Why Is My Duck Not Laying Eggs in Winter?
Why Is My Duck Not Laying Eggs in Winter?
Your duck is most likely responding to shorter daylight hours. According to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, ducks need roughly 14 to 16 hours of light per day to maintain consistent egg production, and most breeds naturally slow down or stop laying once daylight drops below that threshold in late fall and winter.
Here in Santa Cruz County, our shortest days in December offer only about 9.5 hours of daylight. That is well below the minimum most laying ducks need. Even prolific breeds like Khaki Campbells and Runner ducks, which can produce over 300 eggs per year under ideal conditions, will taper off significantly once the days shorten. My own Black Runner duck stops laying entirely by mid-November and does not resume until late January or early February.
This is completely normal and healthy. The pause gives your duck's body time to recover from the demands of egg production. Ducks channel that energy into feather maintenance and building reserves for the breeding season ahead. Forcing production through artificial lighting year-round can shorten a duck's overall laying lifespan and increase stress.
That said, there are a few other reasons your duck might not be laying that are worth ruling out. Age matters: ducks older than three or four years naturally produce fewer eggs each season. Nutrition plays a role too. If your duck is not getting enough calcium or protein, production drops. Cornell University's poultry extension recommends a layer feed with 16 to 18 percent protein and supplemental calcium (like crushed oyster shell offered free-choice) for laying waterfowl.
Stress from predators can also suppress laying. In Boulder Creek, where we deal with ringtail cats, raccoons, foxes, and the occasional bobcat, even a nighttime visit that does not result in an attack can rattle your birds enough to pause production for days or weeks. Make sure your coop and run are secure, especially at night.
Hidden nests are another possibility. Ducks are notorious for laying in unexpected spots. If your duck free-ranges at all, check under bushes, behind structures, and in any sheltered corner she can reach.
This week: Check that your ducks have free-choice oyster shell available and confirm your run is fully secured at night. If your duck is under three years old and healthy, a winter pause is normal, and she will start laying again as the days lengthen in late January.
