Straight Run and Eggs

[TaraontheCoast]

My plans to get some Welsh Harlequin drake babies this weekend fell through

A bummer, because I know they can be sexed at birth and I really have no need for females.

I'll be getting my ducklings from one of two organic/free range farms in the US, and I'm pretty sure they'll just be sending me a straight run.

I'm a vegan, thus have no need for eggs. I'm only getting the ducks for pets/garden pest control.

My very naive question is this: If I end up with a hen and a drake (or two, or vice versa), can fertilized eggs still be eaten? I'd share duck eggs w/coworkers and friends if I ended up with some. I don't want to hatch/try and sell any ducklings from any eggs, and I'd prefer not to separate the ducks to keep them from mating.

Advice?

 

[KellyHM]

Yes, everyone (just about) on this forum eats fertilized eggs. They're no different as long as you haven't started incubating them.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

Yes, fertilized eggs can be eaten and there is no difference in taste.

 

[TaraontheCoast]

Ok great, thanks so much! While I'd prefer not to have the eggs, the ducks will just be doing what comes naturally to them and I can share my small bounty with coworkers.

 

[KellyHM]

You'll probably be happier if you end up with a pair anyways. If you have all boys they'll just pick at each other and fight b/c they don't have any girls to court.

 

[TaraontheCoast]

Hm, I never thought about the boys bickering...Is that a genuine concern?

I'm just having a bit of angst (which may seem ridiculous if you're not a vegan) over fertilized duck eggs. I personally choose to eat/participate in the world as not harming animals, so it seems awful to pass along eggs for people to eat that contain the beginnings of a baby duck.

 

[maralynn28]

Ok, I was wondering the same thing so thanks for asking! I have a sneaky suspicion that one of my WH is actually drake although I ordered them sexed.
I know it is ok to eat fertilized egg, I even have some friends who love balut but I think I might have problem with it.
But just curious...
When the fertilized egg is laid and cracked, does it look different or anything? I was vegetarian until 19 yrs old and although I now love meat of all types, I still have issues with handling raw food or my food "seeing" me.

(my hubby still thinks I'm very entertaining to watch when peeling/ eating crawfish).

I'm trying to get over it. lol

 

[maralynn28]

Quote:
I know what you mean...I used to be vegetarian and now have no issue eating unfertilized eggs but that thought also makes me sad.


Good luck!

 

[TaraontheCoast]

Yea, I suppose I could get 2-3 (I think I want 3, just in case something were to happen to one) girls versus boys. And I'm not sure if it would bother me to feed them their own eggs...the idea of that surprisingly makes me less squeamish then passing them along to people or even feeding them to my dogs.

 

[Bink]

I am expecting a Straight run Whelsh harlaquins from Holdereads in the next couple of weeks I May have some males available if you live any where near Stratford CT I just have to check with my other half make sure they are not commited to others