Questions about duck eggs

[HollyNoelle]

Okay, I’m new to ducks eggs.. or just eggs in general. Whenever I research stuff, I barely find discussions about duck eggs, it’s always about chickens. Also everyone does everything different so the information is really all over the place. So my questions are:

1. I made deviled eggs the other day and when I was peeling the eggs I noticed a duck poop kind of scent. Is that normal?

2. Can the egg flavor reflect their diet? I don’t know if I’m saying that right but can their diet change the egg flavor? My ducks pretty much free range and I sometimes give them veggie snacks. My husband gives them scratch grains. Is there something we could change in their diet to improve eggs?

3. The most confusing questions of them all..What is the best way to go about storing eggs? Do you wash them right away and put them in the fridge? Do you not wash them right away and leave them out? Do you wash them and leave them out?

 

[Bridger Davis]

Okay, I’m new to ducks eggs.. or just eggs in general. Whenever I research stuff, I barely find discussions about duck eggs, it’s always about chickens. Also everyone does everything different so the information is really all over the place. So my questions are:

1. I made deviled eggs the other day and when I was peeling the eggs I noticed a duck poop kind of scent. Is that normal?

2. Can the egg flavor reflect their diet? I don’t know if I’m saying that right but can their diet change the egg flavor? My ducks pretty much free range and I sometimes give them veggie snacks. My husband gives them scratch grains. Is there something we could change in their diet to improve eggs?

3. The most confusing questions of them all..What is the best way to go about storing eggs? Do you wash them right away and put them in the fridge? Do you not wash them right away and leave them out? Do you wash them and leave them out?

I'll answer question 2. The diet of the duck will most definitely be reflected in the flavor of the egg. Ducks that are free range should have excellent flavoured eggs. What do you give your ducks for treats btw? That could also impact flavor. Another thing, you can give ducks marigold flowers to make their yolks yellower. So did you not like the taste of the duck eggs or something? They are richer than chicken eggs....

 

[Jpat]

i always find fresh boiled eggs smell like farts but i never notice the duck eggs worse than chicken eggs

treats are nice and keeps them coming to you and liking you!


If theres a chunk of poop on it i wash that off with wet paper towel, But only wash the area. And i store at room temperature away from direct sunlight. No ones going to be impressed with poopy eggs

My poor understanding is the egg is hatched with delicate layer that keeps the egg protected from oxygen and backteria and washing them takes the layer off.

I date all mine and if iam using 5 today i scrub 5 eggs with wet paper towel and use them the same day

 

[HollyNoelle]

I'll answer question 2. The diet of the duck will most definitely be reflected in the flavor of the egg. Ducks that are free range should have excellent flavoured eggs. What do you give your ducks for treats btw? That could also impact flavor. Another thing, you can give ducks marigold flowers to make their yolks yellower. So did you not like the taste of the duck eggs or something? They are richer than chicken eggs....

I’ll give them meal worms, for veggie snacks I give them steamed veggies such a peas, sometimes we bring minnows home and put that in their pond. I like duck eggs scrambled and over easy. But the hard boiled egg just had this odor that resembled their poop. That didn’t make it very appetizing. However once I made the yolk mix, the smell kind of went away.

 

[Tannerpauldean]

I wash my eggs that I eat or give away and put them in the fridge. Sometimes I will put a little olive oil on them after washing. I have heard that helps to seal the pores and somewhat replaces the bloom, but I do not have any evidence of that.
For eggs that I use for hatching, I do not wash them at all. I keep those at room temperature.

Basically, eggs come with their own coating that protects them from bacteria, called the bloom. Washing the eggs will remove that coating, which means they have to be refrigerated after that, unless you plan on using them in the next couple days.

 

[HollyNoelle]

i always find fresh boiled eggs smell like farts but i never notice the duck eggs worse than chicken eggs

treats are nice and keeps them coming to you and liking you!


If theres a chunk of poop on it i wash that off with wet paper towel, But only wash the area. And i store at room temperature away from direct sunlight. No ones going to be impressed with poopy eggs

My poor understanding is the egg is hatched with delicate layer that keeps the egg protected from oxygen and backteria and washing them takes the layer off.

I date all mine and if iam using 5 today i scrub 5 eggs with wet paper towel and use them the same day

Thanks for the tip!! I’m kind of glad someone else seems a farty poopy stink as well

 

[Bridger Davis]

I’ll give them meal worms, for veggie snacks I give them steamed veggies such a peas, sometimes we bring minnows home and put that in their pond. I like duck eggs scrambled and over easy. But the hard boiled egg just had this odor that resembled their poop. That didn’t make it very appetizing. However once I made the yolk mix, the smell kind of went away.

Ok. That's all great! Just use the minnows in moderation because those fish can taint the eggs and give them a fish flavor too.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Just to give you a range of choices, unless extremely dirty, I wipe any crud off with a dry paper towel and place in the fridge. I wash before cracking if needed. They keep a very long time if you leave the bloom on. I learned this before my ducks when I lived in the UK. I was curious as to why eggs in the supermarket there were just on the shelf and not refrigerated. In the US eggs are washed before going to market, hence you find them cold. So if you wash first, in the fridge they go. Unwashed can be cold or countertop to your preference.

 

[Jpat]

Just to give you a range of choices, unless extremely dirty, I wipe any crud off with a dry paper towel and place in the fridge. I wash before cracking if needed. They keep a very long time if you leave the bloom on. I learned this before my ducks when I lived in the UK. I was curious as to why eggs in the supermarket there were just on the shelf and not refrigerated. In the US eggs are washed before going to market, hence you find them cold. So if you wash first, in the fridge they go. Unwashed can be cold or countertop to your preference.

Everything here is so sterile and pasturized. Suck the life right out of everything

 

[Loopeend]

3. Washing them keeps them fresh shorter. You are also washing the protective layer on it away making it more porous. Washed eggs needs to be in the fridge due to this reason.

Non-washed can last longer and can be stored outside of the fridge. You can also put them in the fridge anyway to éven last longer (I think mine last 3 months with this method).

I let it depend on the egg; laid in mud or poo; washed and in fridge.
Clean dry eggs outside the fridge.

In moments like now where they lay less eggs; none get washed or in the fridge because they will be eaten in max 2 days. So it also depends on the amount of eggs and how much and fast you eat them

Both I wash again right before use. To clean them for extra safety; but also to see how fresh they are. When the lie on the botton of a pan filled with water; they are fresh, hard to peel, and excellent for fried eggs or using in baking stuff or meatballs.
When they stand up but still touch the botton of the pan; they are a bit older, still edible, more easy to peel for cooked egges
Not touching the bottom of the pan at all (floating); not edible.