Ducks deliberately breaking and eating eggs

[Sierra67]

Where do you get your feed? they may be able to order some.

From a feed store 2 hours away I can check next time I’m there

 

[Miss Lydia]

My flock eats oyster shell like it's candy.

 

[Sierra67]

1 out of 4 eggs? Sounds like a duck is laying thin or soft shell eggs and when they break the duck is cleaning up the mess. I have seen my ducks doing this. If this is what your ducks are doing they are not true egg eaters. Collect eggs more often and watch to see if one is laying imperfect eggs. This can turn into birds breaking normal eggs and becoming true egg eaters; something very hard to stop. Possibly try putting unbreakable dummy eggs in the nests when you collect the fresh eggs.

Like I previously commented, it may have originally started with one soft one two weeks ago but they’re definitely not soft now, I collect eggs at about 7:30 am (not all even done laying by then) but when I go in there’s always one broken and the egg shell is solid so I know it’s not soft and I have seen an egg they attempted to break open but didn’t have the time to finish.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm at a loss.

 

[Sierra67]

UPDATE: we called the feed store and they said there’s a worldwide shortage of oyster shell but they have calcium carbonate that a guy from town is gonna pick up for us.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That will work.

 

[Crazychickengirl2]

Have you tried filling an egg with mustard

 

[Sierra67]

Have you tried filling an egg with mustard

Yes. They wouldn’t go near it but broke and egg the next day

 

[Chicken poppy]

My ducks/chickens will eat a soft shell one are you sure that isn't the motivation.

I have aswell. They are very delicate and often break, making them eat the insides. When they move the egg under them it pops aswell, so they just end up eating it.

 

[Sierra67]

That will work.

I’ve got some of the calcium carbonate in a food bowl free to the birds not not one of them is interested in it?