Food recommendations

[Apex Peacher]

Hi fellow duck owners, I have 5 ducks in my flock and they are currently being fed Mazuri Layer Feed. I am curious as to other recommendations for my girls that would help boost their calcium intake. What do you all feed yours?

 

[nuthatched]

Why do you believe you need to raise calcium?

 

[Apex Peacher]

Ahh, well my girls have been having issues laying lately. Many eggs are brittle or cracked or misshapen. I have calcium glubionate as a supplement but that is more for emergencies. I just wanted some other feedback as to what anyone else might feed theirs.

 

[nuthatched]

Ahh, well my girls have been having issues laying lately. Many eggs are brittle or cracked or misshapen. I have calcium glubionate as a supplement but that is more for emergencies. I just wanted some other feedback as to what anyone else might feed theirs.

Do you have oyster shell available? Most layer feeds are going to have similar calcium profiles.
Do they get any treats? Are they molting.

 

[Apex Peacher]

Yeah, flaked oyster shells available at all times. They have scratch grains, oats and get lettuce daily along with cucumber, tomato and peas. I add kelp to their dinner and they also have bird vitamins and electrolytes available along with clean water. The egg laying issues were prevalent prior to their molt. Just not sure what I’m doing wrong that they are having so many issues.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

I give my ducks unlimited access to different feeders :
• METAL feeders :
...in which I put a mix of "Wheat + Duck/Goose Pellets"...
• PLASTIC feeders :
...in which I put a mix of "Wheat + Duck/Goose Pellets + Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth"...
• PLASTIC feeders :
...in which I put "Oyster Shell Grit" only...

(They also freerange from morning to evening - everyday -, and so, can freely eat any grass, flower, earthworm, slug, insect, or whatever they like, when they want to...)

...And I don't have any Calcium issue with them...

Ahh, well my girls have been having issues laying lately. Many eggs are brittle or cracked or misshapen.

Mixing food grade Diatomaceous Earth in their food did fix this issue in my chicken hens...

So, personally, for what it's worth : I would recommend you to do that with your ducks' food.
(In PLASTIC feeders, since I don't know if DE would do so good in metal ones...?)

Also : do keep giving them an unlimited access to Oyster Shell Grit!

The egg laying issues were prevalent prior to their molt.

That happens, and the reason could be anything - not necessarily a Calcium deficiency...

Just not sure what I’m doing wrong that they are having so many issues.

Your ducks "having so many issues" does not mean you are at fault here...!