blue's eggs

[stillmecle]

She is about 9 months old. She has 15 eggs in her nest. for a total yesterday she had 3 eggs that look like the shells are not completely formed. She had 1 more overnight Where the shell was not completely formed. I looked in the duck house and she has turn the eggs in the nest. she seems to be eating and drinking okay. I will check and see how hard her bottom is when I get home should it be hard or soft? And if it's not what it supposed to be what then. I am sorry for being so difficult, I guess you would call it, but I am very new to this and I worry about the weather and now with her having soft shelled eggs. I do thank everybody for their help and concern,

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

What breed is she? She may not even set. Is this her first time laying? The shell-less eggs could be her trying to work out the kinks in her egg laying system. I have ducks coming into lay but I wasn't going to hatch them yet because they're so small, and can be mis-shapen. And I dont even think my young ducks would sit even if they weren't khaki's.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
so are you saying she laid 3 soft shelled or partially hard shelled eggs in leass than 24 hrs.?

 

[Senna95]

It sounds like this is your duck's first time laying. Laying soft-shelled eggs is a typical sign of that. She may not be ready to set on her eggs at such a young age either. She's too young, and it's the wrong time of year. If she does, and if and when they hatch she may not be able or know how to take care of the babies, especially now that the weather's getting colder.

If I were you, I'd take the eggs away, and wait to hatch till spring.

Just my opinion though.

Good luck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I agree except she has laid 15 eggs in a nest and I believe she is concerned that after laying them she is now laying soft shelled and more than one a day. I think she is more concerned about that than the 15 in the nest. but she should probably take the eggs and give her till next spring to mature some more.

 

[Senna95]

My ducks sometimes tend to lay soft-shelled eggs when they first start laying (even after a few weeks of laying normal ones). And sometimes they do that when they're nearing the end of their laying cylce (maybe they've depleted their calcium supply???)

Make sure they have plenty of calcium available...... And watch her to make sure she's looking and acting normal. She's probably fine, just young.

 

[stillmecle]

Isn't that what the oyster shell is for
..calcium?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
yes it its, but according to Amiga, ducks can have problems absorbing it, one of her runners had some problems.

 

[stillmecle]

So is there anything I can do for calcium? Also should I take the drake away? I was told that when she was getting close then I should take at least the drake away, but her food outside her living area so she only eats and drinks during the day. I have another female in there That is the same age as her should I take her out of there too? The drake keeps trying to mate with both of them. and I have seen the other female which is a bufff making a nest in the house. I am so new at this But if you give me a horse I can tell you everything. Lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I'll see if I can find Amiga's post about it, but are you saying you want to let her sit? if so then i would remove the drake to his own place till after hatch and then till ducklings are at least 4 weeks old. Just keep him with in site of the girls, less stress on them all. if your other girl is making a nest too and hasn't laid yet she must be getting close. you could leave them together and just put up some chicken wire to keep one from trying to take over the others nest. but they may end up sitting together. A couple of mine shared a nest and shared mama duties. if you want your other duck to have fertile eggs though I would make sure he has bred with her very recent. I think the eggs can be fertilized up to 2 weeks after drake is removed but you might have to look that one up.
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