KrisK Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 It's February...and it's cold (although the weekend wasn't) We'll be going back down to the low -20'sC to possibly the -30 range tonight and for the balance of the week. My SILLY ducks are laying eggs!! I certainly didn't expect any eggs now so we missed picking them up on Friday before they were frozen solid. I gathered up eggs on the weekend and another one this morning. So, are these truly 'northern' ducks and is this too early for eggs??? Of course, the fresh eggs means I have to start baking again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 It's February...and it's cold (although the weekend wasn't) We'll be going back down to the low -20'sC to possibly the -30 range tonight and for the balance of the week. My SILLY ducks are laying eggs!! I certainly didn't expect any eggs now so we missed picking them up on Friday before they were frozen solid. I gathered up eggs on the weekend and another one this morning. So, are these truly 'northern' ducks and is this too early for eggs??? Of course, the fresh eggs means I have to start baking again Hey Kris, Poultry lay based on length of daylight rather than weather/temperature, so as the days starting getting longer, they chickens and ducks start a'layin'! I already have hens sitting on eggs, which reminds me I need to go take them out--it's too early for me to bother trying to raise chicks, and I have a surfeit of roosters as it is, so don't need any more! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fosher Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 When it comes to roosters, a surfeit=1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 That's correct - waterfowl are all brooding now, depending on how much daylight you're getting. Ducks lay a clutch over the course of about 24 days and then will incubate the lot together - usually around 14 to 18. Of those obviously some will be duds (frozen, infertile, defective) so you might get 50% hatch. Unless they are dropping the eggs right on the bare ground, it will take a lot to freeze them. Those temps will do it, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisK Posted February 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Actually, I did find one egg on the ground next to the house (they free range). It's too darn cold to have any ducklings around so I'll be gathering the eggs. Either that, or I'm going to blindfold them so they can't see too much light and quit laying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthfieldNick Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 My 2 yr old duck has been laying for weeks; the year old one just started laying this week. I'm glad- my farrier loves duck eggs- she'll take them in trade for doing my horses' feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiegirl Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 WF haven't started laying here. Days are longer, but no eggs yet. They start pairing now, and sometime about beginning of March they lay. Eggs hatch, for geese around 30 days (or less) later. The ducks at the golf course have paired up now, and we have a mute swan female. No geese though. Saw Wigeons yesterday too- man are they pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo&Tex Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 What it means is that you are a darn good duck rancher, Kris! Living conditions are harsh here in February. The days are getting longer, but if your birds are cold and poorly fed, they will be too busy just surviving to be able to produce eggs. The old farmer where I board the colts got 6 nice laying hens in November. He was getting eggs regularly but in January, the hens started eating their eggs. Now, they have quit laying altogether and he is threatening them with the soup-pot. I was puzzled too, until he mentioned that hens just scratch for their food and you dont have to feed them. I guess he hasnt noticed that there is nothing to scratch for, no bugs or grains or greens, in the dead of winter. I bring them all my compost scraps and I spill horse oats on purpose to give them a little bit, but poor little hens.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 I have Pekins and don't expect they'll lay until I start feeding them laying rations or until the bugs start coming out in force again. Since the wild animals are very hungry, I'd prefer if they didn't start raising families until the guard dogs have less to do protecting the newborn lambs. The girls have been getting visits from wild Mallards. I'm hoping for some pretty babies from that, though I imagine they will mostly be white. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 The old farmer where I board the colts got 6 nice laying hens in November. He was getting eggs regularly but in January, the hens started eating their eggs. Now, they have quit laying altogether and he is threatening them with the soup-pot. I was puzzled too, until he mentioned that hens just scratch for their food and you dont have to feed them. I guess he hasnt noticed that there is nothing to scratch for, no bugs or grains or greens, in the dead of winter. I bring them all my compost scraps and I spill horse oats on purpose to give them a little bit, but poor little hens.... One has to wonder how he made it as a farmer if he doesn't realize that good nutrition = good production. Sheesh! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljrphoto Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 I've noticed my runner ducks are getting "randy" again with the longer days. I wish they would lay some eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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