How to Care for Egg-Laying Ducks

Caring for egg-laying ducks might seem like a simple task, but ducks require more care than simpler fowl, such as chickens. Ducks need access to water at all times to keep their sensitive feet from drying out, and egg-laying ducks require a diet rich in minerals for proper shell development. With dedication and a little hard work, your ducks will be safe, healthy, and producing eggs in a matter of days. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Prepare a pen for your ducks. A coop with sturdy wire fencing and a small building for shelter is secure enough to keep predators out and keep your ducks out of inclement weather.

2

Lay one nest box per duck on the floor of the shelter. Bed the boxes and the floor of the shelter with a thick layer of clean straw. Change the straw once a week or when it becomes caked with fecal matter.

3

Dig a large hole inside the pen, and place a plastic children's pool in the hole. Ducks need to swim to keep their delicate feet from drying out, and a child's pool provides adequate swimming room for even large breeds of egg-laying ducks. Fill the pool with clean water, and add fresh water as necessary.

4

Fill a feed pan with laying pellets and set it near the shelter. Egg-laying hens require extra protein and calcium for proper shell development, and laying pellets are specially formulated for laying hens. Fill the pan each morning.

5

Place a water pan near the door and refill it with clean water once a day. Ducks often contaminate water pans by stepping in them, so wash pans out between fillings to keep the water fresh.

6

Collect eggs early in the day and store them in the refrigerator. Egg-laying ducks will lay one egg each morning. Duck eggs tend to be rich in flavor and may be substituted for chicken eggs in your favorite recipes.