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-673827622733119282016-03-26T14:57:44.559-07:002016-03-26T14:57:44.559-07:00Two nests is plenty. Our Rouen and Buff flocks ne...Two nests is plenty. Our Rouen and Buff flocks never achieve 100% production (one egg for each female each day) but they are large flocks. I am sure individuals achieve that at times. So I would not count on 4 eggs a day. But I would think 3 should be expected. Just make sure they are not stressed and have as much layer feed to eat as they want 24 hours a day. They prefer a pelleted feed over a mash.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-18231525594608267282016-03-26T05:55:28.443-07:002016-03-26T05:55:28.443-07:00I have four females (2 rouen, 2 buff). I have been...I have four females (2 rouen, 2 buff). I have been receiving eggs for approx 2 wks. Starting with 2 eggs then 3 then 4. It then went down to 3 then 2 then back up to 3 for a few days and now back to 2. This is their first year of egg production. Can I assume this is just a slow inconsistent start to their hopefully daily egg drop. They are penned up until approx 7 am. I haven't really experienced any other egg drop time except in the early morning nor have found any other "hidden" clutches, yet. Can I hope that my 4 a day return, or egg numbers continue to decrease? Also do they normally just lay one a day? If I make more "nesting" areas in their pen will that possibly "less stress" them out, than all laying in the same nesting spots? I was receiving the eggs in two nesting areas of two then the three all in the one, now just the two in the one. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-79544478317228556582015-12-29T10:05:56.512-08:002015-12-29T10:05:56.512-08:00Yes on the egg shells but there is no need to add ...Yes on the egg shells but there is no need to add the oat meal. They will eat the shells without any "sweetener".John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-15977548726193090572015-12-29T08:18:39.798-08:002015-12-29T08:18:39.798-08:00Awesome thank you! Glad we are headed on the right...Awesome thank you! Glad we are headed on the right track! Now could I use crashed into powder chicken eggs shells and crushed into powder whole oat meal as a replacement for oyster shells? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-34322173878789749142015-12-29T07:45:33.321-08:002015-12-29T07:45:33.321-08:00You cannot expect them to lay an egg a day startin...You cannot expect them to lay an egg a day starting with the first egg. It is a gradual process to achieve maximum production. It takes our flocks nine weeks from first egg to maximum production. The biggest problem with your current feed is the calcium level - it is much too little for egg production. But yours are okay for now as they have a large store of calcium in their body. But I would switch over to a layer feed as soon as possible to make sure they are able to eat enough calcium to replenish that used for shell production. Or give them a bowl of oyster shell and they can supplement themselves. The soft shelled egg is just an aberration that is not uncommon early in egg production. They whole egg laying system is not in sync and an egg may slip by without getting a complete shell. I would not worry about it. John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-67158375798766032462015-12-29T06:10:50.260-08:002015-12-29T06:10:50.260-08:00I have 3 female Welsh Harlequins that are just ove...I have 3 female Welsh Harlequins that are just over 4 1/2 months old. The day after Christmas we found two eggs. Since then we have had one egg each day. Today we didn't have any eggs but I did see something I wasn't sure of. At the front of the duck house was what looked like half of an egg but it was soft like rubber!? They have been feed the same brand of food since they hatched and arrived here from your farm and have growin with the weeks chart on the back of the bags. They do a lot of free roaming but always where I can see them. They also receive zucchini, carrots shavings and lettuce on occasion. I will be gradually switching the feed from grower/finisher to layer pellets/crumble today. So my question is do you think my ducks are not laying consistently due to lack of nutrition for their age or is it due to mainly their young age? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-61698166836971437492015-11-14T19:18:58.063-08:002015-11-14T19:18:58.063-08:00My guess is that more than seven are laying. Mayb...My guess is that more than seven are laying. Maybe nine or ten are laying so you only have one or two that are not laying. Ducks lay in clutches and take breaks between clutches. In peak production they are laying 9-10 eggs in a row (the clutch) and take a one day break. As time goes on their clutches become smaller and their breaks become longer. But if you really want to find the non-layers, separate out those that you suspect are not laying and check your results. If those ducks don't lay anything for several days, you have found the non-layers.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.com