Crud. No shell, Romy's puny.

[Going Quackers]

Thanks, GQ, there are three or four duck vets in our tiny state. It's a blessing. We have to drive about an hour, but I chalk it up to educational expense at this point. I may not always be able to swing it, so I try to learn all that I can each visit. There's a chicken vet half an hour from here, and she has helped us once with a splinter that made Romy's foot swell up.

I'm going to try Naturewise layer now, by the way. $20.20 for 50 pounds. Wonderful to hear about solid egg shells. Really. I hope we get there with everybody very soon.

The vet works with all kinds of birds, and has studied egg shell issues. She says sometimes they just don't eat enough of what's offered, sometimes for some unknown reason they don't process it into egg shells very well. And yes, since most of the time the answer is to kill the bird, not much research has gone into finding out what's going wrong with the whole process. So we infer.

Thanks again everyone who has checked in here. I posted the dosage amounts because recently someone wanted to know how much Ca gluconate to give the ducks and I could not find my notes on that. So it will be in the archive.

What a wonderful resource to have access to! Were old school out here, so as an owner your completely flying solo. Naturewise isn't a brand choice i have here. So far i can't really complain with how am feeding, the birds look good, egg quality and as you all know we had several ducklings last year all raised on the same food. It's hard though, you can always get that monkey wrench of a bird who doesn't react like the majority. I still have no idea what took down our one duck, it clearly was something pertaining to only her as everyone else continued on A-ok.

I hope your lovely girl continues to be on the mend and you have no other occurrences within the flock.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

GREAT news Amiga!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the explanation on what to look for. Glad she is going to be ok

 

[Amiga]

I smashed up some peas, added the 1.5 mL of neocalglucan (it's late, I hope I spelled that right), and while my beloved had a pea party with the rest of the ducks, Romy had her own private dining experience. She ate it all up. Much easier than syringe-to-mouth.

 

[JoyAnna]

Amiga, you are utterly amazing! I am less than a year into this duck world and you have taught me so much, and even more importantly, inspired me with your constant loving care of those creatures you have adopted. Here's to Romie's continued improvement and your being able to relax. Will be thinking of you and her.

 

[galgo98]

Glad to hear Romy is doing better!! Thank you so much for posting "the plan"! I've copied it to a sticky note and added it to the rest of the stickies in my bible (Storey's guide).

I found out (the hard way) last year that Flockraiser is actually NOT a layer feed. It only has about 0.8% - 1.3% calcium, whereas Holderread, etc recommend 2.5 -3% calcium for laying duck hens. AFTER I started to have problems, I read the bag

.... and sure enough, it says to feed Flockraiser up to 18-20 weeks, then switch to a layer feed.

 

[Amiga]

Amiga, you are utterly amazing! I am less than a year into this duck world and you have taught me so much, and even more importantly, inspired me with your constant loving care of those creatures you have adopted. Here's to Romie's continued improvement and your being able to relax. Will be thinking of you and her.

Thanks, JoyAnna, but credit goes to the ducks and their Creator. I had no idea they would sink into my heart like they have. And they have taught me life lessons that bring blessing upon blessing. I actually compiled a list of their lessons to me after our first year together, and put it in a pamphlet.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and words.

Glad to hear Romy is doing better!! Thank you so much for posting "the plan"! I've copied it to a sticky note and added it to the rest of the stickies in my bible (Storey's guide).

I found out (the hard way) last year that Flockraiser is actually NOT a layer feed. It only has about 0.8% - 1.3% calcium, whereas Holderread, etc recommend 2.5 -3% calcium for laying duck hens. AFTER I started to have problems, I read the bag

.... and sure enough, it says to feed Flockraiser up to 18-20 weeks, then switch to a layer feed.

galgo98, you are such a supportive fellow Duck Forum member! I was mortified when I realized I had not documented the dosage for neocalglucan and Ca gluconate last year. Sheesh. So glad you stickied it. The dosage on the former is based on 4.7 pounds of body weight, for the record. And yes, I get blindsided by the details myself from time to time. I have had to do some real sorting out now that we have our drake, Mr. Bean. I pray I do him right, and I pray I continue to do right by the rest of the flock.

Update: No egg this morning yet. Romy's up around, and sassy, as usual. Praise the Lord! Thanks for all prayers and thoughts and support.

Did I mention that just before the vet trip I discovered the tiniest little egglet? No bigger than the end of my pinkie. No shell. Sigh.

Anyway, a few extra blessings (used to call them chores) to do in a day with the duckies, for a while.

 

[Amiga]

Update 1/20/2013 (a.k.a. 20/1/2013)

Romy is perky, sassy, flirtatious, taking her supplements as advised, and laid a soft one yesterday afternoon.

Well, it takes time to build up Ca reserves.

Mid-40s F here today (7C) high thin clouds, and windy - some rippin' cold is coming in, highs will be well below freezing, lows in single digits. Rumor of some kind of snowstorm in a couple of days.

Thanks again everyone who cheered us on. When we get a regular egg (okay, Romy, your eggs are better than regular, I know) we will announce it.

 

[Carcajou]

Great news, Amiga! Thanks for sharing this thread and for always being a real go-to person on this forum. All the best and continued prayers to you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Update 1/20/2013 (a.k.a. 20/1/2013)

Romy is perky, sassy, flirtatious, taking her supplements as advised, and laid a soft one yesterday afternoon.

Well, it takes time to build up Ca reserves.

Mid-40s F here today (7C) high thin clouds, and windy - some rippin' cold is coming in, highs will be well below freezing, lows in single digits. Rumor of some kind of snowstorm in a couple of days.

Thanks again everyone who cheered us on. When we get a regular egg (okay, Romy, your eggs are better than regular, I know) we will announce it.

Great news A, stay warm and safe..

 

[Amiga]

Great news A, stay warm and safe..

Thanks, Miss Lydia. Temps are dropping like a stone, here. I made a couple of nesty spots in the night pen, piling up some chopped straw in a couple of different corners.

Romy is very good about eating her special treats. And everyone is on layer for now.