Soft Eggs?

[fartoomany]

I'm posting on behalf of a friend - her ladies-Khaki Campbells-I believe, are laying but, they have very soft shells, they are fed layers pellets and have free access to oyster shell? She can't remember how old they are now-I think she has had them possibly 3years?
I've read through the other posts and people say 'shock' or lack of grit etc?
I have 2 ladies-1 Aylesbury and 1 Heinz 57, coming up for a year old shortly,and I feed them layers pellets-no oyster shell or grit as they never touch it now, and their shells are rock hard, but beautiful huge eggs? I have to crack them open with the back of a knife-else you can't break them-so I have the opposite problem!

 

[Marigold]

I believe Khaki Campbells are a breed of duck, so unless she has webbed-footed chickens, their breed is unknown! If they are 3+ years, and are hybrids, as is likely, the deterioration in egg quality is very common, imndeed to be expected by that age. Commercial egglayers are replaced at 2 years because by then their best laying days are over, having produced an egg most days since the start of their lay. Domestic hens often go on longer since they are not kept in such pressurised conditions (not given extra light in winter to keep them in lay, or very concentrated food.) Purebred hens often go on producing for longer because they have laid less often and so not used up their store of egg cells so fast. But hybrids have been bred to lay eggs more frequently so their period of lay is consequently shorter. Nothing she can do about it, really - if eggs are important to her, she may need to cull and begin again with young birds, otherwise they may go on as pets for quite some time.

 

[fartoomany]

Yes they are ducks, sorry I still referr to female ducks as ladies. She has given them the oyster shell to try and firm the shells up. I think they'll go on as pets as she has a drake that is approx 12 years old!

 

[Marigold]

Maybe if I move this thread to the Waterfowl section, the 'duck people' might be able to help you better than me? Sorry I thought they were chickens but she had just got the name of the breed wrong!

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya Soft shell eggs can be a result of a few things. The calcium issue isn't as simple as it sounds, there are some things that mess with the absorbsion of calcium..... also if it is all the time it may be indicative of peritonitis which can be fatal. best thing is to get them to a vet, passing a soft shell egg isn't easy for a duck. The reproductive system is quite complex and various things happen at various points down the oviduct... so it could be a problem as far down as the shell gland or as far before as nutrition. Any chance of a vet visit for the girls? The vet can check the abdomen for pus (ducks have hard cheese like pus) which would indicate an infection, also check their diet/snacks etc.....

 

[dorsetduckowner]

there is also a facebook group dedicated to this topic:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/223337464380886/
Zo
x

 

[fartoomany]

Apologies-I thought I was in the waterfowl section?

Thank you for your replies, I will pass the info onto my friend, she can discuss with the vet and make her decision on what to do.