(Please help!) Can ducks poop while they have an egg inside them? If so, how many times?

[Drowsy_808]

My duck pooped a few times while she was trying to lay her egg. She might’ve thought her poop was an egg and just stopped trying to lay her egg. She seems fine though. She’s drinking, she’s lively, and she doesn’t seem to be in any pain. She does have diarrhea though.
I’m really worried. Does she really have an egg or was she just feeling generally unwell?

 

[BelovedBirds]

My duck pooped a few times while she was trying to lay her egg. She might’ve thought her poop was an egg and just stopped trying to lay her egg. She seems fine though. She’s drinking, she’s lively, and she doesn’t seem to be in any pain. She does have diarrhea though.
I’m really worried. Does she really have an egg or was she just feeling generally unwell?

They can poop while the egg is inside them, but sometimes, such as if they suffer a prolapse while laying the egg, it can cause problems that prevent pooping. (Or which cause the poop to stick around the vent)

How did you know she was laying? And how do you define diarrhea? As duck poop is usually very wet anyway, and generally mirrors what they eat/drink.

Does she have access to oyster shells for calcium?

 

[Drowsy_808]

They can poop while the egg is inside them, but sometimes, such as if they suffer a prolapse while laying the egg, it can cause problems that prevent pooping. (Or which cause the poop to stick around the vent)

How did you know she was laying? And how do you define diarrhea? As duck poop is usually very wet anyway, and generally mirrors what they eat/drink.

Does she have access to oyster shells for calcium?

She always lays from 4-6 AM. She was laying just the two days ago, so I assumed she was laying an egg yesterday as well. Turns out, she was feeling unwell and it wasn’t because of the egg. Assuming so since she didn’t lay an egg yesterday.

I define diarrhea by the smell and how it looks.
She doesn’t have oyster shells, but she does eat a good amount of calcium. Her duck feed (main meal) has a high amount of it and some of her treats do too.

 

[BelovedBirds]

She always lays from 4-6 AM. She was laying just the two days ago, so I assumed she was laying an egg yesterday as well. Turns out, she was feeling unwell and it wasn’t because of the egg. Assuming so since she didn’t lay an egg yesterday.

I define diarrhea by the smell and how it looks.
She doesn’t have oyster shells, but she does eat a good amount of calcium. Her duck feed (main meal) has a high amount of it and some of her treats do too.

She really should have access to oyster shells, and grit, as if she needs more calcium than she is getting, she won't be able to regulate herself.
High protein wet poops are fairly common, they're made up of mostly liquid and they don't smell too good, I expect her poop wasn't abnormal. The alarm bells are more when there is green in the poop (unless they've been eating a high amount of green veggies), or blood in it.

Is she still feeling unwell? If so, what are her symptoms?
If you are worried, it could be a good idea to give her some calcium gluconate. But unless she is showing signs of egg troubles, I wouldn't worry too much, as egg production drops quite a bit during winter.

 

[Drowsy_808]

She really should have access to oyster shells, and grit, as if she needs more calcium than she is getting, she won't be able to regulate herself.
High protein wet poops are fairly common, they're made up of mostly liquid and they don't smell too good, I expect her poop wasn't abnormal. The alarm bells are more when there is green in the poop (unless they've been eating a high amount of green veggies), or blood in it.

Is she still feeling unwell? If so, what are her symptoms?
If you are worried, it could be a good idea to give her some calcium gluconate. But unless she is showing signs of egg troubles, I wouldn't worry too much, as egg production drops quite a bit during winter.

Thank you, I appreciate the advice and help. Fortunately, she seems to be feeling better now. Her poop have gotten better too, she’s eating well, drinking well, and making a mess like she always does. She’s a lot better, thank you

I would like to ask though, do you know what color a duck’s chin should be?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Thank you, I appreciate the advice and help. Fortunately, she seems to be feeling better now. Her poop have gotten better too, she’s eating well, drinking well, and making a mess like she always does. She’s a lot better, thank you

I would like to ask though, do you know what color a duck’s chin should be?

How do you mean "chin"? Like the feathers under the bill, or the underside of the bill?

 

[Drowsy_808]

How do you mean "chin"? Like the feathers under the bill, or the underside of the bill?

The underside, below her tongue.