causes of intermittent shell-less eggs

[Freia]

I've inherited a chicken-flock, and 2 Pekin ducks (Tweedledee and Tweedledum) came along with the package deal.

when they arrived in January, they were laying 1 egg each a day for a few weeks. The shells were pretty thin, but they seemed to do the job.
Then they both molted. They both started laying again around Easter. The shells were good and hard. they're actually really hard to crack. Tough little buggars. that went well for a few weeks. Ever since that, Tweedledee has started laying in On the days in between, she lays shell-less eggs. Not just 1 a day but up to 3 a day.

It doesnt' seem to be a calcium deficiency, because her good eggs are really strong. It almost seems as though she's producing the eggs so fast that they don't have enough time in the "shell-chamber" to actually deposit a shell. Why would she be laying 2-3 eggs a day?

The ducks are fed Purina Layena Plus layer pellets, since they are fed alongside the chickens. They forage for all kinds of nasty natural duck-food on 5 acres all day. We have lots of slugs for them.

 

[Mum]

I have no idea, Freia, but I didn't want to read-n-run. Hopefully, someone with more experience than I will be along and able to answer your query

 

[Tivona]

Sort of sounds like the problems one of my girls has been having for months except the one I have laying shell-less eggs never has good shells anymore. Also mine does not lay 2 or 3 a day.

My girl was laying great strong shells all last year then slowly they started getting really thin. Then shell-less ones started showing up but they had the membrane still. Now she has just the yolk and white most of the time coming out. Occasionally with the membrane. I know others in my area have ducks doing this too.

I tried antibiotics and I think it helped get more eggs with a membrane but still no shell. I tried cutting her food amount to a lower amount (about 2/3rds of what she would normally be eating) and cutting her daylight to around 8 hours a day at the same time hoping to trigger a molt. She hadn't molted in uh...over a year I believe. She is now growing new feathers slowly and is back to full rations on food and normal light hours. She still looks really ratty with old feathers but new ones are now showing up. Unfortunately she is still laying shell-less and membrane-less eggs although she has really slowed up, only laying about every 3 or 4 days as far as I can tell. I really have no ideas on what to try next.

All my birds get oyster shell, grit, layer pellets, waterfowl feed, and free range for grass and bugs. All my other birds lay nice strong shelled eggs.

It is possible that your duck is still adjusting to laying again after her molt and will go back to 1 nice shelled egg a day soon. Just my guess but I would give her time. Perhaps someone else can come up with something more helpful.

 

[mkcolls]

I didn't realize that this was "Ducks" until I started reading. I don't have ducks, I have chickens, guineas and turkeys.

When chickens are having trouble with prolapse, or vent injuries it is recommended that they are put in a dark room for days to weeks to slow or stop egg production. With a female duck laying as many as 3 shell-less eggs a day would it help to give her a break by doing the same? Do ducks respond to dark in the same way?

Sorry if I stepped in where I shouldn't. I hope you get a solution that works and she recovers soon.

 

[zooweemama]

I don't know personally but I hit up Google and found this:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/205900.htm