Is my female duck about to lay?!? NEED YOUR HELP!

[Pamuk]

Hi everyone I really need your help I have a female duck and she hasn’t laid any eggs yet some I’m new to all of this behavior. One day I woke up to her quacking constantly like an alarm and she usually doesn’t quack very much so when I went to see her she was doing a kind of like digging motion with her feet as if she’s paddling I didn’t think anything of it after she stopped but then today I woke up again to her quacking constantly but it was just in the morning and now at night she suddenly started quacking even more and then she started doing the same paddling motion but this time it was very extreme and she was raising her tail and panting very heavily like she was in pain. Idk what to do and what exactly is happening whether it is laying eggs or something is wrong please help me!

 

[aart]

@Pamuk How old is she, in weeks or months?
What kind of duck?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Hi everyone I really need your help I have a female duck and she hasn’t laid any eggs yet some I’m new to all of this behavior. One day I woke up to her quacking constantly like an alarm and she usually doesn’t quack very much so when I went to see her she was doing a kind of like digging motion with her feet as if she’s paddling I didn’t think anything of it after she stopped but then today I woke up again to her quacking constantly but it was just in the morning and now at night she suddenly started quacking even more and then she started doing the same paddling motion but this time it was very extreme and she was raising her tail and panting very heavily like she was in pain. Idk what to do and what exactly is happening whether it is laying eggs or something is wrong please help me!

how old is she? Does she have access to oyster shells? Could you get a video of the behaviour? Youd have to post it to youtube or something similar and post it here.
Panting can be due to pain or heat. Is it really warm?

 

[Pamuk]

how old is she? Does she have access to oyster shells? Could you get a video of the behaviour? Youd have to post it to youtube or something similar and post it here.
Panting can be due to pain or heat. Is it really warm?

hi from the last time I wrote this she has laid but she did struggle a lot panting and pushing hard. and it's been about 5 days since if you count today and yesterday night she started showing similar symptoms that's she's going to lay soon because she went into her nesting place and paddled her leg a little not to much like the first time. Still, she was constantly quacking again like the first time and I'm not sure if that means she's in pain or if she's just letting us know she's going to lay soon. I tried to feel if there was an egg yet but I didn't feel anything. Are these typical signs for a female duck before laying? or is there a problem? I started giving her oyster shells recently after her first lay hoping it will help her lay easily. And also the first time she laid (5 days ago) when she was paddling her feet and quacking continually and panting heavily after a bit she stopped and went quiet and that was when she was actually pushing where I could clearly see the egg coming out. and I just don't know if all ducks go through this or what because it's my first time.

 

[Pamuk]

@Pamuk How old is she, in weeks or months?
What kind of duck?

she is 6 months and I'm not sure the kind of duck to me she looks like a blue Swedish duck I'll show you a picture.

 

[BelovedBirds]

hi from the last time I wrote this she has laid but she did struggle a lot panting and pushing hard. and it's been about 5 days since if you count today and yesterday night she started showing similar symptoms that's she's going to lay soon because she went into her nesting place and paddled her leg a little not to much like the first time. Still, she was constantly quacking again like the first time and I'm not sure if that means she's in pain or if she's just letting us know she's going to lay soon. I tried to feel if there was an egg yet but I didn't feel anything. Are these typical signs for a female duck before laying? or is there a problem? I started giving her oyster shells recently after her first lay hoping it will help her lay easily. And also the first time she laid (5 days ago) when she was paddling her feet and quacking continually and panting heavily after a bit she stopped and went quiet and that was when she was actually pushing where I could clearly see the egg coming out. and I just don't know if all ducks go through this or what because it's my first time.

they can be in a bit of pain with laying at first, mine were both off their food and limping.
So she laid an egg after this first time 5 days ago, but hasnt laid since? How was the shell of the first one, solid, not soft shelled? And she has crushed/flaked osyter shells available throughout the day? Have you seen her eating any?
One thing I will reccomend is getting some calcium gluconate, the liquid one by durvet works well, and having it on hand incase of laying problems. If you're ever worried that an egg may be stuck, giving 1ml of the calcium solution can get it moving. Another thing that can help is giving her a slightly warm bath.

For now, so we can see what might be the matter, can you get a video of her behaviour and post it here? You'll need to upload the video to youtube or something similar, then post the link here.

 

[BelovedBirds]

she is 6 months and I'm not sure the kind of duck to me she looks like a blue Swedish duck I'll show you a picture.

she kind of looks like a magpie, perhaps mixed with a swedish.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

My hens always acted oddly right when they first started laying. Noisy, squatting, laying down more and just generally acting confused as to what's going on. Usually they go back to normal within a few weeks to a month of laying. It's weird for them going through the hormonal changes. Much like how girls go through puberty and get their periods confused as to what's going on along with adjusting to the feeling of higher hormones.

 

[Pamuk]

they can be in a bit of pain with laying at first, mine were both off their food and limping.
So she laid an egg after this first time 5 days ago, but hasnt laid since? How was the shell of the first one, solid, not soft shelled? And she has crushed/flaked osyter shells available throughout the day? Have you seen her eating any?
One thing I will reccomend is getting some calcium gluconate, the liquid one by durvet works well, and having it on hand incase of laying problems. If you're ever worried that an egg may be stuck, giving 1ml of the calcium solution can get it moving. Another thing that can help is giving her a slightly warm bath.

For now, so we can see what might be the matter, can you get a video of her behaviour and post it here? You'll need to upload the video to youtube or something similar, then post the link here.

yeah, she laid a perfect egg the first time. and yes I have been giving her crushed oyster shells but it hasn't been long. she does eat them but sometimes they sink to the bottom of her food bowl when she eats. the calcium solution would be much easier but where I live I don't have it available :/ and yeah the first time I gave her a warm bath it did help so I did one yesterday to see if it will help her lay easier. I will make sure to take a video of her and post it here once she starts doing them again.

 

[Pamuk]

My hens always acted oddly right when they first started laying. Noisy, squatting, laying down more and just generally acting confused as to what's going on. Usually they go back to normal within a few weeks to a month of laying. It's weird for them going through the hormonal changes. Much like how girls go through puberty and get their periods confused as to what's going on along with adjusting to the feeling of higher hormones.

thanks that makes me feel slightly better knowing that it might be her adapting to the changes her body is going through right now. I just wanted to know what is the "normal" behaviour for female ducks when they lay? do they push as much or is it supposed to just pop out easily for them?