TWO Ducks w/Laying Problems?

[Quatie]

Yes. Her appt is still a couple of weeks out.

I can so layer feed, but I gave 2 roosters and 6 pullets who aren't yet laying.

Honestly, I hope to separate the ducks soon. I just don't have enough time right now. And we are shelling out several thousand dollars for storm clean up and wildfire prevention. I actually picked up 2 summer jobs to soften that blow, but I hope to move my chickens to the pasture soon and keep the duckies separate. I'll need a new coop and some additional fencing to accomplish that. It's all a bit much right now.

I can completely understand. We just finished setting up a new pen and coop for my disabled duck and Pekin, she has been having issues getting around. I have only been able to do it because I am taking 2 weeks paid vacation time right now. But there is so much that needs to be done that is not animals. Them on top of everything and there is just not enough hours in the day.

I also understand the need for fire protection. There was a fire, I think it was a month ago that sounded near your area, in yuba county. So far I am so amazed and grateful that we don't have smoke covering the skies yet.

I am about to take on 4-5 new young ducks as well, so I am going to need to put the layer feed down for probably only like 10 minutes in the morning soon. Luckily mine see it as a treat, otherwise that might not work.

Hopefully the hormone treatment will help make things easier.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I can completely understand. We just finished setting up a new pen and coop for my disabled duck and Pekin, she has been having issues getting around. I have only been able to do it because I am taking 2 weeks paid vacation time right now. But there is so much that needs to be done that is not animals. Them on top of everything and there is just not enough hours in the day.

I also understand the need for fire protection. There was a fire, I think it was a month ago that sounded near your area, in yuba county. So far I am so amazed and grateful that we don't have smoke covering the skies yet.

I am about to take on 4-5 new young ducks as well, so I am going to need to put the layer feed down for probably only like 10 minutes in the morning soon. Luckily mine see it as a treat, otherwise that might not work.

Hopefully the hormone treatment will help make things easier.

The fire was in our county, not too far from here. We are in a very high fire threat zone - one of the highest in CA. The nearest population center caught fire twice last year. We were on evacuation watch. If the wind had shifted west, we'd have been done for! We could see the flames from our front door. Scary, scary stuff.

I'm over this working for a living BS. Work just gets in the way of getting things done...

 

[Quatie]

The fire was in our county, not too far from here. We are in a very high fire threat zone - one of the highest in CA. The nearest population center caught fire twice last year. We were on evacuation watch. If the wind had shifted west, we'd have been done for! We could see the flames from our front door. Scary, scary stuff.

I'm over this working for a living BS. Work just gets in the way of getting things done...

My in-laws lost their home in the camp fire and we moved out of the area 2 weeks before the fire. I remember worrying if my mother-in-law would make it out ok. She is not the best in high stress situations. She went in circles a couple times and luckily didn't know the explosions she heard were propane tanks blowing up. There were a lot of scary stories that came out of that fire. I can see it being just as bad in other areas. I hope you won't have to experience that.

 

[KaleIAm]

They are not huge fans of oyster, but they love egg shells.

What color is the oyster shell you use? My snobs will only eat the grey kind, not the white. Before I figured it out they got a calcium deficiency.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

What color is the oyster shell you use? My snobs will only eat the grey kind, not the white. Before I figured it out they got a calcium deficiency.

Same with my ducks
If it’s those white rock like things my girls won’t touch them at all
I use to have a great supplier of the actual crushed oyster shells but they lost their contract and said end of summer before stock will be back
I was in a panic
But I found the pet stores that have smaller pieces for birds but is the exact same things as the real oyster shells . I get a box in Canada for 4.00

 

[Aunt Angus]

It's both white and gray. I can't find anything else here unless I get it shipped in, unfortunately. I used to love the stuff I got at Walmart (flaked oyster), but all i can find it crushed oyster here.

 

[Quatie]

I believe small pet select sells the grey ones. I haven't wanted to try getting it from them because a lot of their stuff is overpriced and is not necessarily better quality. My opinion is mostly driven by guinea pig supplies. When I used the company, they were pretty good. They are just more expensive. I haven't tried their oyster shells, but they may be what you want.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Something to also consider is that the temperature may not feel too hot to us, but that same temperature is going to feel much warmer to ducks since they are wearing essentially a down jacket 24/7. When it gets over 80 degrees my ducks usually spend most of their day between swimming in the pond and sitting in the shade. I agree with everything said here also. My ducks prefer Small Pet Select oyster shells too, I recently tried another brand because I ran out before my order showed and nope they're protesting those. Unfortunately Small Pet Selects price has doubled since they started getting them back in stock last year and now I feel like I'm buying luxury oysters for my feathered children

 

[Aunt Angus]

I believe small pet select sells the grey ones. I haven't wanted to try getting it from them because a lot of their stuff is overpriced and is not necessarily better quality. My opinion is mostly driven by guinea pig supplies. When I used the company, they were pretty good. They are just more expensive. I haven't tried their oyster shells, but they may be what you want.

Something to also consider is that the temperature may not feel too hot to us, but that same temperature is going to feel much warmer to ducks since they are wearing essentially a down jacket 24/7. When it gets over 80 degrees my ducks usually spend most of their day between swimming in the pond and sitting in the shade. I agree with everything said here also. My ducks prefer Small Pet Select oyster shells too, I recently tried another brand because I ran out before my order showed and nope they're protesting those. Unfortunately Small Pet Selects price has doubled since they started getting them back in stock last year and now I feel like I'm buying luxury oysters for my feathered children

The ones at WM were by Vibrant Life and were very affordable. I've ordered the Small Pet Select. They did like it, but it only comes in 5lb quantities. I usually buy 50 lbs. That'd be $200.

I will see what else I can find. My roosters may just end up with kidney problems because the best option, at this point, is to switch to layer pellets. They're noisy. I'm sure no one would miss them.
(I'm just kidding!)

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The ones at WM were by Vibrant Life and were very affordable. I've ordered the Small Pet Select. They did like it, but it only comes in 5lb quantities. I usually buy 50 lbs. That'd be $200.

I will see what else I can find. My roosters may just end up with kidney problems because the best option, at this point, is to switch to layer pellets. They're noisy. I'm sure no one would miss them.
(I'm just kidding!)

Perhaps mix duck and layer feed? That would help the ducks get the right amount of feed but the roosters and younger birds wouldn't be only eating layer feed. It takes a bit of time for problems to start, so you still have a little time to seperate too