Duck Eggs??? HELP!!

[BarneyChick97]

Could someone please give me some info on what to do with duck eggs? I found our first 2 today. We've got a Rouen hen, and a Pekin drake. So I don't know if they are fertilized or not. I don't really want MORE ducks, but I do value life, so I don't want to destroy it if it's fertile. I don't really want to eat duck eggs either, but I heard they are good to bake with. If I don't see anything fertilized by candling them, can you still use them to cook with? How long can they be at room temp? (like chicken eggs??) How am I going to know if they are safe to eat----saying that they aren't fertilized and I'm brave enough to try?? I'd appreciate any info!

Also, does this explain why our drake is so dog gone nasty aggressive?? He'll literally come charging from way across the yard to nip you. If this has happened to any of you, has it gotten better??

 

[ducksinarow]

Your drake is just protecting his girls. Just remember he is a duck. He does not have teeth or a beak just a bill and cannot really hurt you. It is all show. Your eggs are perfectly fine to eat. Not eating them would be a waste. My eggs are fertile and we eat them all the time. I cannot tell the difference. The eggs do not begin developing until the hen starts sitting. If you don't want more ducklings just keep taking the eggs.

 

[BarneyChick97]

Well, then this may be a dumb question: If I don't care if they are fertilized or not, and still want to cook them; can they sit on the counter a few days like chicken eggs can? Or should I refrigerate them immediately? How long can you keep an egg? I found 2 today, and I'm pretty sure that one was laid at least yesterday. Is that okay? My horror would be cracking an egg and finding something....but I guess I'd have to wait pretty long??

Any and all info is appreciated.

Our drake just freaks my kids out. They don't want to hurt him, but don't want to play in the backyard if they are being chased by him. He's almost better than a guard dog. He just needs to stop guarding us!

 

[NajmoNests]

I cook& fed back frozen or extra eggs to poultry, cats and dogs. You will not find signs of fertilization until hen has started sitting on them. You are not going to find an embrio. It is cold here so I regularily cook up frozen eggs. Good luck with your ducks.

 

[ducksinarow]

We do let our eggs sit on the cabinet in the kitchen although I would prefer they be washed and put in the frig. I understand the kids being afraid. I had a border collie puppy when my kids were 3 and she kept them herded in a tight circle afraid to go anywhere. She was just a tiny little fluff ball. A drake can be intimidating. You could float the egg to see if it was bad ( floats-bad, sinks-good). I would hate to find anything in my eggs also. I try to snatch them up before they have time to sit on them.

 

[BarneyChick97]

I am in Washington state, so it's fairly mild. It's been in the 40's-50's lately. The eggs were dirty, and I rinsed them well, like I do to our chicken eggs. I dont refrigerate the chicken eggs---I haven't really needed to, we go through them often. They sit on the counter in an egg carton.
So I guess I'll be keeping them in the fridge, and snagging them up immediately.

Has anyone had a pekin and rouen successfully make ducklings?

 

[Tivona]

Yes they can be crossed. There are several threads on them here on BYC. Try typing in the search bar above:

pekin rouen cross

 

[BrightEyes]

Hi,
I just went through the same dilemma. I am a vegetarian and only eat unfertilized eggs from the store--and only cage free Country Hen brand eggs because I want cruelty free eggs. My mallards mate all the time, so now I have what are probably fertile eggs. I am very pro-life and believe that life begins at conception. I believe in fighting for animal life and valuing it. I just amputated my 16 year old dog and had him a doggy ICU for days rather than euthanizing him, and he is now doing great! I also refused to put down two of my mallards, one that was disabled and eventually died on its own, and one that is now swimming and flying in defiance of the first vet's prognosis. However, I do believe that God has given human beings dominion over animals. This means we are in charge, but it also means we should govern them well, and with care, no cruelty. We are therefore permitted to take the life of an animal, when we do so in a God-like way. On the other hand, we are not permtted to make decisions about the lives and deaths of our fellow human beings, becaust it is God who is in charge of human life. So I am morally justified in ending the life of an baby duck embryo by not allowing the eggs to be incubaed by their mother, whereas I am not biblically justified in committing abortion. I find the mandates for human and animal care in the Bible, especially in the book of Genesis. The Bible portrays a world that started out with human beings and animals in apparent harmony and vegetarianism. As a result of sin, the first animals were sacrificed, but God still did not give the animals to us for food. It was after the flood that he said he was giving us animals as He had given us vegeetables. But there are still reminders through the scriptures about treating animals well. There are also verses that remind us that human beins are more valuable than animals. Jesus and the prophets ate meat. But, as I said, the Bible talks about caring for animals. When Jesus returns, and he new Heaven and new Earth reign, there will be no more death or pain, and the lion shall lay with the lamb.I believe this indicates an end to animal suffering and death. I can give you all the Bible references if you would like to see them. Here is one I really like: Proverbs 12:10 says "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel." I love that even in eating meat we are to have regard for the life of our anmals. I also love what Temple Grandin the charachter says in the movie about her actual life. She expresses in the movie that she would rather be butchered than eaten by a lion, but that as human beings we should humanely care for the cattle and then butcher them humanely. My call is to value the life of animals and to treat them as God treats me, with protection, care, and concern. However, I am in charge of them and can make the call as to whether ducklings are best. Right now, ducklings are not best for my flock. Now, I did not feel 12 ducks were right for me, either, but God allowed me to become their caregiver, and provided unlimited resources when I felt my resources were limited. And so I cared for them. Since I can in good conscience pick up their eggs, however, and feel He has given me the freedome to do so, I do. I hope to start using them as food for someone or some creature, but I have thrown some out. Hope that helps!

 

[BarneyChick97]

Well, it's been a while, and I've been able to talk to a few other people who have ducks, and have read all your informative opinions

. My drake is still as nasty-mean as he was in the beginning, and I'm still getting eggs. So to have some mercy on my poor hen (because she had NO neck feathers left!), I've separated my ducks. They take turns half way through the day, one is out in the yard free ranging with turkeys and chickens, while the other is in their coop with feed and water! Now there is no question to if I have fertilized eggs. (my husband can't handle the "not knowing" AT ALL!) Even though every egg I had before, looked just like any other egg! (I was taking them immediately) My dogs sure loved eating the eggs scrambled. I can't throw stuff out, and I don't want ducklings running all over. So anyway, there is the solution to my pickle!