Balut/Hot Vit Long/Fertile Duck Eggs

[protodon]

I'm not sure where to post this since it hits on a few topics but seems to have a lot to do with incubating but has anyone tried to make balut/hot vit long/fertile duck eggs in theri incubator to sell? I have some asian customers that buy quail and duck eggs from me on a fairly regularly basis and was thinking of maybe adding these fertile duck eggs as a value added product. For anyone that is not familiar with what balut, they are fertile duck eggs that are incubated for about 18 days then the egg is boiled and eaten like a hard boiled egg. It may sound cruel and it probably is but a large chunk of the easter hemisphere eats it on a daily basis. I was just wondering if it was feasible for a just any old person to do. I think my main problem is with my incubator sometimes I get early hatches and sometimes I get late hatches, it's just a foam little giant incubator and I'm not sure how being a few days aoof would affect the end product.

 

[mythkat]

Metzer Hatchery sells balut. This should give an idea how much to sell them for.

http://www.metzerfarms.com/

 

[canada-goose]

I think I must be a wimp. That sounds kind of gross.

 

[rufus]

Some people understand this, and others don't. I am afraid you might run up against some officious health inspector that will give you grief. It all depends upon the area you are in.

Good Luck,

Rufus

 

[toredano]

They are not raw.. so I dont see why they would be concerned.
I mean they are sold raw( unless you boil em before you sell em.) but maybe make sure they know that they are not to be consumed raw.
If it was me.. I would have them sign a waiver beforehand knowing the involved risks.

I eat about anything.. but that is just.. ewhhh.. Beaks and feathers... ack..

 

[protodon]

Well if I went down this path I would be selling them to people that know what they are and what to do with them. I don't think there would be any problems with laws since you are essentially selling eggs, fertile eggs, but all my eggs are fertile anyway. In my state you don't need a license to sell eggs unless you sell over some really large amount that I will never meet.

I think my main question though was if using a small incubator to get this eggs to the right age, would be a good idea. I'm not about to go out and buy a cabinet incubator though. I assume they are better for some reason, I don't know much about them.

 

[SallyF]

I've heard of balut. My son lives in Augusta GA and apparently there is at least one oriental market there that sells them. My DIL lived in the Philippines and apparently it is a delicacy there. If you have any ethnic groceries around you might ask there about any suppliers, regulations, etc. Re: palatability? Having studied nutrition, I always tell folks that there is hardly a crittter on this earth that some culture, somewhere, doesn't use for food. And that includes the insects of the world!