How many eggs do your ducks lay?

Ben n Deb · **Posted:** Sat May 21, 2011 12:08 am

Hi!

A few years ago now, we bought some Muscovy ducks, and that number has now increased to many... too many :shock:

... but that's not why I'm writing....

Our ducks have only ever laid about 12 eggs at a time before going broody.
Is this unusual?

I had read elsewhere that Muscovy ducks could lay up to 18 eggs, and a friend of ours has had a Muscovy duck successfully hatch 17.

So what I'm wondering is what ducks you all have, and on average how many eggs you get - Especially if you own Muscovy Ducks!

We are breeding ducks for both their meat and their eggs.

Thanks!

Roova · **Posted:** Sat May 21, 2011 6:29 am

When I had Muscovies they used to lay about 28 eggs (if I collected them each day) before going broody. If I didn't collect them it would be long before this.

Maybe you just have a broody or poor laying 'line' of ducks? The more you breed them together the worse these traits might become. You may not have chosen the right breed if you're looking for meat and eggs. Most Muscovies are just not great egg layers.

I currently have runner x campbell ducks and I couldn't tell you how many eggs they've laid. I collect eggs daily and they just keep coming week after week. They are large white eggs and taste delicious (I always found the Muscovy eggs tasted quite strong). Yesterday I collected a 105g egg! I've only had one duck go broody in the last couple of months and she had a successful hatch.

muscovieduck · **Posted:** Tue May 24, 2011 12:54 pm

I've found the same as Roova with my muscovies. I get about 28 if I collect them. One of mine was sneaky and laid a clutch in some grass which I didn't know about, and she went broody after about 12 eggs, but continued to lay a couple after she started sitting. Biggest egg I've had out of my ducks is 110g, I certainly feel sorry for whichever duck laid that one :shock:

Ben n Deb · **Posted:** Wed May 25, 2011 5:50 pm

And how many eggs/fake eggs do you leave in the nest so they don't keep looking for safe spots?

Is the runner x campbell breed you have one you can buy from the produce places, or is that your own cross?

Roova · **Posted:** Wed May 25, 2011 6:22 pm

For the Muscovies I seemed to have to leave 3 eggs in the nest. Any less and they'd still search for another nest. They can't count obviously but I guess they had a sense of eggs being missing.

The IR and KC cross was just one I did here because I specifically wanted good eggs layers and both those breeds are known for their good egg laying skills. They're very pretty birds too, lots of different colours. I ended up with Apricot, Harlequin, Dusky blue, Khaki campbell and a very dark brown it was almost black. :-D

chickenwing · **Joined:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:04 am **Posts:** 1

I leave a few in the nest also for a trigger to brooding of my muscovy's and then put back what I have collected to give them a full brood

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