Khaki Campbell Ducks and egg laying

[1st time]

hello all, was wondering what is the habit for these duck when they lay their eggs? I have 4 females and 1 male. They share a coop with 8 chickens. I usually let them out to roam by 6:30 am and they take themselves back to their coop by about 8pm. Their pen is about a 20 x 20 but they roam freely on a couple acres(mostly wooded). They were hatched approximately May 2nd this year and have been watching for eggs. As this is my first time with raising duck & chickens not sure what to expect. I don't know if Ducks will nest like chickens. I have been getting excited about getting my first egg or eggs at any time as my chickens are about the same age and yesterday I did find my first chicken egg. As I was looking around the ground outside of their pen (as I let them roam free) I noticed 2 eggs that had been broken open and about 3/4 of the eggshell was all that was left. Can anyone give me any advise about their egg laying habit? Thanks in advance.

 

[Carcajou]

Your Khakis should start laying at 18-20 weeks. They are on a 24 hour cycle vs a 30 hour cycle for chickens. Mine are usually done laying between 6:45 and 7:30. In the summer they prefer to lay outside and will go to the same nest for a while, then make another and use that for a while. You need to watch where they go. You also want to get the eggs as quickly as you can before the skunks, crows, etc get to them. Most of the year I don't let my ducks out until after 7 AM so the eggs will be in the house. I do let them out earlier when it is hot out though so the egg hunt becomes a daily routine. My two that are laying have used four different nests this year, sometimes they even use the same one.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

hello all, was wondering what is the habit for these duck when they lay their eggs? I have 4 females and 1 male. They share a coop with 8 chickens. I usually let them out to roam by 6:30 am and they take themselves back to their coop by about 8pm. Their pen is about a 20 x 20 but they roam freely on a couple acres(mostly wooded). They were hatched approximately May 2nd this year and have been watching for eggs. As this is my first time with raising duck & chickens not sure what to expect. I don't know if Ducks will nest like chickens. I have been getting excited about getting my first egg or eggs at any time as my chickens are about the same age and yesterday I did find my first chicken egg. As I was looking around the ground outside of their pen (as I let them roam free) I noticed 2 eggs that had been broken open and about 3/4 of the eggshell was all that was left. Can anyone give me any advise about their egg laying habit? Thanks in advance.

Mine started laying at around 5 months. Very reliable at laying in a nest if a soft quiet place is provided.

Any broken eggs found anywhere should always be cleaned up the best you can do it, including in the nests. They can draw predators, and I've read that some ducks develop a taste for duck eggs once they try them and will break their own eggs to eat them. I've never personally had that happen, but I've read many stories about it from people who've experienced it.

 

[1st time]

I forgot to ask another question. Can the eggs stay out on the counter at room temp for a extended period of time or should they be put in the fridge right away. Should the eggs be washed after you gather them or just before they are used?

 

[Carcajou]

I forgot to ask another question. Can the eggs stay out on the counter at room temp for a extended period of time or should they be put in the fridge right away. Should the eggs be washed after you gather them or just before they are used?

Unwashed eggs will keep at room temperature for quite a while. I keep mine in a cool spot in the cellar though I have been putting them in the refrigerator during this real hot weather. I don't wash my eggs until I get ready to use them unless they are muddy (from ducks laying eggs outside during wet weather).

 

[JadeComputerGal]

I forgot to ask another question. Can the eggs stay out on the counter at room temp for a extended period of time or should they be put in the fridge right away. Should the eggs be washed after you gather them or just before they are used?

Are these for eating or for hatching?

 

[1st time]

Just for eating. I read somewhere that washing duck or chicken eggs will weeken or take some type of protective coating off that would allow them to last longer. Your opinion on this?

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Just for eating. I read somewhere that washing duck or chicken eggs will weeken or take some type of protective coating off that would allow them to last longer. Your opinion on this?

We don't eat ours, so I can't advise you on that. Eggs have a cuticle layer that protects them to some extent from bacteria getting in through the shell, and egg shells are very porous. Washing removes that cuticle layer, so it makes whatever is inside more susceptible to anything that can get through the porous shell. I imagine they shouldn't be washed until right before use if you're using them for cooking, but I'm hoping others will comment on that part. We don't wash our eggs, but we incubate them for babies, so that might work a bit differently from your situation.

 

[jducour]

Just for eating. I read somewhere that washing duck or chicken eggs will weeken or take some type of protective coating off that would allow them to last longer. Your opinion on this?

I spent an insomniac night researching this. I ended up reading a huge research paper on it, and it is pretty unanimous. Do not wash eggs. If they are lightly soiled, scrub with either sand or a dry sponge. If heavily soiled, either throw away or clean the shell, then immediately cook and feed to the ducks. Store the unwashed eggs pointy side down in the fridge, and they will stay fresh for up to 4 months refrigerated. Here is what my eggs look like. Not spotless, but not heavily soiled. I wash them in hot water before cracking open if they are soiled.

If you are interested, I can try to find the link. It was an interesting study.

We are getting about 30 eggs a week right now, and I am storing them to last through weeks when they don't lay as regularly. We haven't had to buy eggs from the store in months, it is nice to have a fresh supply daily!

 

[1st time]

If you want but if it's too much trouble don't worry. I thank you all for your advise and opinion.