Uh oh, drake

[Ducketts]

So odd situation. I get my ducks from straight rubs and I ended up getting a drake in my last batch. I prominently have ducks for eggs for myself, and I give the spare eggs to friends and co workers. Now that I have a drake in the flock, are the eggs going to be fertilized? And if so , what is the best way to not eat or give away fertilized ones? My drake is a sweetheart and I'd prefer not to get rid of him.

Thank you

 

[Stravager]

The drake will mate with the hens as he matures, so yes, the eggs will eventually be fertilized. You can eat fertilized eggs just fine - the need to be incubated to be viable. If you want to avoid any eggs that look like they have an embryo forming you can just candle them and check before you eat them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

As long as you collect daily nothing wrong with eating fertile eggs, we eat them many on here do.

 

[Ducketts]

So if I don't incubate them, how long can they go before they can not be eaten? Does it shorten the shelf life of the egg?

 

[Jenbirdee]

collect and refrigerate the eggs
I dont think it shortens their shelf life at all ..but Im not 100000% certain //?

 

[Ducketts]

Okay, that is what I do daily as it stands. I'm glad to hear it won't change too much of the current routine. Thank you all!