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- #51
It is so heartening to see you paying such close attention to her!
As an adult duck, I think something a little larger than sand would be more appropriate for her. I buy grit from the local farm n feed store. It is very inexpensive and a little seems to go a long way. If she gets to a point where she can forage outdoors during the day some, she will likely pick up most of what she needs. But if she needs to stay in mostly, I'd give her a little adult grit free choice. During laying times, crushed oyster shell can do a little double-duty (provide calcium and act as grit). I won't go as far as to say it is a good long-term substitute for grit, but if you have crushed oyster shell now that will help her out as grit until you can find some granite or similar grit.
I'll have to carry her downstairs if she gets to pick out her own grit, and she already has her eyes on her old pond from her place on the porch. Of course, she is not walking well, so I could catch her, but I am trying not to traumatize her too much. She has already lost her best buddy (Daisy), become lame, gotten caught, gone to a vet, had to put up with humans hovering. Now she is in another place, has some big human thing putting her in a swimming pool...it's disgraceful.
I am probably too attentive to her...I put a river rock by her last night so she could put her head down. She is really sick of me.
Her arthritis came up so fast. Last week, we gathered up tons of limbs and I burned them with leaves. They were so damp they put out a white smoke. Daffodil came rushing from the pond full-tilt and quacking up a storm, and ran after me as if to get me away from the smoke. It was so cute. Now she can barely move. I am going up and down with her...one minute I think she is doing better, the next minute I am worried.
As an adult duck, I think something a little larger than sand would be more appropriate for her. I buy grit from the local farm n feed store. It is very inexpensive and a little seems to go a long way. If she gets to a point where she can forage outdoors during the day some, she will likely pick up most of what she needs. But if she needs to stay in mostly, I'd give her a little adult grit free choice. During laying times, crushed oyster shell can do a little double-duty (provide calcium and act as grit). I won't go as far as to say it is a good long-term substitute for grit, but if you have crushed oyster shell now that will help her out as grit until you can find some granite or similar grit.
I'll have to carry her downstairs if she gets to pick out her own grit, and she already has her eyes on her old pond from her place on the porch. Of course, she is not walking well, so I could catch her, but I am trying not to traumatize her too much. She has already lost her best buddy (Daisy), become lame, gotten caught, gone to a vet, had to put up with humans hovering. Now she is in another place, has some big human thing putting her in a swimming pool...it's disgraceful.
Her arthritis came up so fast. Last week, we gathered up tons of limbs and I burned them with leaves. They were so damp they put out a white smoke. Daffodil came rushing from the pond full-tilt and quacking up a storm, and ran after me as if to get me away from the smoke. It was so cute. Now she can barely move. I am going up and down with her...one minute I think she is doing better, the next minute I am worried.
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