When Do Ducks Start Laying Eggs? (And Other Egg-Cellent Questions)
- AB
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
So you’ve welcomed a flock of feathery ladies into your backyard, watched them waddle through puddles, dig through mud like treasure hunters, and now you're wondering:"Where are the eggs?"
Let’s crack into it.
When Do Ducks Start Laying Eggs?
Most duck breeds begin laying between 16 and 28 weeks old—roughly 4 to 7 months. It's kind of like duck puberty. They’re still figuring things out (including where to lay, when to lay, and occasionally why they're sitting in your flowerpot).
Quick breed guide:
Khaki Campbells: Early bloomers, 16–18 weeks.
Welch Harlequins: 20-24 weeks.
Pekins: 20–24 weeks.
Muscovies: 6–7 months or later.
Runners: Around 20 weeks, with flair.
Note: If you're raising ducks in the fall or winter, shorter daylight hours might delay egg-laying—even if they’ve hit the right age. Ducks are strongly influenced by light exposure.
When to Start Layer Feed?
Timing this right is key for healthy egg production.
Start high-protein layer feed (16–18% protein with added calcium) when your ducks are about 18 weeks oldOR when you notice signs that eggs are coming soon (squatting behavior, nesting, or first egg discovery).
DO NOT switch too early—too much calcium before their bodies are ready can lead to kidney damage or growth issues.
🍼 Until then, ducklings should be on:
Starter feed (20–22% protein) until about 2–3 weeks.
Grower feed (15–17% protein) from 3 weeks until 17–18 weeks.
Once laying begins, always offer free-choice oyster shell on the side so layers can take what they need, and non-layers (or drakes) can skip it.
How Often Do Ducks Lay Eggs?
Most ducks lay an egg nearly every day, particularly in spring and summer.
Top Layers:
Khaki Campbells, Golden 300 Hybrids, and Runners often lay 250–300+ eggs/year.
Seasonal or decorative types (like Muscovies or Call Ducks) tend to lay fewer—think 60–120 eggs/year, often in spring bursts.
Winter laying slows or stops unless you add artificial light (aim for ~14 hours/day if you go this route).
Weird Eggs? Don't Panic.
Your duck’s early laying days might come with… surprises.
Here’s what’s normal in the beginning:
Tiny “fairy eggs”: No yolk. Just a warm-up round.
Soft-shelled eggs: Not enough calcium or their system is adjusting. Offer oyster shell and don’t stress unless it continues.
Misshapen, wrinkled, or bumpy eggs: Totally normal at first. Their plumbing is new!
Double yolks: Exciting! Harmless unless it becomes too frequent.
Bloody or dirty eggs: Their reproductive system is stretching out. Clean bedding and a little time usually fix this.
After about 3–4 weeks, most ducks settle into a regular rhythm with full-sized, clean, properly shelled eggs.
Do Ducks Need a Male to Lay Eggs?
Nope! Your ladies are fully independent egg-layers. A drake is only required if you want to hatch ducklings. Otherwise, he's just bringing noise and possibly drama to the party.
Many backyard duck keepers opt for an all-female flock—more peaceful, productive, and much easier on the eyes (and feathers).
Where Will They Lay?
The real question is where won’t they lay?Ducks don’t always go for the cute little nesting boxes you made. They’ll lay:
In flower pots
Under bushes
Behind water buckets
In the exact spot you just cleaned
Tip: Lock them in their coop until mid-morning. Ducks tend to lay early in the day, so this encourages them to lay in the coop instead of on a backyard scavenger hunt route.
The Gist
Ducks lay at 4–7 months old.
Start layer feed at 18 weeks, not before.
Expect weird eggs for a few weeks—totally normal!
Ducks lay ~5–6 eggs per week in peak season.
No drake needed for eggs (just for ducklings).
Ducks are delightful, dramatic, and egg-stra in all the best ways. So grab your basket, check the weirdest corners of your yard, and let the backyard egg hunt begin!
If you have any questions, please ask! I would love to help!
Keep it Quacky friends!
With Love,
Amber
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