Do ducks need crushed oyster shells like chickens?

[WolfShadow1]

I have never given my duck oyster shells. I have oyster shells all around my yard. Do I need to buy some kind of feed that is crushed oyster shells or can she just keep pecking away at the shells around the house? She has suddenly stopped laying at all. She seems to be fine but she just is not laying. She eats waterfowl food lettuce and tomatoes. She loves a lettuce or two during the day and at night when I put her up I give her some tomatoe pieces and lettuce as a snack. Am I helping or not? Anyone know?

 

[katharinad]

You only need to give oyster shell when there is no calcium coming into their diet from other choices. Your yard has it so no need to supplement. Ducks stop when they are going to molt or when their is not enough light to stimulate them. I would not worry if she stops, unless she acts or looks sick. Keep on giving the vegies, they love it.

 

[craftymama86]

Glad I found this thread. I do have a question though. At what age should they start eating the oyster shell?

 

[duckluv]

Quote:
I think at about the time they start laying.

 

[craftymama86]

Ok...so when do they start laying?

Does it depend on the breed? I'm trying to find out what breed of ducks my DH bought his mother, so far it looks like they may be Muscovy. I know they're growing quicker than our RIR chicks, so would they start laying sooner? They're about 2 weeks old now.

 

[duckluv]

Quote:
Hmm...I don't know on that one, I haven't had Moscovies. I've had Swedish and Pekin, and they had different laying ages. But you'll know when you see an egg.

 

[pookiegoldman]

Quote:
Why is it bad for a drake to eat?? Just curious cause mine HOUSES it!!

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

Why is it bad for a drake to eat?? Just curious cause mine HOUSES it!!

Interesting.... my drakes won't go near the oyster shell at all. Our hens love it and eat and eat and eat it and some days it feels like it would take a hammer to crack their eggs.

I think that you'll hear a lot of folks quote Hollderread who says that it can cause kidney damage. A lot of folks will argue that it won't. Who knows? We just feed flock raiser and oats with grit and oyster shell on the side. Oh, and as many greens and tomatoes as we can spare....​

 

[Alicia G]

Hmm thats interesting, I was raised to not feed ducks oyster shells. I ve been breeding utlity ducks for years and have never had a problem. I ll try feeding it to them this spring and see what happens.

 

[MysticalMom]

I've never given mine oyster shell. Mine free range over a very large area and are only housed/penned at night, so they must get it elsewhere because their eggs are lovely.

And I think there's a little bit of calcium in the feed too, right?