soft shells on pekins

chickabator · Aug 31, 2009

I have 5 pekin ducks 1 male and 4 females they started laying here about 2 weeks ago the first day we got 2 eggs, then 1 egg every day since. dh found a soft egg the other day so we gave them oyster shell in with their feed. yesterday evening we found 2 soft shelled eggs and yesterday morning 1 normal. Is this normal for them to lay soft shelled eggs on their first eggs? how can I get more calcium into them.

headred · Aug 31, 2009

I've had the same thing happen recently, even posted on my website about it this week. I have been told that first eggs can be somewhat "wonky". Is that a good word for them?? I've had some membrane eggs and also some teeny tiny ones. Maybe add oyster shell to their feed, but my older girls are laying just fine, so it may just be the newbie layers.

chickabator · Aug 31, 2009

mine are new layers also. we give oyster shell in their feed we have one that lays a huge very hard egg everyday and then the other two are just as soft as can be

bargain · Aug 31, 2009

I believe that they are learning to lay....This is new to them.....I speak from chicken experience on this as my ducks are not yet laying....It makes siense that this is happening with your ducks..........

.................................

Be blessed and be a blessing..

Nancy

Bleenie · Aug 31, 2009

Do they look like this?

I had a hen that laid these eggs once every couple months while all her other eggs were normal, as well as everyone elses. sometimes they just do that. but i would try the oyster shell mixed in the feed...they should shovel it right up