Versuchen GOLD - Frei
The waddle of wee webbed feet
The Country Smallholder
|February 2025
Many ducks will soon come into lay but you need to plan ahead if you want to breed ducklings
-

Ducks are seasonal breeders, having a surge of eggs in the spring, often from February onwards, and then tailing off for winter. The more commercial breeds such as the Khaki Campbell are all round layers as are Indian Runners - they are also not good broody ducks. If you have a drake and the ducks are actively mating and producing eggs then you can use artificial incubation to produce ducklings year round so that you are producing some point of lay ducks for early spring.
BROODY DUCKS
Domestic ducks on the whole are not the best of sitters and become very agitated. Being calm around her and keeping noisy children or dogs away from her is very important. Some breeds (and within breeds, some families,) are much better at hatching and parenting then others. Some breeders will use a broody hen in place of a duck to hatch duck eggs and this does work well. Always ensure as duck eggs are larger than hen's eggs, that the hen is able to easily cover the eggs you put under her.
HATCHING TIMES
Duck eggs take 28 days to hatch unless they are Muscovy duck which take 35-37 days larger than hen's eggs, that the hen is able to easily cover the eggs you put under her.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2025-Ausgabe von The Country Smallholder.
Abonnieren Sie Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierter Premium-Geschichten und über 9.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Sie sind bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON The Country Smallholder

The Country Smallholder
The autumn egg drop
As the summer days fade, many chicken keepers notice their hens' egg baskets looking a little emptier. Experienced breeder Kate from Kent shares her wisdom on what to expect during the autumn egg drop, and how to spot when it might be more than just a seasonal lull.
5 mins
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
Proud to be a homesteader
You write-sharing your experiences and opinions
1 min
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
Dispelling the myths about what makes a farm vet
VetPartners is dispelling the myths about what it takes to be a farm vet.
2 mins
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
Move to the Isle of Coll with a stunning coast line and wildlife in abundance
Our regular column seeking out the best places for smallholder living
1 mins
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
Smart Feeding Strategies for Ducks and Geese
In this feature, Sarah Day, nutritionist for Small Holder Feed, shares expert guidance to help you make informed feeding choices, from tiny hatchlings through to laying adults.
5 mins
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
Introducing a machinery company with a heritage
Fleming Agri Products have been established for 165 years
2 mins
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
The Pekin bantam, a favourite True bantam with no large counterpart
Victoria Roberts BVSC MRCVS explores the history, appearance and temperament of this delightful breed
3 mins
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
Hedge-cutting: neglect and renewal
Farming and smallholding practices have altered over the past century or so. Some have been subtle, others less so – and many brought about by technology and legislation. In another of his monthly series, Jeremy Hobson continues to outline just a few of them.
2 mins
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
Getting Ready for Winter
Claire Waring discusses how we can help our bees prepare and give them the best chance of survival
6 mins
October 2025

The Country Smallholder
Halloween folklore and fowl
This Halloween, step into the shadows of rural folklore with Cara Wheeldon to discover spooky poultry tales, ghostly roosters, banshee-like wails, and sinister headless hens. All from Britain's haunted farmyard past.
3 mins
October 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size