The period of egg laying in domestic ducks

For poultry houses, in addition to materials suitable for sale (eggs, meat), poultry breeding is also important. This is due to the fact that without such a process as egg laying, the number of birds will drop sharply, and in the end, the profits from the sale of feathers and eggs will not cover the waste of growing a bird. The question of why ducks do not rush is of concern to novice breeders more often.

When ducks begin to lay eggs

to avoid difficulties, you need to know well when the ducks start to hover, for which months the egg production is highest, how to feed them during this period and which ones All this information will speed up and increase the productivity of laying hens as much as possible.

First egg-laying

Poultry farmers know that domestic and wild ducks behave differently, and therefore, their egg production is different. Poultry do not have to fight for survival and get their own food, and therefore they can give up to 120 eggs per year. On average, such ducks begin to give offspring at the age of about 5 months. And if they started to rush, then the egg will appear constantly.

However, depending on certain factors, the time of the first egg laying can be much closer or away:

1. Breed of the duck.By nature, ducks of different breeds begin to lay eggs at different ages, so you should first ask about this from the seller when the female of this species began to give offspring. If the females carried well, the egg production of the offspring will also be high.
2. The presence of a drake. If there is no drake, the sexual development of young birds of this species is somewhat inhibited. More often than females that rushed without a drake on the nest do not sit.
3. Conditions of detention. In order for the birds to rush on time, they need to be kept in comfortable conditions. The room should be dry, spacious and warm. It is also important to protect ducks from excess noise.
4. Health and lifestyle of ducks. An unhealthy duck will not be able to bring a lot of offspring, so it’s worthwhile to provide good nutrition, care and a periodic medical examination. There should also be enough space for the duck to move and be physically active.

Wild ducks, due to difficult living conditions, can carry no more than 50-60 eggs per year, and sometimes the egg laying capacity of such ducks is only up to 20 eggs per year (i.e. 1-2 eggs). Unlike domestic ducks, which hatch eggs for a long time, wild ones do it quickly enough. Studies have shown that embryos of wild ducks develop much faster, and ducklings appear by about 29 days of hatching. Also, the maturity of the female and the drake occurs much earlier. This feature is directly related to survival.

When ducks rush better

Like wild ones, domestic ducks rush better in spring, which is associated with a genetically laid instinct to breed precisely in the warmest and most comfortable period for this. However, if domestic ducks maintain comfortable conditions throughout the year, you can expect litter several times a year, including in winter. And the egg will have sizes typical of the norm.

1. On average, ducks carry 12-20 eggs three times a season. With each new clutch, the number of eggs usually increases. The hatching period reaches a month. From the beginning of egg production, productivity will only increase.
2. Some ducks can put their eggs in someone else’s nest. This phenomenon is quite common, so the owners of such birds have a wonderful opportunity to lay their eggs with extra eggs to hatch. You should not do this in relation to those who hatch for the first time, but experienced ducks can increase the number of eggs to 20.

Many poultry farmers need to know what time the ducks start to rush, how many months they must be fulfilled so that on the crucial day not to miss the appearance of the first eggs. This is usually night time, but the process can last until noon. The time when ducks rush requires silence and calm in the barn, not a single egg will be able to run without it.

Why ducks do not rush

If these birds ceased to rush, There may be a lot of reasons.Most likely they are hiding in the wrong conditions for the laying hen:

1. Wrong temperature. In a too cold room, the bird feels unprotected, and the next egg laying will only happen when the temperature rises to the required level (minimum 12 ° С). Too high temperatures also do not allow the bird to rush, as the birds feel worse, their health.
2. Poor nutrition. You need to carefully monitor what the birds eat, feed in moderation and in no case overfeed. Fodder is selected in high quality, grain and mixtures are used. Obese ducks cannot be forced to rush.
3. Lack of access to fresh air. In order for the ducks to rush well, every day the bird needs to ensure proper walking. Walking on the street should last at least an hour.

Short daylight hours also affect laying hens.

Egg production will also be affected by the amount of light received birds throughout the day. A month before the proposed ovipositor, you need to increase the daylight hours with a lamp for 5-10 minutes every day. Adapted birds will be better carried. At night, you can leave a dim light.

How to make the duck slip

First of all, you will need to eliminate all the reasons listed in the previous paragraph.If the owner wants the birds to race well, he is obliged to provide comprehensive nutrition for birds and access to a reservoir, increase daylight hours, provide birds with daily walks, and equip the premises with effective ventilation.

If this does not help, the problem health, laying hens need special care. Pay attention to the color of the legs and beak: it should be bright orange. Often, health problems are manifested in poor nutrition and low fluid intake. If you notice any abnormalities, contact your veterinarian and take a course of immunotherapy.

Sometimes, when ducks begin to lay eggs, it is found that some eggs appear without shells. If a duck laid such an egg, this is clear evidence that it lacks vitamins in its body and needs to be fixed urgently.

Hatching

Hatching lasts about 4 weeks . During this time, the poultry breeder provides ducks with maximum comfort. At this time, the laying duck rarely gets up from the nest and does not move most of the time. Sometimes birds stop eating within a few days after laying, this is normal, but they need additional supervision during this period.

After some time, the egg begins to crack, and the first duckling hatches from it. All ducklings do not hatch at the same time, so immediately after the birth of a new duckling it should be removed from the mother until all the others have hatched.