Not again 😣

[Miss Lydia]

How long has she been having these problems? It may be something she was born with and as she keeps laying the problem gets worse. I sure don't know if this is true but Something is definitely going on. Try cutting back n the calcium for a few days and lets see what happens.

 

[BelovedBirds]

How long has she been having these problems? It may be something she was born with and as she keeps laying the problem gets worse. I sure don't know if this is true but Something is definitely going on. Try cutting back n the calcium for a few days and lets see what happens.

I'm not sure exactly when it started, but I'd say it's within the last two-three weeks. At first it was a few deposits and I thought perhaps a blip. Then it went back to normal for a few days, so I felt okay about it. Then the brittle shell and then soft shells and now here we are. It's all super recent. It just feels like she isn't making shells properly, its either too much calcium or too little....
If things don't improve I may try preventing her laying, for a while. Whether that's through the implant or keeping her in a darker space etc. I've heard that reducing or eliminating daylight can cause a break in laying?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I'm sorry to read about your precious ducks laying troubles. Like many others, I've been in your shoes with my Pekin over the past year and a half to two years. I've almost decided that my ducks shell gland just isn't functioning anymore. I continue to feed a layer feed because my Buff duck is laying and I'm hoping this will help my Pekin to lay her membrane eggs. I've tried calcium gluconate and calcium citrate(+D3) but find the citrate is much easier to give, in my personal opinion, with this particular duck. I was really hoping she'd start to lay nicely shelled eggs again after her winter break, like many people have noticed with their ducks, but this hasn't been our luck. I don't think this is a normal outcome with these ducks, but it'd be a good idea to stock up on a few broad spectrum antibiotics to have on hand, just in case.
Of course, I hope and pray Sprightly begins to lay those nice perfectly shelled eggs again very soon and for the rest of her laying days

 

[BelovedBirds]

I'm sorry to read about your precious ducks laying troubles. Like many others, I've been in your shoes with my Pekin over the past year and a half to two years. I've almost decided that my ducks shell gland just isn't functioning anymore. I continue to feed a layer feed because my Buff duck is laying and I'm hoping this will help my Pekin to lay her membrane eggs. I've tried calcium gluconate and calcium citrate(+D3) but find the citrate is much easier to give, in my personal opinion, with this particular duck. I was really hoping she'd start to lay nicely shelled eggs again after her winter break, like many people have noticed with their ducks, but this hasn't been our luck. I don't think this is a normal outcome with these ducks, but it'd be a good idea to stock up on a few broad spectrum antibiotics to have on hand, just in case.
Of course, I hope and pray Sprightly begins to lay those nice perfectly shelled eggs again very soon and for the rest of her laying days

I'm sorry to hear about your pekin
I'm not sure I'll be able to get any antibiotics without a prescription, it would be ideal to have some on hand, if it were possible
I definitely also find the citrate much easier to give- especially now that she's less suspicious about the pills!
Thank you for your good wishes

 

[BelovedBirds]

No egg last night... not sure if she'll lay today.... perhaps a break, or another "late" one.
I gave her the tablet via syringe today because she was dodging those pills again. Not ideal, but at least it's down.
I was worried after the last bit as she coughed after I let her go, I thought perhaps I messed it up and some went down the wrong way- but I'm fairly confident I got it all where it needed to go, I was super patient and followed the steps. I think perhaps I just irritated her throat?
She seems fine, I just worry a lot.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Of course you worry your a great duck mom. It's always scary when we have to give meds.
Hopefully she'll take the day or two off.

 

[BelovedBirds]

We're back where we were last week. Can't pass an egg. What's worse, she flinched really hard every time I try to feel her vent, even though I'm so gentle.
I'm really scared for her. Just brought her in. She's in a bath, has had half a tablet since symptoms started.

 

[BelovedBirds]

After whatever happens happens, I'm planning on keeping her in tonight.
Vets are now closed until Monday, again, what great timing.
Should I keep her in a dark room, see if I can get her to take a break from laying? I've heard if you cut out most daylight, they should stop...

 

[BelovedBirds]

Just gave her a bit more calcium, she's suddenly behaving "better". But it was an hour or so of contractions. Very clear contractions. So like with one of the previous times, I just don't trust it. Her contractions have stopped, so I took her out, gave her more calcium, and I'll get her back in once they start again. If they start again. I shouldn't have waited. I should have just taken her to get checked, this is my fault.

 

[Canadian Wind]

After whatever happens happens, I'm planning on keeping her in tonight.
Vets are now closed until Monday, again, what great timing.
Should I keep her in a dark room, see if I can get her to take a break from laying? I've heard if you cut out most daylight, they should stop...

I think it needs to be long term...