How often do ducks lay eggs? It is a very common question beginner duck keepers often ask. Are you also new in keeping ducks, and wondering how often do ducks lay eggs? If yes, then you are in the right place. Here we are going to discuss more about duck’s eggs production.
Actually, as a new duck keeper you should know about your duck’s eggs production. And learning about your duck’s eggs production frequency will help you to run your duck farm better.
How often do ducks lay eggs actually depends on numerous factors. And it is totally not possible for anyone to tell the exact answer. Eggs production of a duck typically depends on the age of the bird, breed, environment, and also the time of the year.
As a new duck keeper you should know as much as you can regarding duck raising system. However, here we are going to discuss more about how often do ducks lay eggs.
How often do ducks lay eggs?
Actually, it is not possible to tell the exact answer of this question. For answering this question, we have to know some facts about duck’s eggs production. No one single answer for this question, because there are several factors that fix the number of eggs.
Eggs production of ducks can vary depending upon breed, age, nutrition, surrounding environmental conditions, and obviously depending upon the availability of daily lighting period. Depending upon the breed, some ducks lay only 20-25 eggs a year, while some highly productive commercial duck breeds are capable of laying up to 300 eggs a year. Actual eggs production depends on the breed, strain, and individual.
Most of the commercial egg laying ducks lay only one egg per day. Although, an egg everyday is not guaranteed at all, and it can vary. So, it will be better if you count eggs production from ducks on weekly, monthly or even yearly basis.
If you keep ducks for fulfilling your family eggs consumption demand, then try to have more ducks than your daily eggs requirements. For example, if you need 10 eggs daily, then try to keep 15 to 20 laying ducks for having continuous eggs production.
You have to keep your ducks healthy by providing healthy food and other facilities if you want to have regular eggs production. Ensure that you are offering them required vitamins, minerals, calcium, essential oil etc. And doing all these will help to ensure maximum eggs production from your ducks.
What factors affect eggs production of ducks?
There are actually several factors which affect how often do ducks lay eggs. Here we are discussing about some most common and notable factors that affect a duck’s eggs production.
Breed
Actual eggs production from a duck depends on it’s breed. Some duck breeds lay only a few eggs a year, while some breeds lay upto 300 eggs in a year. Some highly eggs producing duck breeds are Khaki Campbell, Indian Runner, Welsh Harlequin, Magpie, Ancona, Abacot Ranger etc.
Age
Age of the duck is another important factor that influence the eggs production. Most of the duck breeds start laying eggs at around their 5-6 months of age. Eggs production of a duck peaks during the first 1 to 2 years, and then decrease gradually as they age.
Nutrition
Adequate nutrition play a very important role in total eggs production from a duck. So, ensure providing enough high quality and nutritious diet for your laying ducks. Ensure that their diet is balanced and especially rich in protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients. And always provide them enough clean and fresh drinking water as per their demand.
Environmental conditions
Surrounding environments where your ducks are living play an important role in eggs production. Try to keep enough space per bird so that your ducks can roam freely. Keep the environment inside the duck house clean and dry. And if possible allow your birds to forage freely.
Stress management
Keeping your birds stress free is very important, because stress influence eggs production. So, try to keep your ducks entertained and stress free.
Lighting
Availability of adequate daylight also affect a duck’s eggs production. Laying ducks typically require 14 to 16 hours of light per day to maintain good eggs production. If daylight is not sufficient in your area, try to install required artificial lighting facilities. Doing this can improve eggs production.
These are the information we wanted to share with you regarding how often do ducks lay eggs. Most of the commercial ducks lay eggs daily, but some breeds lay only a few eggs in a year. As we have discussed above, actual eggs production of a duck depends on numerous factors and can vary from breed to breed and place to place. Hope this guide has helped you. Good luck and may God bless you!
