Female duck off colour - problem with laying?

[Gemduckmum]

Every day for the last week we’ve had 1 or 2 eggs from my 4 females. They are different in shape and colour and we have 2 runners and 2 khaki Campbells so I’m assuming one or both of each variety are laying alternately. Today I noticed one of my khakis is off colour, she stays at the back of the pond whilst the others all run up to greet me and make lots of noise to say hello. Now she’s just sitting at the back of the run, looks very uncomfortable and looks like she’s flexing/moving her rear end. I’ve seen her eat some lettuce I threw in and she’s drunk but she’s definitely not herself. Could she just be cooking up an egg or is she possible egg bound? I don’t want to disturb her unnecessarily or spook her so I’m planning on leaving her be tonight and seeing if she’s still acting abnormal tomorrow? Any advice or personal experience from when ducks start laying would be much appreciated!

 

[Miss Lydia]

When my Runner acted like your KC she was getting ready to lay a soft shell egg. I watched her all morning by early afternoon she laid the egg and was back to her normal self
But she was defiantly acting off. if you don't see an egg by morning you might want to bring her inside for some warm soaking then place her in a dog crate or something similar and put her where it's quiet and calming.

 

[Gemduckmum]

When my Runner acted like your KC she was getting ready to lay a soft shell egg. I watched her all morning by early afternoon she laid the egg and was back to her normal self
But she was defiantly acting off. if you don't see an egg by morning you might want to bring her inside for some warm soaking then place her in a dog crate or something similar and put her where it's quiet and calming.

Funny you should say that as just this second she has laid a soft shell egg! It’s a yolk surrounded by a very soft and half formed shell! Is this something to worry about, we feed them a layers foodstuff and we supplement them with a type of ‘treat mix’ we sprinkle in every day which contains grit and stuff. This may well be her first attempt at an egg? I don’t know if this normally happens right when they first start laying?

 

[Gemduckmum]

This is the ‘egg’, it seems to only have half a soft shell and she doesn’t seem to be immediately back to normal.

 

[Miss Lydia]

There could even be another one in there. Sometimes when they first start laying it takes time to work out the kinks. I'd put out Oyster shell along with the layer. Not in the same container and they will eat the OS as needed. Hopefully this is just a one time thing and soon she'll be laying nice normal eggs. Also it's always a good idea to have extra calcium on hand like Calcium citrate or Calcium gluconate that way if there is one that starts to lay soft shell often your ready to help, The calcium for egg laying can come out of their bones if they don't get enough calcium daily it takes a lot to make those eggs. Hopefully she'll be back to herself soon.

 

[Gemduckmum]

There could even be another one in there. Sometimes when they first start laying it takes time to work out the kinks. I'd put out Oyster shell along with the layer. Not in the same container and they will eat the OS as needed. Hopefully this is just a one time thing and soon she'll be laying nice normal eggs. Also it's always a good idea to have extra calcium on hand like Calcium citrate or Calcium gluconate that way if there is one that starts to lay soft shell often your ready to help, The calcium for egg laying can come out of their bones if they don't get enough calcium daily it takes a lot to make those eggs. Hopefully she'll be back to herself soon.

Thanks! I’ll order the things you mentioned immediately

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keep us updated on her please

 

[WVduckchick]

Miss Lydia!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Heck you make me blush lol
I only know this from experience here with my own sweet ones.

 

[PirateGirl]

Fingers crossed it's a fluke and she will be back to normal. I had one lay a totally shell-less egg once, a perfect little egg in a perfect little nest of straw around it with a perfect little yolk. I was seriously concerned. She hasn't laid one since and is totally fine. Sometimes things like this are totally random, I'm hoping this is the case for you and she does not have any long term problems and will be back to normal soon.