Egg Shell Problem

[Aunt Angus]

Hi!

I have 5 lovely duckies. All are laying regularly, and I'm not really sure who lays which egg as they generally lay late at night/early in the morning.

Anyhoo, one of my girls has laid a few thin-shelled eggs over the past couple of weeks. I feed all flock with oyster and crushed egg shells free choice (my flock has a rooster and 3 pullets who aren't yet laying - so no layer feed). Another girl has eggs that are showing signs of excess calcium via calcium deposits. I don't have any idea whose is whose, either.

Any thoughts about how I might tackle this?

I'm thinking adding my newest duckie may have contributed to the egg shell issues. So I'm wondering if it's a "wait and see" situation.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Hi!

I have 5 lovely duckies. All are laying regularly, and I'm not really sure who lays which egg as they generally lay late at night/early in the morning.

Anyhoo, one of my girls has laid a few thin-shelled eggs over the past couple of weeks. I feed all flock with oyster and crushed egg shells free choice (my flock has a rooster and 3 pullets who aren't yet laying - so no layer feed). Another girl has eggs that are showing signs of excess calcium via calcium deposits. I don't have any idea whose is whose, either.

Any thoughts about how I might tackle this?

I'm thinking adding my newest duckie may have contributed to the egg shell issues. So I'm wondering if it's a "wait and see" situation.

What are their ages and how long have they been laying?

 

[Aunt Angus]

What are their ages and how long have they been laying?

4 of them are 10 months old, and the newest addition is between 1 and 2 (exact age not known). The younger girls have been laying between 5 and 6 months. The older girl has been laying for a while, too, I'm sure, though I can't say for certain.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I add crushed citracal to the oyster shell container when I have an egg laying issue. Its vitamin d3 with calcium. The d3 helps with calcium absorption. You could sprinkle it on treats as well.
Your girls are still fairly new layers. The newest one could have issues depending on her previous diet.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'll pick some up asap. Thanks!

The citracal won't cause more calcium deposits for the other duck?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I'll pick some up asap. Thanks!

The citracal won't cause more calcium deposits for the other duck?

That, I don't know. But, the excess deposits are less of an issue than soft shelled eggs. The other duck is choosing to eat more calcium than it needs. It's not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thanks again! Hopefully, I'll see improvement soon.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I agree i would start with the citracal and if that doesn't work I would pick up some Calcium Gluconate from your local farm store. With the calcium Gluconate I would start with dosing whoever you think is having issues orally.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I got the citrocal tonight. I will start giving it to them in the morning.

I think it may be my Swedish (Clementine) who has the excess calcium. They normally all lay in the straw pile in the corner of the coop, but this morning, I saw Clementine out in the run by herself very, very early in the a.m. I found an egg in there when I came back after cleaning their pool.

I may get a coop cam to see who is who. I've thought about getting one for years now, but I have this phobia that I'll take a peek at the live video while I'm at work and see something bad happening to my birds. Like, get over it, Auntie! Lots of folks have coop cams...

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I may get a coop cam to see who is who. I've thought about getting one for years now, but I have this phobia that I'll take a peek at the live video while I'm at work and see something bad happening to my birds. Like, get over it, Auntie! Lots of folks have coop cams...

I have a run cam and a backyard cam. I have seen when the fox came and it is sad. But, on the other hand it is good to know what happened.
For the most part, my birds are just birds on the camera.