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NewsUser
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 Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 9:06 pm Post subject: DUCKS: can you tell when they are laying? |
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I have runner ducks that are about 4 months old. From my reading, I
understand they will start laying at about 6 months, but other than age, are
there any telltale physical signs or behaviors that indicate a duck is
laying?
Karen |
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Bob Tarte
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 2:38 am Post subject: Re: DUCKS: can you tell when they are laying? |
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In article <vkkd3vpmoabs1c@corp.supernews.com>, NewsUser
<nospam@invalid.address> wrote:
[quote]I have runner ducks that are about 4 months old. From my reading, I
understand they will start laying at about 6 months, but other than age, are
there any telltale physical signs or behaviors that indicate a duck is
laying?
[/quote]
Hi, Karen,
This is probably too obvious to mention, but in general when our ducks
are laying, they are sitting in a secluded spot that they can use as a
nest. Sometimes we>ll simpy find an egg drop seemingly at random in the
pen, but when they>re 'serious,' they are sitting on a nest.
Also, and this is a breeding season phenomenon, a girl will tend to
follow one of the boys and bob her head, muttering what must be duck
flirtations, though these sound more like complaints to me. Sometimes
even without a drake around, a female will do this.
That>s about all I>ve noticed in the way of behavior.
--
Bob Tarte
Author of "Enslaved by Ducks"
Coming Fall 2003 from Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Info at http://www.enslavedbyducks.com |
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Bob Tarte
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: DUCKS: can you tell when they are laying? |
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In article <JtqdndXLbP77MteiRTvUqw@blueridge.net>, Lynette
<lnm@blueridge.net> wrote:
[quote]I have been wracking my brain as to what to buy a good friend for her
birthday next week.
She is a city dwelling animal lover who is 'aunty' to all our 21 llamas, 7
pygmy goats, 3 resident ducks, 15 chickens, 3 dogs, 1 cat (plus one that
comes for breakfast), and various and sundry migrant ducks, geese, egrets,
herons, anhingas, etc that happen by.
Your book is the PERFECT answer! I>ve pre-ordered it for her and printed
the web pages to show her what she has to look forward to.
[/quote]
Good grief, Lynette, that is an amazing compliment. Thanks so much. I
can>t tell you how much I appreciate it.
With all your critters, YOU should write a book. I>m sure you>ve got
plenty of goat and llama stories. (And I envy you the visiting
anhingas... a few migrating Solitary Sandpipers are as exotic as things
get for us.)
Thanks again.
--
Bob Tarte
Author of "Enslaved by Ducks"
Coming Fall 2003 from Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Info at http://www.enslavedbyducks.com |
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NewsUser
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 11:49 pm Post subject: Re: DUCKS: can you tell when they are laying? |
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[quote]It>s been my experience that when they start laying you find a stray
egg in their night pen or in the yard. They just pop one out without
knowing what>s going on. After they have been laying a while (
anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks) they put them in
a nest where ever they find themselves around dawn. That>s why it>s
helpful to manage them like hens and pen them until around 9:30 in the
morning. You pick up the eggs and let them out for the day.
[/quote]
I>m almost set then. They have a night "house" and pen to keep them safe. I
will add a nest or two (will they use the same nest?) and wait.
Thanks.
Karen |
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Lynette
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 2:26 am Post subject: Re: DUCKS: can you tell when they are laying? |
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Bob -
I>ve thought about writing - you know, someday when I don>t have to work
full time in addition to running a small farm!! :-)
Yep, the anhingas are really interesting - the first time I saw one I
thought a huge snake was doing some kind of dance on the water! We have a
'flock' of them early this spring - 10 of them as far as I could tell. A
real treat.
We live on a flood control lake in western NC, so we do get quite an
eclectic mix of water birds and wildlife year round. I really feel honored
to have been placed in this lovely spot!
I>ll let you know how my friend reacts to your book when it arrives. I
already know she>ll love it though!
Lynette Melton LNM@blueridge.net Chinquapin Ridge Farm Union Mills, NC
"Bob Tarte" <btarte@cris.com> wrote in message
news:260820031351321111%btarte@cris.com...
[quote]In article <JtqdndXLbP77MteiRTvUqw@blueridge.net>, Lynette
lnm@blueridge.net> wrote:
I have been wracking my brain as to what to buy a good friend for her
birthday next week.
She is a city dwelling animal lover who is 'aunty' to all our 21 llamas,
7
pygmy goats, 3 resident ducks, 15 chickens, 3 dogs, 1 cat (plus one that
comes for breakfast), and various and sundry migrant ducks, geese,
egrets,
herons, anhingas, etc that happen by.
Your book is the PERFECT answer! I>ve pre-ordered it for her and
printed
the web pages to show her what she has to look forward to.
Good grief, Lynette, that is an amazing compliment. Thanks so much. I
can>t tell you how much I appreciate it.
With all your critters, YOU should write a book. I>m sure you>ve got
plenty of goat and llama stories. (And I envy you the visiting
anhingas... a few migrating Solitary Sandpipers are as exotic as things
get for us.)
Thanks again.
--
Bob Tarte
Author of "Enslaved by Ducks"
Coming Fall 2003 from Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Info at http://www.enslavedbyducks.com[/quote] |
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