My ducks and oyster shells

[Isaac 0]

See I said last time I counted, I forgot I have five ducklings in the brooder... Make it forty birds, and more coming soon, you better get started then!

 

[Ratchnick]

I think any time you bring something to eat out to the ducks they get excited and gorge on it. If you leave it out there they will self regulate. I think your behavior is affecting their behavior.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I built one of these for my girls out of scrap wood I had laying around. I saw this on one of the posts on this forum and like it so much I just did it the other day. Mines outside so I drilled some drain holes in the bottom in case it got rained on.

 

[Texasone]

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.

My two girls would polish off a bag in a week if I left it out for them. This is my concern. They gobble down all of what I put out no matter how much. Perhaps I should use a bulk feeder so they don’t feel like they should finish up

 

[Texasone]

I think any time you bring something to eat out to the ducks they get excited and gorge on it. If you leave it out there they will self regulate. I think your behavior is affecting their behavior.

I don’t bring it out to them it’s in their coop when they go back at night. I could try moving it outside in their pen during the day and see if they start reducing how much they eat

 

[Texasone]

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.

One egg per day every day per bird (2 females). Average size eggs.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I think I'd leave it out near their food. They seem to go from one to the other.

 

[Texasone]

I built one of these for my girls out of scrap wood I had laying around. I saw this on one of the posts on this forum and like it so much I just did it the other day. Mines outside so I drilled some drain holes in the bottom in case it got rained on.
View attachment 2097350

I’m starting to suspect they are finishing what I give them in their bowl each day so eating more than they would naturally if they had a bulk feeder like yours. I’ll make one and see how they go

thanks

 

[DuckyDonna]

I’m starting to suspect they are finishing what I give them in their bowl each day so eating more than they would naturally if they had a bulk feeder like yours. I’ll make one and see how they go

thanks

It was easy to make!