My ducks and oyster shells

[Texasone]

Hi guys

I give my ducks free choice feed during the day and at night they have a bowl of veg and water in their coop.

I also give them a little bit of oyster shells in a bowl

I give them about two large table spoons full a night for three ducks

they gobble it up (the two females do. The drake doesn’t touch it)

my question is....how much should I give them

I heard some give them free choice but if I do that they still eat it all no matter the volume. They will happily finish off a tea cups worth of the stuff in one night (two ducks)

mist like catnip to them

My question is ... well... is this normal ?

how much should they eat? Can they really self regulate? Should they really eat so much? How do you feed the shells?

thanks! In. Advance

 

[Isaac 0]

Are these birds penned in a small area all day?

 

[Texasone]

During the day they are in a fenced in area about 33ft x 33ft with a non natural pond that’s about 8ft diameter. At night they are in their coop

 

[Miss Lydia]

Female ducks that are laying need access to oyster shell 24/7 place it in a container near their feed so they can use as needed.

 

[Isaac 0]

Provide it 24/7 then, two tablespoons of oyster shells among three ducks isn't very much at all.

 

[Texasone]

Provide it 24/7 then, two tablespoons of oyster shells among three ducks isn't very much at all.

Thanks

what would be your guess for how much two female ducks would need per day

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just put out a container and fill it. That's what most of us do. Just keep it dry. A bag of oyster shell here is under 10.00 and last a very long time.

 

[Isaac 0]

I think it greatly depends on how many eggs they are laying on how big the eggs are, unless they are gorging on the shells all day I wouldn't be concerned, and the only time a duck "might" be doing that is if they are crammed in a small space and eating the shells out of boredom.

 

[Isaac 0]

I bought a 50lb bag five years ago and still have half of the bag left. I have thirty-five birds... last time I counted.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You have one more bird than me!! I best get busy

and is that counting the ones that just hatched?