new to laying ducks...

[lovesduckies]

so i have a pair of muscovies. my drake has been mounting my duck but i am not sure if he knows what he's doing yet lol. he's kinda slow. she looks like she's in pain so i take her away sometimes. anyway. what do their tummies look like when they are eggnant? lol i've seen that word before somewhere. and what kind of calcium suppliments can i give her? i take some myself, are those oaky to crush up and give her or should i get something else? also to they show signs of being broody? if so what are they??

her tummy feels a bit odd to me. she seems to have 2 small bumps, i can't really explain it i will see if i can get a picture.

 

[houndit]

Quote:
Muscovies usually take a really long time to breed. The females usually put up with it and look bored. They are probably fine. I give ours oyster shell for calcium just like chickens. I leave there eggs in the nest if I want them to go broody. It may take her a while to decide where she will nest. When she pulls feathers she is usually close. Sometimes they will act broody and then be off the nest in the afternoon. She might set only in the morning for a couple days before she is really broody. When she stops coming off her nest she is broody.

 

[Shadowhills Farm]

Oyster Shell. They will eat what they need.

 

[lovesduckies]

is oyster shell the only thing? they are on layer pellets right now and have been for a few months. i took a pic of what her tummy looks like but the pic won't load. i have to wait till i get my lap top back from the computer doctor. poor Jerry (my lap top) caught a virus!!!!!!!

thank you houndit! i will watch her behavior. she isn't doing any of that! i really think she is looking for nest areas. i guess it will have to be in my room. she has tons of feathers behind my bed lol. that's one of the spots she goes to. she's been really loving towards me lately. she's usually not like that. she usually likes me from a distance. she's so cute i love her to pieces!

 

[Morri]

Hey lovesduckies!!! coz i live in austalia to i dont no if we get oyster shells....... ummm i give my ducks and chooks "shell grit" that can be bourght from the local hardfeed or pet shop store. i just put it in a bowl and they will pick as much as they need or you can just mix it though their food. the pellets you give usually have calcium in them but sometimes an addition is required....... goodluck. and dont worry so much about the egg thing they are all designed to lay eggs s jus leave her and she should just lay an egg in her own time.....

 

[lovesduckies]

thanks Morri! i think i will go have a look with my mom. i just heard that a feed store in the city i used to live in didn't close down after all so i am going to go check it out tomorrow. if not i will on wednesday! i'm not worried. i am just excited!!!!!!!! lol. and i want her to have the right amount of nutrients. this will be my first clutch of hatching babies this year and i'm so excited i want to jump out of my own skin! lol