Greetings!
I have eleven eleven week old runners (as far as I know they are all female, but it is a bit early to be entirely sure).
Storey's Guide reports that smaller breeds may begin laying as early as seventeen weeks. It also recommends beginning extra supplementation with calcium (oyster shell, egg shells, or laying feed) a few weeks before they begin to lay.
As this is our first year, it is all new to me and I don't want to run the risk of health problems by not giving them enough calcium soon enough. I also understand that too much calcium is harmful, especially long term.
At least half of the ducks are displaying signs that they want to breed. You know, that duckie "come hither" stuff. I take that as a clue that they are developing normally.
Is it time to begin to add, perhaps just a very little, maybe once a week free choice oyster shell, to their diet?
Wingin' it . . . . .
I have eleven eleven week old runners (as far as I know they are all female, but it is a bit early to be entirely sure).
Storey's Guide reports that smaller breeds may begin laying as early as seventeen weeks. It also recommends beginning extra supplementation with calcium (oyster shell, egg shells, or laying feed) a few weeks before they begin to lay.
As this is our first year, it is all new to me and I don't want to run the risk of health problems by not giving them enough calcium soon enough. I also understand that too much calcium is harmful, especially long term.
At least half of the ducks are displaying signs that they want to breed. You know, that duckie "come hither" stuff. I take that as a clue that they are developing normally.
Is it time to begin to add, perhaps just a very little, maybe once a week free choice oyster shell, to their diet?
Wingin' it . . . . .
