Young duck laying shell-less eggs

[austroberta]

This is the third day my 1st time laying duck has laid a shell-less egg. I imagine she laid it sometime in the morning, as my husband found it (crushed up), when he was cleaning the duck house. Yesterday she had trouble laying her second egg (had to put her in a tub of warm water and feed her Tums before it plopped out.) I have 3 small bowls of oyster shell calcium throughout the yard and she nibbles at it, but does not really eat it. I've been advised to give her calcium citrate and I wondering how much should I give her and if I should give it to her at a particular time.

This is her first time laying, so could her age be a factor? Things have also been stressful for her, as my drake is being a jerk. Could that be another possibility?

If it's a first time laying thing, how long should I wait before I start to get worried?

My older ducks have not started laying yet. One of them is molting, so she has stopped laying, but one of them took a long break and his still not resumed laying. She was a first time layer last year and she was already laying by this time. Do I need to re-think the food I get them? They haven't been eating much of it lately (although they will jump over hot coals to get at the cat food.) They get maintenance feed, peas, lettuce, endive and tomatoes, along with a helping of frozen corn before I put them in their house for the night. As mentioned, they also get bowels of the oyster shell, which I don't see anyone eating.

 

[Kkrista123]

It could be due to her being a newer layer. Maybe try a favorite snack in with the oyster shell to encourage her to eat more of it? Does your drake bother her too much?
I hope you get a good answer soon so you don't worry too much!

@Miss Lydia @casportpony
Know some dosages for the calcium citrate?

 

[casportpony]

The amount I shoot for is ~50 mg per pound and I do this once or twice a day until I see improvement in their shells.

I'll come back later and give a more detailed reply, but gotta get my brooders clean now.

 

[austroberta]

The amount I shoot for is ~50 mg per pound and I do this once or twice a day until I see improvement in their shells.

I'll come back later and give a more detailed reply, but gotta get my brooders clean now.

Thanks! I recall the 50mg per pound for the tums but wasn't quite sure about the cal. citrate.

I love the brooder period, but those little peepsters sure make a mess! Good luck cleaning it up!

 

[DuckyDonna]

This is the third day my 1st time laying duck has laid a shell-less egg. I imagine she laid it sometime in the morning, as my husband found it (crushed up), when he was cleaning the duck house. Yesterday she had trouble laying her second egg (had to put her in a tub of warm water and feed her Tums before it plopped out.) I have 3 small bowls of oyster shell calcium throughout the yard and she nibbles at it, but does not really eat it. I've been advised to give her calcium citrate and I wondering how much should I give her and if I should give it to her at a particular time.

This is her first time laying, so could her age be a factor? Things have also been stressful for her, as my drake is being a jerk. Could that be another possibility?

If it's a first time laying thing, how long should I wait before I start to get worried?

My older ducks have not started laying yet. One of them is molting, so she has stopped laying, but one of them took a long break and his still not resumed laying. She was a first time layer last year and she was already laying by this time. Do I need to re-think the food I get them? They haven't been eating much of it lately (although they will jump over hot coals to get at the cat food.) They get maintenance feed, peas, lettuce, endive and tomatoes, along with a helping of frozen corn before I put them in their house for the night. As mentioned, they also get bowels of the oyster shell, which I don't see anyone eating.

Just and FYI, I found calcium citrate at walmart but in 600 mg pill form. I use my coffee bean grinder and it powders up in a second then I sprinkle it over some tomatoes and they gobble it up quickly. I have 6 girls though so I used 2 pills and once the shells started getting back to normal I tapered off to 1 and then none.

 

[chickens really]

Oyster shell will suffice..New layers lay wonky at first.

 

[casportpony]

Do I need to re-think the food I get them?

What food do you feed?

This is her first time laying, so could her age be a factor?

Maybe? But every year I have many first time layers and I rarely get any softies.

I have 3 small bowls of oyster shell calcium throughout the yard and she nibbles at it, but does not really eat it.

Yeah, mine don't like it eaither, but the do like egg shells.

Things have also been stressful for her, as my drake is being a jerk. Could that be another possibility?

That could be a possibility.

They get maintenance feed,

Which brand? What are the percentages of protein, calcium, and phosphorus?

 

[austroberta]

Oyster shell will suffice..New layers lay wonky at first.

They have 3 bowl of the stuff in the yard and they apparently are not touching it. I even saw Sage, my new layer, put her beak in there to forage and quickly withdraw it, so I know she knows it's there, but is not eating it.

 

[chickens really]

They have 3 bowl of the stuff in the yard and they apparently are not touching it. I even saw Sage, my new layer, put her beak in there to forage and quickly withdraw it, so I know she knows it's there, but is not eating it.

I have had to add scratch or something the first few days to encourage young Hens to use oyster shell. Then it's just by choice when needed.

 

[austroberta]

I did get a hard shelled egg this morning, but I'm not sure if it was from my older duck or Sage. My older duck used to law pale green eggs. This one was pure white. Sage was a bit reluctant to come out of the duck house this morning, so maybe she laid it and needed a rest? Or maybe my older duck is laying white eggs? Sage is happy and chatty this morning, but I will keep my eye on her as the day progresses.

I did give her 1 tablet of Calcium Citrate with worms and then another tablet crushed and in her mouth before she went to bed. 2 tablets were 650 m. I don't think she got all of that 650 m in her, however.