Thanks, everyone. At least this sounds normal. I was afraid if it wasn't that when the chickens started to lay I might need a chisel and hammer!
My husband has used the duck eggs as fried eggs, and everyone likes those. I scrambled up some the other night and my daughter didn't care for them. The taste was similar, but they were a little rubbery. I cooked them a long time too, as I do't like undercooked eggs. I think, though, in the case of duck eggs, a little bit softer and they would be more palatable. No funny tastes though, and ours free range - eating slugs (gross!) and anything else they can find.
Jayare - We have a black cayuga, a blue swede and a crested magpie. We got chickens at the same time, although, to my frustration, they are not laying yet. We got an assortment: 1 buff orpington (my favorite), 1 EE/Araucana, 1 Black Australorp, and 2 silver laced Wyandottes. The buff is by far the mellowist bird, with the australorp second. The EE is wild as a march hare and the wyandottes are not much mellower. I love them though. We free range them during the day as well, although we did have to put an electric fence up around the coop this spring due to bears in the area.
