Angelove
Chirping
- Jun 11, 2021
- 25
- 14
- 64
I have 2 lady ducks laying eggs with soft shells. I messed up and forgot to put their oyster shells out when the started laying this winter..I had a duck get injured over the holiays that has been needing daily care and medication and when I started getting eggs I didnt even think about it..I am beside myself
I got a couple soft eggs before it hit me, I immediately put out oystershells/their washed shells and have been supplementing usually once or twice daily with extra calcium either in the form of liquid gluconate (1-2ml) or calcium carbonate squeezed into their mouths from a capsule. I’m not sure how much of the carbonate they are getting, they hate it so much and so fling a lot of it out of their mouths.
The liquid is easier to give but I was reading that it is not very boavailable and so will cause contractions to expell the eggs out but not really increase calcium enough to form hard shells and can actually contribute to the issue of softshell eggs. I have been giving carbonate in hopes this helps the shells too and nervous to give the gluconate. Sometimes when I do I will get a softshell the next day but they were starting to come out with an end open and white trailing out so I back off a bit, but then wasnt getting eggs at all..So gave it again and found an egg that broke, including the yolk, on delivery which really makes me really nervous. Its been days and they both seem ok but I am scared to give the calcium gluconate and scared to not!!
One lady has been and still continues to lay hardshell eggs, but even after a few weeks of laying, I have only a handful softshells between the two so I am begining to worry about them backing up and after the broken egg I am feeling really unsure of my best course of action.
I drove two towns over to Costal Farms to find duck appropriate feed with layer amounts of calcium included, which my regular feed does not have, I am hoping this will help increase the amount they have available for making shells. Unfortunately they had one kind and is in a weird wholegrain mash texture they are not used to, so I am trying to get them to eat it, but still having to provide some if their old food too.
I ordered a pelletized duck layer feed that should arrive in the mail tomorrow that I am hoping will be similar enough for them to eat it no problem.
I did start giving the calcium gluconate 1-1.5ml morning and night and have not gotten anymore eggs. Both girls seem like they are eating and drinking and in good spirits.
I made an appt for the vet this week incase I need it and am debating weather or not to go..does anyone know if a vet would be able to easily and quickly correct this problem with an injection or something?
I am hesitant to pay for a visit for them to tell me to be doing what I am already doing (my duck vet bill is pretty huge already with my injured/sick other duck) and also to have xrays taken becuase they are so expensive, but am also worried and want to absolutely do what I need to do to get them healthy.
Should I hold the line with my treatment? Go to the vet? Something else? advice?
Thanks in advance
I got a couple soft eggs before it hit me, I immediately put out oystershells/their washed shells and have been supplementing usually once or twice daily with extra calcium either in the form of liquid gluconate (1-2ml) or calcium carbonate squeezed into their mouths from a capsule. I’m not sure how much of the carbonate they are getting, they hate it so much and so fling a lot of it out of their mouths.
The liquid is easier to give but I was reading that it is not very boavailable and so will cause contractions to expell the eggs out but not really increase calcium enough to form hard shells and can actually contribute to the issue of softshell eggs. I have been giving carbonate in hopes this helps the shells too and nervous to give the gluconate. Sometimes when I do I will get a softshell the next day but they were starting to come out with an end open and white trailing out so I back off a bit, but then wasnt getting eggs at all..So gave it again and found an egg that broke, including the yolk, on delivery which really makes me really nervous. Its been days and they both seem ok but I am scared to give the calcium gluconate and scared to not!!
One lady has been and still continues to lay hardshell eggs, but even after a few weeks of laying, I have only a handful softshells between the two so I am begining to worry about them backing up and after the broken egg I am feeling really unsure of my best course of action.
I drove two towns over to Costal Farms to find duck appropriate feed with layer amounts of calcium included, which my regular feed does not have, I am hoping this will help increase the amount they have available for making shells. Unfortunately they had one kind and is in a weird wholegrain mash texture they are not used to, so I am trying to get them to eat it, but still having to provide some if their old food too.
I ordered a pelletized duck layer feed that should arrive in the mail tomorrow that I am hoping will be similar enough for them to eat it no problem.
I did start giving the calcium gluconate 1-1.5ml morning and night and have not gotten anymore eggs. Both girls seem like they are eating and drinking and in good spirits.
I made an appt for the vet this week incase I need it and am debating weather or not to go..does anyone know if a vet would be able to easily and quickly correct this problem with an injection or something?
I am hesitant to pay for a visit for them to tell me to be doing what I am already doing (my duck vet bill is pretty huge already with my injured/sick other duck) and also to have xrays taken becuase they are so expensive, but am also worried and want to absolutely do what I need to do to get them healthy.
Should I hold the line with my treatment? Go to the vet? Something else? advice?
Thanks in advance
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