Mandarin Laying Issue

[1lpoock]

My mandarin and wood duck hens both started laying at the same time in different nests. The mandarins first 4 eggs were fine, but her last two she just layed have very thin shells. The one I threw out because the yolk was already seeping through a crack in the membrane. The last egg is a bit harder but still very soft, I doubt it will hatch. The last egg was also a few feet from the nest (the nest is in their house). Do you think she moved it away after she laid it and realized it is a bad egg? What should I do with it?

P.S. The wood duck hen just started sitting today on a nest of 6 eggs or over, I couldn't really see them all! I'm excited!

 

[giffy]

Quote:
The soft egg won't hatch........you are correct and most likely she pushed it away. As for the cause, could be a first year layer. If she is pen raised above ground you need to provide calcium. (oyster shell) Another cause is a lack of privacy, too much commotion around her pen. (stress)

There is always the temptation to peek in to see what is going on, this is the time you want to limit your time in the pen.

giffy
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[1lpoock]

Anyone else have this issue or have an opinion?

 

[Taylor]

eat it! hahahahaha

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
I had the same problem with a call duck hen. I purchased her last fall, and I think she was around 2. This year all she is laying is eggs without the shells. Ive tried switching her to 20% feed, Ive added calcium, still the same eggs without the shells. Ive given up on whites.

I got my first Mandarin egg yesterday.

Try adding some more calcium.

What type of feed are you giving them?

 

[1lpoock]

I feed them Dumor layer feed, not sure on the percent right now but I'll check tomorrow. I even give them a little cracked corn as a treat. The bag of layer feed has a duck and chicken on the front. The wood duck laid good eggs and she's sitting on them

I just wish the mandarin would do the same, maybe it's just because it's her first year and maybe she isn't ready yet?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
Thats what im using also, the Dumor. I think its 16 or 17%. Probably because its her first year. My first trio of mandarins didnt lay their first year. This year, I have a girl I hatched last spring, and I saw her in the nesting box, so im pretty sure one of the eggs I got was from her.

 

[Scott]

I personally don't feed my ducks corn other than what is already in their layer crumbles. I feed them wheat oats instead. I know that too much corn can make chickens lazy and lay fewer eggs, I suspect this might be the same with ducks.