pekings on the Lake

[Bobbie3504]

we've had ducks in the past, at the farm, but now we are on a private lake and have 3 pekings and 1 mallard (had 3 but a fox got 2 when they were young :-( )
Mallard is a Drake & mating with one of the Pekings. We have a Drake Peking and we THINK a hen peking (slow becoming sexually active & no tail feather?)
We've not seen any eggs yet. They are Easter ducks, making them about 7 months old. Shouldn't we be seeing eggs by now?

 

[Ratchnick]

You won't see eggs until spring because of the light, assuming you live in the northern hemisphere.

 

[quackiemama]

What region are you in? That really could make a difference. My ladies from late April started laying and have continued so far. Sometimes it also just depends on the duck. Right now I have 5 out of 7 laying. Two are molting so I am pretty sure it is them not currently laying. Hope you get some eggs soon.

 

[Miss Lydia]

we've had ducks in the past, at the farm, but now we are on a private lake and have 3 pekings and 1 mallard (had 3 but a fox got 2 when they were young :-( )
Mallard is a Drake & mating with one of the Pekings. We have a Drake Peking and we THINK a hen peking (slow becoming sexually active & no tail feather?)
We've not seen any eggs yet. They are Easter ducks, making them about 7 months old. Shouldn't we be seeing eggs by now?

 

[Bobbie3504]

What region are you in? That really could make a difference. My ladies from late April started laying and have continued so far. Sometimes it also just depends on the duck. Right now I have 5 out of 7 laying. Two are molting so I am pretty sure it is them not currently laying. Hope you get some eggs soon.

.

Thank you for the 'welcome' !!
We live in Indiana... Like most of the Midwest, we just had a huge cold spell, but it's been pretty warm till this last week. My one lady has been 'mature' for a while now, as least our Mallard Drake says she is! The other Lady has been slower to reach sexual maturity. The Peking Drake is just starting to show some interest in her.

 

[Bobbie3504]

You won't see eggs until spring because of the light, assuming you live in the northern hemisphere.

Unless it's different with their first year to lay, I've read that ducks, Pekings especially, will lay all year, regardless of light. And she's been 'mature' enough for the Male to mate with her for a couple of months. This is a first for me, we always had a couple ducks in with our chickens so I never really singled out their courting etc, but on the lake it's been totally different. They 'court' all day long!

 

[LilyLoo]

Are you sure you have a drake? Or is it possible you have a overly friendly 7 month hen instead? My 2 hens didn't lay until their 8th month. Welcome to byc!
Send pics of your ducks and pond we love pics here

 

[Bobbie3504]

Yes, the mallard is definitely a drake and the male peking has his tail feather, the mallard aggressively chases him off whenever he is near the hen. We have one hen for sure, but the 4th, a peking... we're not sure about yet. I believe it's a hen, but she's had a rough start and is slower than the rest. I call 'her' Waddles, she had niacin problems as duckling and never grew out of the limp.

 

[sourland]

The reality is that since they have not started laying yet they may not do so until day length increases. Ducks are very sexually active so their activity is not an indication that egg laying is imminent. Is there any possibility that she has a hidden nest ?

 

[Bobbie3504]

The reality is that since they have not started laying yet they may not do so until day length increases. Ducks are very sexually active so their activity is not an indication that egg laying is imminent. Is there any possibility that she has a hidden nest ?

We've checked where they roosted before the weather changed, funny thing is, it's where the Canadian geese nest in the spring! We're working on getting them in the pen at night now that weather is colder. (Yeh, were having fun with that!)