Duck won’t stop laying eggs.

[TheMallardDuck]

I looked at another thread about this for guidance. People say to put her in darkness but to me that’s not an option for many reasons. So if you could help me please inform me and what I could do to our help my little duck. I don’t think my male is mating anymore as he is in process of changing feathers back to his brown coloured feathers. Sometimes she lay soft eggs which I am really worried about. Please help.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I'm not real sure I understand the problem. You "WANT" the duck to stop laying why? Is she having trouble? You said she's laying soft eggs but that might just mean she needs a calcium booster like calcium citrate. Mine are doing that too sometimes and their egg shells are getting a bit thinner but probably because their little bodies are tired of laying. I expect mine will quit or slow down dramatically soon.

 

[Duckworth]

Are you providing oyster shell so your duck can replenish the calcium she uses when forming eggs? Just because prime mating season is over doesn't mean female ducks stop laying. They usually lay until the days get shorter in the winter, then start again as the days lengthen in the spring. You can eat the eggs, fertilized or not, as long as the duckling hasn't started to form. Just collect them daily. Ducks also often stop laying while they are molting.

 

[TheMallardDuck]

I'm not real sure I understand the problem. You "WANT" the duck to stop laying why? Is she having trouble? You said she's laying soft eggs but that might just mean she needs a calcium booster like calcium citrate. Mine are doing that too sometimes and their egg shells are getting a bit thinner but probably because their little bodies are tired of laying. I expect mine will quit or slow down dramatically soon.

I’m just worried that it might be draining her energy a bit constantly laying eggs.

 

[TheMallardDuck]

Are you providing oyster shell so your duck can replenish the calcium she uses when forming eggs? Just because prime mating season is over doesn't mean female ducks stop laying. They usually lay until the days get shorter in the winter, then start again as the days lengthen in the spring. You can eat the eggs, fertilized or not, as long as the duckling hasn't started to form. Just collect them daily. Ducks also often stop laying while they are molting.

No not currently but I’ll think of doing that.

 

[TheMallardDuck]

Are you providing oyster shell so your duck can replenish the calcium she uses when forming eggs? Just because prime mating season is over doesn't mean female ducks stop laying. They usually lay until the days get shorter in the winter, then start again as the days lengthen in the spring. You can eat the eggs, fertilized or not, as long as the duckling hasn't started to form. Just collect them daily. Ducks also often stop laying while they are molting.

One more thing to add, shall I get a more powder type of oyster shell or more of a more solid type of oyster shell supplement?

 

[DuckyDonna]

No not currently but I’ll think of doing that.

Yes, definitely get the oyster shell. I should have mentioned that in my first post! They should have that available in a separate bowl from the feed. They will eat it when they need it and apparently yours does!

I understand you worrying about them laying too much. I do too but I think they will stop when they stop, probably when they start molting. I keep a spreadsheet of egg production and last year August-October was when they started winding down. I think she will be fine. Just get the oyster shell started and pick up some calcium citrate (Walmart vitamin dept) crush up the pill and sprinkle it over some tasty treats and you will soon see an improvement in the shell quality.

 

[DuckyDonna]

One more thing to add, shall I get a more powder type of oyster shell or more of a more solid type of oyster shell supplement?

It doesn't have to be a powder, the one I get are little pieces of shell but certainly not a powder. Tractor Supply has it with all the other duck/chicken food.

 

[room onthebroom]

Ducks lay eggs. Its what they do. Don't try to stop her natural production if there's nothing wrong with her. Her body was built to do this.

 

[Duckworth]

It doesn't have to be a powder, the one I get are little pieces of shell but certainly not a powder. Tractor Supply has it with all the other duck/chicken food.

This is the same thing I use. It's more like ground up oyster shell than fine powder. It's not expensive and it keeps forever without spoiling. I try not to get it wet in the bag, but it does get wet in the bowl, ducks being what they are. They instinctively know when they need it.

Because not all of my ducks lay all the time, I feed an all flock or flock raiser feed instead of a layer feed. Having the calcium mixed into the feed, which is what layer feed has, gives the same calcium level to all the ducks, some of whom really don't need it and may actually be harmed by it. The all flock feed doesn't add the extra calcium, so by leaving oyster shell out in a bowl all the time, the ducks take what they need or leave it alone if they don't need it.

I don't try to get my ducks to lay more, but I don't worry when they do lay daily. Their bodies will tell them when it's too much. The younger they are, the more they tend to lay. At least one of mine lays almost every day of the year.