Help!!! What Does It Mean When A Duck Lays A Soft Shell Egg?

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DuckDuckDuckGoose

DuckDuckDuckGoose

Chirping
8 Years
May 11, 2011
177
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The Great Northwest
The last couple days I have had eggs that have soft,almost a leather texture, shell. I know that my ducks are getting the correct amount of Calcium and protien in their feed. I am wondering if it is one of my young 3.5mo. to almost 4mo. old Indian Runner females that are just starting to lay.? My first egg I got was 9/22 and it was from my Khaki Campbell (5mo) and one from my Pekin the next day (6mo.) and then I was getting 2 a day both from the khaki and pekin. since Fri. I have only gotten an egg from the Khaki (I think) cause the size of the egg is consistant with her's from the beginning. The Pekin's eggs have been extremely large since she layed her first egg on the 23rd. But I found the soft egg layed by the pool not where the khaki/pekin have been laying (in the duckhouse) So, that is kinda why Im thinkin it was a young runner, but now the Pekin isn't layin, so I don't know what is going on with my ducks. Can someone/anyone give me some pointers/info/and suggestions please. I am at a loss?

Thank you,
Tina
 
I have a similar situation with a couple of my runners. I have been working on it and made some progress, but Vier has a hard time making an egg with a shell - she drops a soft one most afternoons.

When they were younger they would play hop on top (breeding behavior) and an egg would come out early, But now they're a year and a half old. Some ducks just need more calcium than they eat, some need more phosphorus - it can be tricky to get everyone's nutritional needs met.
 
I found a few soft shelled eggs when my girls first started laying.....even one in the pool. They are better about laying in the coop before I let them out in the morning.
 
Thank you Amiga and Sassy,
I remembered that the other day my drake Pekin hopped on my runner duck and I walked in at the same time and they of course seperated and I looked down and there was a lil tiny egg size of a half dollar or so, but the egg was not soft shelled, just little. I was surprised to see an egg because she is my young runner,so I just assumed she would start laying, well the soft eggs I have found are a bit lager in size than her first one, but still small. So I wonder if she is just trying to mature still? any more suggestions or stories or specific
instructions what to do about this situation would be much approciated. Thank you BYC Duck Forum members.
Can some one remind me how to attach my pic. to my posts? It looks like this when I try to copy&paste. for some reason, I thought i had to have the http:/dddddd was to be between the or something like that, help my memory, its not good.
thanks again,
T.
 
Last edited:
I don't put calcium in the feed. I offer free choice oyster shells. The need for minerals is going to be different for each duck.
 
Quote:
Yes, I do have oyster shells around the property where they all roam on a daily basis, so they get that, thanks. Although, How much Phosperous? should be allowed? I think that is what its called, cant think of what you another person said, and thought maybe you would know too> unless you said it and I don't see it in your quote.
Thanks,
Wifezilla
T.
 
Quote:
Thanks Amiga;
I was just wondering how much Phosphorus is required for Pekins/Khaki Campbells & runners? Do geese need phosphorus too? Thought I might ask you JIC you know. Thanks for your response.
T.
 
Usually soft shelled eggs are a result of not enough calcuim in their diet. Sometimes the amount of calcium included in feed isn't enough, especially with breeds that lay frequently like the Runner.
 
Quote:
Thank you ChickieBooBoo,
How would you suggest how I get them more calcium in their diet? How much should I be feeding7ducks and 2 geese? just wanted to see what you recommend. And I do have oyster shells spread on the propert that they regularly free range. OMG I feel bad, I thought they were getting enough minerals and all the right amount of stuff they needed in their food and cornscratch and oyster shells. I have never owned water foul in my life, so this is all new to me, I love the fresh eggs.
Thanks,
T.
 
Quote:
Thank you ChickieBooBoo,
How would you suggest how I get them more calcium in their diet? How much should I be feeding7ducks and 2 geese? just wanted to see what you recommend. And I do have oyster shells spread on the propert that they regularly free range. OMG I feel bad, I thought they were getting enough minerals and all the right amount of stuff they needed in their food and cornscratch and oyster shells. I have never owned water foul in my life, so this is all new to me, I love the fresh eggs.
Thanks,
T.

I just have a smaller feeder seperate from the main one thats just for oyster shells. The birds will eat it as they need it.
 

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