Ducks natural source for calcium?

[duckitup]

My Runner Ducks are just about to the age to where I need to start thinking about adding calcium to their diet for egg laying. I read a lot about providing oyster shells on the side. It seems to me that in nature ducks wouldn't have access to oyster shells. What do wild ducks eat to boost their calcium levels while laying?

To me it is kind of like a person taking supplements instead of eating foods for nutrients and vitamins. It's not bad to take supplements but I'm a believer in that it is better to get vitamins and nutrients through food.

Is providing oyster shells my only option with a domestic flock? They free range on a pond and in the yard.

 

[Orca5094]

Well, mine get all the calcium they need from eating all the snails around our property. Snail shells=natural calcium. We have a very large property, and an even larger snail/slug invasion problem where we live so it all works out. I have never had to supplement my girls with calcium, or even layer's pellets. All of my ducks are on maintenance feed since it is better for the young ones and my drake. My laying females have always laid nice strong shelled eggs, so it seems they do get enough from the snail shells. Perhaps wild ducks do the same? I'm sure there are other sources of calcium out there in the world for them as well, I'm just not all that sure what they would be.

 

[duckitup]

Thanks! There are lots of snails in our pond as well but I'm not sure if the ducks eat them. Food was going to be my next question. I've read through a lot of posts but they all seem to say different things about feeding a mixed age and sexed flock. We have 3 14.5 week olds (one female and two males) and 3 12 wk old females. The drakes shouldn't have extra calcium as I understand it or the higher protein. But the girls need it, but the younger ones won't need it as soon as the older one.....Ahhhhh, Duck food is so confusing!

. The only Duck formula I can get here is Purina Grower Duck food pellets 16% protein, which is what they are all on now but they don't seem to like it and sometimes avoid it unless I put a little chick started on it. I wan't to try a different feed but it will have to be a chicken feed of some sort.

Sometimes I think I just need to heed the KISS principle "Keep It Simple Stupid"

 

[Orca5094]

Yes, feed can be very confusing and difficult to get it right for everyone, which is why I just use a basic maintenance pellet for all. That way it is ok for my drake and young ones. My plan has always been that if I find any soft-shelled eggs at any time, I will go out and get some oyster shell to offer for the females if/when they want it. Lots of people do that, just offer a bowl of oyster shell to their ducks to eat whenever they want/need it. Then just feed everyone like I do, with a maintenance diet (15% protein).

Snails are like duck crack to my ducks, they swallow them down SO fast! lol! We also have really big snails here in addition to the bite-sized ones, so I just smash the big snails for my ducks when we find them and they run over to snag them. Kinda gross, but they LOVE it. Yum!

 

[junebuggena]

Keep in mind, wild ducks only lay a clutch of eggs once or twice a year. They don't need as much calcium as domesticated fowl.

 

[Orca5094]

Keep in mind, wild ducks only lay a clutch of eggs once or twice a year. They don't need as much calcium as domesticated fowl.

That's a good point!

 

[duckitup]

I'll supplement be on the safe side. Will the drakes stay away from the oyster shell?

Is maintenance feed the same as flock raiser?

 

[Orca5094]

I'll supplement be on the safe side. Will the drakes stay away from the oyster shell?

Is maintenance feed the same as flock raiser?

They should. Ducks seem to know what they need to eat (and what they don't need).

I'm honestly not sure if they are the same thing. Different countries have different names for things and it can be confusing. Hopefully someone else will chime in who knows? Sorry. :/ Sounds like it would be the same thing to me, but I'm not sure. My "maintenance" feed is just the one that isn't layers pellets and isn't chick feed. It's kind of in between, basically.

 

[kittykat512]

Thanks! There are lots of snails in our pond as well but I'm not sure if the ducks eat them. Food was going to be my next question. I've read through a lot of posts but they all seem to say different things about feeding a mixed age and sexed flock. We have 3 14.5 week olds (one female and two males) and 3 12 wk old females. The drakes shouldn't have extra calcium as I understand it or the higher protein. But the girls need it, but the younger ones won't need it as soon as the older one.....Ahhhhh, Duck food is so confusing!

. The only Duck formula I can get here is Purina Grower Duck food pellets 16% protein, which is what they are all on now but they don't seem to like it and sometimes avoid it unless I put a little chick started on it. I wan't to try a different feed but it will have to be a chicken feed of some sort.

Sometimes I think I just need to heed the KISS principle "Keep It Simple Stupid"

Yes, ducks love snails!!