My female duck keeps having egg busts! What do I do to stop this from happening?!

[AnimalLover1321]

My duck, Willow, a 6-7 year old pekin, keeps having egg busts inside of her. She won't eat oyster shells and I don't know if I should give her food with the amount of calcium they need already in it or not because I have a male in with her. I've heard that the laying food has too much calcium in it for the males and isn't good for them. Is this true and what should I do to keep her from having these problems? Thanks.

 

[Isaac 0]

Hi!

Is she producing soft shells eggs that are only partially formed like this,

 

[Mylied]

I feed layer to everyone old enough to lay eggs and any males with them. I'd rather the layers get the calcium they need.

 

[AnimalLover1321]

Hi!

Is she producing soft shells eggs that are only partially formed like this,

View attachment 2131558

Yes. Hers are just like that except hers don't have a yolk. She also sometimes just passes straight up egg white and yolk without a shell, which is what she's doing tonight.

 

[AnimalLover1321]

I feed layer to everyone old enough to lay eggs and any males with them. I'd rather the layers get the calcium they need.

Ok thank you! I may just go ahead and start feeding layer to her then! Hopefully this will help!

 

[DuckyDonna]

you will need to offer oyster shells on the side though in addition to the layer food. If you put it in a little dish near their food she will eat it as she needs it.

 

[AnimalLover1321]

you will need to offer oyster shells on the side though in addition to the layer food. If you put it in a little dish near their food she will eat it as she needs it.

That's where my problem comes in at. I have oyster shell in a separate bowl right by her food and water but, she won't eat any of them. I don't know why but she won't.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Hummm, I don't know what to say about that. I thought they instinctively know when to eat it. Lets ask @Isaac 0 and @Jpat and see what they say.

 

[AnimalLover1321]

Hummm, I don't know what to say about that. I thought they instinctively know when to eat it. Lets ask @Isaac 0 and @Jpat and see what they say.

I thought they knew when to eat it theirselves too. Everything I've read says that they will eat it when they need it.

 

[Isaac 0]

Yes. Hers are just like that except hers don't have a yolk. She also sometimes just passes straight up egg white and yolk without a shell, which is what she's doing tonight.

If she is laying softies frequently I would start her on either calcium citrate or gluconate. The pills be crushed over some treats or feed, or the liquid can be administered orally with a syringe.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/14940303/