NO EGGS?

madgirl · **Joined:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:17 am **Posts:** 7

I have 3 muscovy ducks all female and not one of them has laid a single egg in the last 6 months, do they need a male to lay eggs I think they are aged 3 to 6 years old but maybe a little older not sure. How long do they live please

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:23 am

They could be two old to lay is it possible they are actually older than 6 years? I would get your self a couple of new ducks (female) they can live up to 18 years but the norm would be 12 ish

Roova · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:57 pm

And no they don't need a drake to lay eggs - this happens to ducks in laying age whether they like it or not. The drake will only fertilise the eggs being laid (well hopefully). :-D

If it isn't the age of the ducks causing the lack of egg laying there might be other factors.
Maybe you have long term unwelcome guests taking eggs (crows, goanna's etc).
It could also be their diet is insufficient for them to be able to produce eggs. If you tell us what their diet is we can see if this might be a cause?
Are they living in a stressful situation - do they have clean water to bathe in and drink, clean environment, enough room to move around etc?
Are they moulting at the moment?
What has the weather been like where you live - have you had extemes of weather?

Muscovies aren't known as being the best of layers of course (their only fault in my opinion!).

madgirl · **Joined:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:17 am **Posts:** 7

You have certainly answered a few more questions that I had including whether crows would take eggs as we have allot of them. I think some mesh of the roof might be the answer, I hope

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:36 am

Yes crows will pinch them if they get the chance

rose douglass · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:35 pm

This might sound stupid but how would a crow pickup a muscovey egg?Are they the same size as a chook egg or are they bigger?Just curious!!!

Muscovy J · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:41 am

yes crows take mussie eggs, they break a hole in them first then carry away, they also love taking ducklings,

as for age, once they get to 4 , there egg laying will be bugger all,

if wanting to breed go for young hens to breed from,

clucky duck · **Joined:** Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:01 pm **Posts:** 3

If they are 6 years then its time to replace them or put them out to pasture and get some ducks around 9-12 months old

madgirl · **Joined:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:17 am **Posts:** 7

We now have a roof over the muscovy coop but I think you are right and its time to buy some new ducks. Can I leave the old ones in the coop and just ad the new ones?

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:12 am

Yes you can they shouldn't bother the new ducks

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