Duck Laying Eggs What to do?

[LoveDucks2016]

My Muscovy duck is only 6-months and today she was acting different, quiet and not walking as much. She is an indoor pet and there are no other ducks interacting with her. She loves us and loves to sit on the couch and watch TV, today she had none of that, but after her bath I put her back on her cage and she lay 2 soft shell eggs.

My question is can I diaper her or will this prevent her from laying and cause pain? I am not really concerned about the eggs, I don't eat them or sell them or anything like that, but I am worrying that I will not know when she is ready to lay and she will be in pain or something. Any guidance is appreciate it.

Thank you,
Fabiola.

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

I would give her calcium, like oyster shell, or a layer feed. Her body will need it, because of the eggs. And I live in terror of an egg breaking my inside my ducks(shiver).
Ducks shouldn't be in pain when laying, so she is probably just feeling a little stretched after laying the first time. Ducks usually lay in the mornings, so maybe diaper her after she has laid? I dont diaper my ducks, but my gut says no on diapering her before she has laid.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[dekel18042]

My Muscovy duck is only 6-months and today she was acting different, quiet and not walking as much. She is an indoor pet and there are no other ducks interacting with her. She loves us and loves to sit on the couch and watch TV, today she had none of that, but after her bath I put her back on her cage and she lay 2 soft shell eggs.

My question is can I diaper her or will this prevent her from laying and cause pain? I am not really concerned about the eggs, I don't eat them or sell them or anything like that, but I am worrying that I will not know when she is ready to lay and she will be in pain or something. Any guidance is appreciate it.

Thank you,
Fabiola.

Ducks and chickens lay all the time with no help. You may have gotten soft shelled eggs because she is new to laying. Sometimes it takes a bit for them to work out their egg laying cycle. Initial eggs may be too small or sometimes too large (usually a double yolker) or soft shelled. Is she on laying food or getting extra calcium in the form of oyster shells now? Are you putting on a diaper because of pottying in the house or because of egg laying? If because of egg laying I would rethink this. I would imagine carrying an egg in a diaper wouldn't be the most pleasant thing for a duck. When you see her lying down or trying to nest you can put her back in her box or cage until she has laid her egg. She's at the right age to start laying. Most ducks start at 5-7 months and some lay an egg every day.

 

[Amiga]

I agree that early eggs can have soft shells - and most of the time they are not a problem.

I also know that some ducks need more calcium than they get from their feed. Is she eating layer feed? Does she get free choice oyster shell on the side?

When mine start with the soft shells, I boost calcium with calcium citrate tablets - I crush one and add to treats, or dissolve some and put in their moistened food.