Laying ducks!

[lomine]

I have a similar question about feed for laying ducks. I had a male muscovy duck, but we have since found him a good new home, and now we have our two females: ancona and muscovy. At the time, because I had a drake- I didn't buy layer feed because I knew it wasn't good for him to eat and it was too hard to get them to eat separately. Now my muscovy and ancona (second year for ancona, first year for muscovy) started laying a week ago. Last year, my ancona ate regular non-layer feed and supplemented with oyster shells regularly. Since I still have a bunch of the non-layer feed, I want to continue to do this, as long as it's sufficient to support egg production. So far since they started laying I haven't seen them eat from the oyster shell (they still could be but I haven't been seeing them eat from there or any oyster shells in their poo). My questions is 1. just want to confirm I can continue to have just oyster shell as supplement for egg production (I've read mixed opinions on this before and so I want to be sure) and 2. I would assume muscovies eat oyster shell like other breeds but this is my first time with a muscovy and I want to be sure she'll eat the oyster shell if she needs it. Thanks for the input!!!

I feed mine a regular flock raiser feed with oyster shell free choice. They have been doing just fine on that. You can keep doing what you are doing. If in the future you see issues with their shells you can make a change.

 

[Mudbillkisses]

I feed mine a regular flock raiser feed with oyster shell free choice. They have been doing just fine on that. You can keep doing what you are doing. If in the future you see issues with their shells you can make a change.

Thanks for your feedback! I get nervous because I had a perfectly healthy 9 month old ancona duck die last year of being egg bound one weekend while our duck sitters were taking care of them. I'm pretty sure her diet was balanced with plenty of calcium but I've always been a little nervous since then. But we learned that it may have had more to do with the fact that she hatched late in the season in late August (we incubated eggs we got from a farm) and she started laying in January....daily. It might have been too soon for her little body to keep up with. I never want that to happen to anymore of my ducks- it was awful.

Good news is I'm seeing oyster shell in their droppings so I know they're eating it regularly. It must have been early on for the first few weeks they didn't need it...? Thanks again!