Pekin duck fertility

[azduckranch]

Hello everyone, Being new to raising ducks I need some help. I have a male and female adult and a female adolescent. The adult female has been laying an egg a day since Thanksgiving. I've tried incubating the first three weeks worth and found no signs of fertility after cracking them open. I have seen the drake mating with both of them on many occasions. These ducks were given to me in August so I don't know their age. I suspect that they are around 1 year. Is she too young to produce fertile eggs or is he only "practicing" and needs more time to learn how to do it correctly? I enjoy eating the eggs but I'm frustrated that I am not getting any ducklings. I appreciate any insight into this. Thank you.

[gospelplayer16]

The hens eggs are viable. Ur drake may just be a dud.

[goosedragon]

The hens eggs are viable. Ur drake may just be a dud.
Or you may just be rushing the season a bit, ducks are much more dependant on the season than chickens. Many of the ducks have been bred to produce eggs over a longer period than is natural. The drakes are likely to be only potent in the late winter-early spring which is their natural season. The dud in January just may turn out to be a stud in April. ~gd

[azduckranch]

Thank you for your replies. This site is so informative to a rookie. My drake makes me laugh the way he runs after me to attack me until I turn around. He then gives me a sheepish look like "What? I didn't do anything." Even if he turns out to be a dud he's a keeper.

[gospelplayer16]

Sorry about that i completely forgot its the dead of winter. I would say goosedragon is right about that, the eggs probly just arent fertile because of the time of year that it is.