[loveducks]

Hi all,

we have three cambells (one dark, one khaki, one khaki/white mix), we have had them since two were 20 weeks and one was 23 weeks (originally we were given a drake  - late bloomer so we took him back and the breeder swapped him for a duck) the breeder suggested keeping them in their house until 10.30am to encourage them. but they are now just over 25 weeks (26 on saturday 2nd oct) and still no eggs.  we have tried putting the fake eggs in but this did not do anything.

please help!!! any advise appreciated.

H. x x

[joyfull]

give them time they will lay when they are ready, but, ducks are seasonal layers so you may be lucky and get a few this year otherwise it will be next spring  .
Hello and welcome by the way, why not nip over to the welcome section and introduce yourself there 

[Kate and her Ducks]

Hi and welcome to the forums.

As Joy says, ducks are seasonal layers and often slow down or stop over winter. Ducks tend to start laying between 24 and 28 weeks although I have had ducks start as early as 18 weeks and as late as 40 weeks.

I have found that ducks hatched earlier in the season tend to start before winter and can lay throughout their first winter (but not subsequent ones) but if you get well into Oct they really tend not to lay until the following spring.

I will keep my fingers crossed for you (and my two 22 week old ducklings!).

[loveducks]

thanks that is reassurring to know - we though maybe we were doing something wrong. is there any sort of tell-tale signs they are about to lay or does it just happen?

[Sassy]

My Katie Thear books says they will start to lay at about 30 weeks but if this falls in winter you may have to wait till spring. At the end of the day they lay when they are ready.