(You’ll be surprised!) The average lifespan of the Cayuga duck which is kept as pets is 8 to 12 years. Do I need to prepare a nesting box for them or will they build their own nests (I have straw)? Why aren’t my ducks laying eggs? Increase a little every week and by the time they are laying at 40% production (4 eggs for every 10 females every day) you can start to give them as much as they want to eat. Note: If you are raising your ducks in the spring, they may start laying eggs sooner than what is best. Mine were Runes though, so I don't know if it is much different for other breeds. 15 reasons; When do ducks start laying eggs? But egg color lightens to white by the end of the season. Often you can't tell until you find eggs. The problem with early lay is that they may not be as mature as they should be and their eggs will be smaller. Ideally, you can switch them to layer feed three weeks before they start laying to make sure they have the extra nutrition they’ll need. Those cute little fuzzballs do take some work, however. Be careful if your duck starts laying soft-shelled eggs – that’s a sign that you should either feed them more greens or start mixing oyster shell into their grain. During this time, she will need to take breaks for food and water, however these moments are brief. 3. Muscovy ducks are great mothers and do a good job raising their young. 2. Incubation period for the Cayuga duck’s eggs is 28 days. My Cayuga Ducks will be 15 weeks old on Monday and I read that when they are between 16-20 weeks old they begin to lay eggs. The problem is, they won’t lay nearly the amount of eggs we might expect, because today’s perfectly computed feeds have been crafted to squeeze out every egg the duck is capable of laying. A large part of the fun of raising ducks is the ducklings! The plumage of the Cayuga is uniformly greenish black and … Their eggs are initially black or dark grey in color. I now have a Peking and a Black Cayuga and they both started laying around one year old. During this time, she will need to take breaks for food and water, however these moments are brief. 2. They are noted for being great layers as well of large white eggs. All you can do at this point is to reduce their feed level in the hopes of preventing more ducks from starting egg production. The ducks are broody and often sit on and hatch their eggs. Here's the scoop on breeding, incubation - both natural and artificial - duckling care, and more. Once he has paired with a female, he will remain with her until approximately 10 days after the mallard hen begins to incubate her eggs. Laying Habits of Ducks. Eggs are initially black in color, but as the season progresses egg color lightens to white by the end of the season. The drakes are often mute, but the ducks are quite vocal. If they are fee roaming they can start laying as late as 23 weeks. The better you feed your flock, the more and longer they will produce eggs. Breeding. Your young ducks are about 16 weeks old and should start laying soon. and quiet quack make them an excellent choice for a backyard duck. Duck mothers lay a single egg per day, and in the end her "clutch" size, the amount of eggs she has laid, will be around 8 to 14 eggs. If you leave the eggs in the nest, you’ll find your Cayuga hen is a fairly reliable mother who will sit on and hatch her eggs more often than many domestic ducks are known for. However, these ducks are also noted as being a more skittish breed in comparison to Pekin ducks. About how old are ducks when they start laying eggs? Today this breed is prized for its quiet, docile personality and extreme hardiness. When do ducks stop laying eggs? Lisa Lynn, I’ve been raising the Cayuga Ducks for over a year now. (How To Stop Your Duck From Hiding Her Eggs – Proven Tips) Can ducks lay 2+ eggs in one day? Generally domestic ducks start to lay around 21 to 26 weeks of age. But he hens don't need a male around to lay eggs they just are not fertile. Ducks … Plenty of straw which is changed frequently will help to keep the eggs clean once they start to lay. The drake begins seeking a mate in the fall -- before duck laying season.