Cracked Eggs in Cold Weather

[vtscapeartist]

Does anyone have a solution to keeping duck eggs from cracking when it's real cold? I try to retrieve them often enough that they are not exposed to the cold too long, but seem to keep having the issue no matter how long they've been out there in the cold.
My ducks are housed in with chickens and their coop has a deep litter layer. The ducks of course lay on the ground in the coop while the chickens head up to the nest boxes to lay. I only provide supplemental heat with a heat lamp when the temps dip into the teens below zero and my whole flock is very nicely acclimated to the cold all other times...I think I just turn that lamp on because it makes me feel better, it might not be necessary. This is my first winter with Cayuga, Khaki Campbell and Blue Swede ducks...any advice is appreciated on the cracking egg dilemma. I am raising them for the eggs to eat, not to breed at this point. We don't eat any of the cracked eggs, I cook them up and feed them crushed shell and all back to the ducks and chickens so they are not wasted, but we sure would prefer eating them!

 

[Dancinbaer]

This was our first winter with ducks and I feel your pain. We're in Northeast Wisconsin and had a record breaking winter. I found that timing was key. I used to check for eggs when I got home from work around 5 PM. As you, I always found the eggs froze and cracked. Then I started going out in the morning before work around 7 AM. Sure enough, FRESH eggs. A couple times they were even still a little warm.

I like your idea of cooking the cracked and feeding them back. Seems a little cannibalistic. But I remember reading it's a good source of protein for laying females.

 

[Going Quackers]

Timing is your key if you can pinpoint time of lay in abouts that is all you can do, i lost 2 chicken eggs yesterday.. the weather is terrible, sadly it just happens and is part of the joys of living in cold climates.

 

[vtscapeartist]

Timing is your key if you can pinpoint time of lay in abouts that is all you can do, i lost 2 chicken eggs yesterday.. the weather is terrible, sadly it just happens and is part of the joys of living in cold climates.


Thanks for your reminder of the joy of living in a cold climate...trade offs for sure but you couldn't drag me south. I just have to muster up the energy to check a few more times during the day, it's just difficult to pinpoint what time of day they're laying. Luck of the draw...

 

[vtscapeartist]

This was our first winter with ducks and I feel your pain. We're in Northeast Wisconsin and had a record breaking winter. I found that timing was key. I used to check for eggs when I got home from work around 5 PM. As you, I always found the eggs froze and cracked. Then I started going out in the morning before work around 7 AM. Sure enough, FRESH eggs. A couple times they were even still a little warm.

I like your idea of cooking the cracked and feeding them back. Seems a little cannibalistic. But I remember reading it's a good source of protein for laying females.

Thanks for your reply...Re the cannibalistic issue...I know it's a bit creepy but can't beat the protein and calcium load. I have to remind myself that their idea of a great meal is a heap of wriggling maggots or slugs. All in the eye of the beholder. I just will not waste anything...we have an amazing cycle of nutrient flow that keeps returning a bounty to us.
And how can you beat the joy from watching them go bonkers when they get a special treat?
So you mention this is your first winter with ducks...I find the water issue in winter to be a struggle which is just so much easier to manage with just chickens who don't play and bathe in the water! But I LOVE my ducks, so they make it worthwhile...by March it's getting a bit old but still adore them and their endearing aqua-batics.