Ducks laying too many eggs!!

[LoveyDuckies]

Hey yall I’m concerned about my two ducks. I have a pekin (Dolly) and a khaki Campbell (Loretta). Loretta typically lays one egg a day and Dolly will sometimes skip a day or two. For a while they were laying soft shelled eggs so I put a dish of oyster shell by their food and mixed some into their food. The eggs got a little better but they still layed some soft shell so I got some calcium gluconate to add in their water. After that, they each started laying healthy eggs once a day.

However, today they each layed a small egg and a soft half egg.

They had layed soft shell eggs before and began to bust and eat them which is why I got a dish of oyster shell out for them and added the gluconate to their water.

I don’t measure the amount of gluconate but I read that about a tablespoon per gallon is good. I try to put a little less than that because I’m not sure if a duck can have too much calcium.

Can someone help me figure out what is wrong? I thought I had it figured out but seems like they got back into their old way.

I have attached a picture of an egg I got a while back before I had added the gluconate to the water. This egg is similar to what I got today along with two (smaller than normal) eggs.

I hope this all makes sense!! Please let me know what I need to do to help my babies!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Can you try to force a molt to cause them to cease for a bit?

 

[Evadig]

I had a Jumbo Pekin duck that laid two perfectly good, large eggs every day for a year. Then she stopped, and fitfully started up again, but I gave her away (not because of that) so I don't know if she ever began laying regularly afterwards.

Oyster shell is a good idea. I would provide a dish of oyster shells at all times, free choice. That way your ducks can get the calcium they need, as much as they need. They will not overdose.

 

[LoveyDuckies]

Thank you both!
They already have a dish of oyster shell and they were hardly eating any of it which is why I added the gluconate to the water.

Also how would I force a molt?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Don’t give them the calcium gluconate in their water. Ducks splash around their water and there is no way to know what the dose they are getting. Give them 1ml a day each orally with a needless syringe. The fact that they are laying good eggs and then softeshells/partials while you are mixing the calcium gluconate into their water is a good indication that they are getting random doses. I would dose them for one full week then stop and see how they do. You mentioned that you only started putting oyster shells out when you first noticed the soft shells which means there is a good chance that they need to have their calcium supply solidly built up. To fix a deficiency you have to give a higher dose of the deficient vitamin or mineral and then maintain that dose consistently long enough for the body to be able to start to maintain those levels on their own then you can reduce that amount.

 

[Sosalty]

This may be over simplified, but a feed formulated for layers, + niacin for ducks, would be foundational for well-formed eggs. Two a day, I didn't know that was possible!

About forcing a molt, others will chime in yet I've been told to be consistent about collecting all their eggs daily. If you know about when they lay, collect then. Scuttle and/or block off their nest after each collection. Less light might help but that's not usually practical. You don't want 'em to think they're building up a hutch of eggs to sit on and get broody which they'll do even without a drake.

These 17 eggs were found after I thought my Muscovy had stopped laying. Don't know how many they've laid but maybe close to 200

There's 3 hens. LuRoy has about a doz feathers with a green sheen. Moby has half that many. Spats looks like she's been hit by a garbage truck

 

[Miss Lydia]

You don't want to open a ducks bill and shoot any liquid into it you can cause them to aspirate. Here is the correct way to give liquid meds
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

 

[LoveyDuckies]

Thank you to everyone for your advice.

I am going to try to give them the gluconate for a week and see if that helps.

I’ll update and keep y’all posted!

 

[Moments]

You don't want to open a ducks bill and shoot any liquid into it you can cause them to aspirate. Here is the correct way to give liquid meds
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

I like this, back when I first got ducks the vet who gave me antibiotic (liquid) said just put the syringe up and over the tongue. It wasn't a lot of medication each dose, I asked if it could go down the wrong hole and he said no. The ducks were fine but it still made me nervous.