Ate my first straight up duck egg today!

[ducklucky]

Okay, so if you have a little kitchen scale, a jumbo chix egg is 2.5 oz or larger. A regular size duck egg is well over that, so you have to do a little math. If you get gigormous ones like we do, ducks that is, well over 5 oz and double yolkers, obviously it's one duck per two chix. We made a vegie and cheese quiche the other nite with duck eggs, and wow, what a difference. Very rich, we could only eat one slice each. Super yummy. Think sometimes people's aversion is that the ducks like to "hide" their eggs sometimes, and they are quite dirty and need to be washed and smell like poo, but once they're washed and dried and put in the fridge, what's the dif? Duck eggs are higher in cholesterol, but have many vitamins and minerals that you will not find in chicken eggs, not matter what you feed them. We like to add a little cracked corn to our feed mix, makes the yolks super orange, but can affect Pekin feather coloring (may get yellow feathers), and especially in winter for ducks and chix alike, corn provides body heat. There's nothing like a sunny side up or soft boiled duck egg to dip your toast into, if you're into that. Huge difference, especially with fresh baked bread. Yummmm, know what I'm having for supper!

 

[DuckLady]

If you are doing cakes or muffins or souffles etc, I use 1 for one. Cookies are trickier and I have never had luck with duck eggs unless I used ones that were small and the same size as a large chicken egg.

 

[caz426]

Thank you!! It seems that my husband is allergic to duck eggs... I used 1 in pancakes this morning and he was sick all afternoon. He doesn't want to see another duck egg!

 

[Blondiega1]

Well, some duck was an over achiever today.
I got THREE eggs this morning!!! (2 hens)
That brought me up to 11 duck eggs total in the fridge!

So this morning before work, I had grits, bacon, and scrambled cheese eggs!
They are really good!!
If it weren't for the brighter orange color, you'd never know the difference between these eggs and chicken eggs.
YUMMY!!!

 

[jtbrown]

I know this is chiming in late. We are new to duck eggs. Only for last month or so. But waht to do with them all? I guess I should have figured, 4 girl ducks = up to 4 eggs daily! Yikes. No one wants them! I can only bake so much, I can only pawn off breakfast for dinner so often. That is in addition to our chicken eggs which I am able to sell readily. So, I have learned to like the duck eggs myself, but my family not so much the convert, so I do a lot of half duck egg, half chicken egg. No one gets sick from them.

Who knew when I got those cute little ducklings that I would be "scrambling" to find something to do with 4 little duck eggs daily. I have been scrambling them and feeding back to my chickens which are currently molting so the extra protein is a bonus for them and me. I have also noted that brownies with duck eggs rock. I am also trying to convince people who make home made noodles that they want my duck eggs for that. Oh well, I loved this thread, but had to add.

 

[Donna Raybon]

Well, my family has eaten a world of Khaki Campbell eggs and never knew the difference from chicken eggs. That includes my parents, especially my mom who flat out said she would NEVER eat a duck egg!! Well, she's eaten them for years, now. LOL and still doesn't know them from chicken eggs.

Getting people to try them is usually a matter of giving them a few along with their regular purchase of the chicken eggs. Probably need Martha to do a couple of cooking segments on using them and EVERYONE would want them.

We use both the Muscovy and the Khaki. Biggest thing is to promptly gather them, wipe them off if dirty and get them into the frig. Usually the Muscovy are very clean if they are given some where to nest. I use dog houses with either hay or red cedar shavings. With the Khaki, it's a bit harder to keep eggs clean, but can be done.

Next spring I want to get some of the Dutch Hook Bills that lay blue eggs!! I think that would be a neat looking carton of eggs!

Like any animal, what it eats, it's health, environment, etc... will have a great influence on level of production and quality. My ducks free range, have lots of clean water, and eat a good balanced ration.
Donna
Dandridge, TN USA

 

[Blondiega1]

The biggest thing is to get people past their "mental" issues of them being duck eggs.
Everyone is "trained" to chicken eggs.
Once you free your mind, you'll realize how delicious they are!!

 

[Amiga]

The biggest thing is to get people past their "mental" issues

I agree with your post, and Donna's. . . . wanted to share that this ^ is what I saw on the preview on the main page, and I thought, "indeed, you are right."

 

[new2ducks]

I agree about what they eat. I got scared when we first got our khaki because she was given to us by someone who said their chickens were beating up on her and not letting her eat. When I got her first egg I was so excited and it tasted like dirt and even the smell when I cooked it was strong...I thought "what did I get into by getting ducks" but now that she is eating good and loving her peas her eggs are just fine! I think she was eating dirt to survive when she was with those chickens! When I first got her the poor thing was just scrounging around even though she had food and she didn't even eat peas at that time! Now she's kind of like my little queen among the ducks!!! She hears me say peas and she's the first one there! She won't eat out of my hand so I always make sure she has an area where the peas are just for her.

 

[new2ducks]

ohhhh never thought of the noodles! yum! I'm an original Buckeye so it's nice to see one on here! I found that my dog just loves the eggs so if you have any dogs or friends that have them you can suggest them scrambling an egg on the food.