Two month duck(lings) eating oyster shells

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Hi friends,

decided to put this matter into a separate thread and not append it to the spring-duckling thread because they are technically still ducklings but they look and behave like grown ups…

There is a small bowl (3" pipe end-cap), filled with crushed oyster shells in the duck house to give my one year old ducks access to a steady calcium supply. Yesterday i noticed it was empty and filled it up. This morning it was half empty again and i noticed that the former spring-ducklings have started to feed on it - only the females, not my little drakeling…
Isn't that a little early for them? Or is that a sign that they are preparing for the egg business? They are just eight weeks old! I usually don't care what the ducks decide to eat, i believe they know best what's good for them, but seeing them gobbling down the oyster-shells came as a surprise.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I am surprised as well. Do they have poultry grit available?

 

[PirateGirl]

I was going to ask the same thing in regards to grit... perhaps that is what they are truly after.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I am surprised as well. Do they have poultry grit available?

I was going to ask the same thing in regards to grit... perhaps that is what they are truly after.

They are outside most of the day, where they have everything from rocks, gravel and sand to loam, mud and grass. I don't think grit is scarce…
It is mostly the White Layers going for the Oyster Shells.

 

[PirateGirl]

What kind of food do you provide them (other than what the find outside)?

Ducks can be curious. I feel like the first time mine were exposed to grit and oyster shell they scarfed it down as well.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Are you expecting eggs in August? My Metzers laid at just over 5 months and the Ideals took 6. A big jar of pickled eggs is good. With Tabasco saltines and beer. Then you will be actual and not wannabe.

 

[chickens really]

I never pay attention or worry...

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

What kind of food do you provide them (other than what the find outside)?
Ducks can be curious. I feel like the first time mine were exposed to grit and oyster shell they scarfed it down as well.

They have two 3lbs feeders in the duck house, one filled with cracked corn, the second one filled with meat-bird pellets. The pellets are being consumed within 2-3 days, the cracked corn lasts for about a week. The pellets contain 3.5% Calcium and 0.5% "trace elements".

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I never pay attention or worry...

I usually do that too. Good approach!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Are you expecting eggs in August? My Metzers laid at just over 5 months and the Ideals took 6. A big jar of pickled eggs is good. With Tabasco saltines and beer. Then you will be actual and not wannabe.

I thought more about July, that would be their sixth month since hatching.