We have two Pekin ducks. One female and one male. The female is about 9 months older than the male and was and excellent egg layer until he (the male duck) arrived. She has since quit laying her eggs. It has been over six months now and we are concerned that she will never lay again. Is there any experience with Pekins out there that can give us some insight into this complication? Thank you for you answers.

-- Chris Kania (wtp5@tcsn.net), December 22, 2000

Answers

I have never had mine lay except in spring and early summer.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), December 22, 2000.

I agree with Diane. We've had Pekins for years and they only lay in the spring and early summer. Last year one of the hens decided to try again in the fall but that's unusual.

-- Peg (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), December 22, 2000.

Chris another thought is could you possible get some more females? One male pestering non stop one female is much different than him having his own little harem to pester. Our pekins layed down here in the south pretty much year round, If I could have ever figured out a way to let them free range, and yet not foul/fowl :) the goats water all the time, I would still have them! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 22, 2000.

Thanks for your answers. I was thinking maybe we had her diet fouled up. This sounds like I will start to see her lay again in the early spring but that will have been over 9 months. Is that unusual? We were thinking that the male threw her off even though he was not mature yet. ?? It is perplexing. Thank you for your help.

Chris

-- Chris (wtp5@tcsn.net), December 22, 2000.

Pekins ate not the best layers. If you are going to feed them and want to eat the eggs, you might as well get some khaki campbell or runner females. We did have a duck that got overbred(too many drakes), and prolapsed her oviduct. We had to eat her as there is no cure for it. I guess that stress could stop her laying, but I think pekins are pretty much spring layers.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), December 23, 2000.

Yeah, Rebekah, I'm thinking that just about any bird would stop laying from the stress of being eaten. Wouldn't you say? ;-)

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), December 23, 2000.

I have two pekins and the weather plays a big part in whether they lay eggs or not. Our weather starts getting cold around September with frost starting, and the night time temp. really dropping. The ducks stop laying around then. They pick up in the spring time laying an egg every day or every other day. These are pet ducks and we would never eat them. They have a wonderful life of leisure and enjoy themselves all day long. They have a huge aviary to play in and a pool (a cattle pool in the ground-heated in winter) and an attached shed that a person could easily live in. They lay eggs without a male around-because they feel like it, not because they have to or want to nest. Their diet consists of duck pellets, fresh Romaine lettuce, vitamins 3 times per week,ground oyster shells daily, peas daily - a big treat for them and spaghetti occasionally. They are so cute and have wonderful personalities. One is named Gwendolyn and the other Genevieve.

-- JoAnn Flynn (goonetune@aol.com), December 24, 2000.

We live just below the snow and have gotten into below freezing weather lately. We have a male and a female and they ,over the last two weeks laid so far 16 eggs. We are getting ready to bring them into the house to try and hatch. My kids can't wait!!!

-- Susan Cammisa (zero@caltel.com), February 16, 2001.

I have a doz. Pekin ducks. They have layed right through the last two winters that have been fairly mild. This winter we have had some cold (mid to low 20's if you can call that cold) and they took a couple months off. Are starting to lay again now. They are meat ducks rather than layers, so consider myself lucky to get so many eggs from them. I much prefer them to hens eggs. This morning they experienced their first 6" snow. It hasn't fazed them, though several of them are dragging their backsides in it. The chickens, on the other hand, won't budge out of their chicken house.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), February 16, 2001.