Young duck laying shell-less eggs

[casportpony]

Congrats on the shelled egg, that is great news! Can you tell if the shell is normal thickness?

 

[austroberta]

What food do you feed?

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

I usually buy the Mazuri maintenance feed, which they sell in the 50lb bags. They didn't have it, so we got the 25lb bag which apparently doesn't have a brand name. It's just a white bag. As luck would have it, I cannot find the label.

I will note they haven't been huge duck food eaters or even treat eaters. They usually love tomatoes, but they are not in season, so they're not huge fans now. I do give them lettuce, but they have been more interested in foraging. They also give them peas, which they used to devour in seconds, but just nibble on after they forage.

I has been raining a lot, so the foraging is probably pretty good. Apart from Fiori, my molting duck, they seem really healthy otherwise -active with nice, immaculate feathers, plenty of preening, plenty of running around. Even Fiori seems on the mend now that Abi is in the back and cordoned off from the girls.

 

[austroberta]

Congrats on the shelled egg, that is great news! Can you tell if the shell is normal thickness?

The shell was nice and smooth and seemingly thick. I haven't cracked it open yet, but it looks good.

 

[austroberta]

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.

I wish my ducks would eat scratch. When I bought it, they wouldn't touch it.

 

[casportpony]

The shell was nice and smooth and seemingly thick. I haven't cracked it open yet, but it looks good.

It's been my experience that even just one dose of calcium can do amazing things very quickly.

 

[austroberta]

Going forward, should I buy Purina Layena, which already has calcium? Or should I just keep on giving her Calcium Citrate ever day? It hasn't been all that invasive to her, except for the part when we put the stuff in her mouth with my finger before she goes to bed. If I stop giving it to her, will she start laying soft shelled eggs again?

Another interesting thing about the egg is that it seemed smaller than softies she laid. The softies looked bigger.

 

[casportpony]

The Purina Layer has the correct amount of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D for laying chickens, so that might be good to try.

 

[chickens really]

Young Chickens and Ducks when first laying will lay soft shelled eggs or tiny hard shelled. The laying machine needs time to mature..

 

[austroberta]

Young Chickens and Ducks when first laying will lay soft shelled eggs or tiny hard shelled. The laying machine needs time to mature..

That's what I hope. This is only my second round of ducks. My first round of ducks laid perfect eggs. They gobbled down oyster shell like a teenager scarfs fast food. I'm a bit flummoxed by this year's egg laying issues.

 

[chickens really]

That's what I hope. This is only my second round of ducks. My first round of ducks laid perfect eggs. They gobbled down oyster shell like a teenager scarfs fast food. I'm a bit flummoxed by this year's egg laying issues.

Aww...Have no worries..Give them time.