What do duck eggs look like in comparison to chicken eggs?

[FirstLady]

Hello everyone,

What is the main difference between duck eggs and chicken eggs? I have two mallard ducks and they havent started laying yet but I am curious what their eggs will look like. Does anyone have pictures? Also does anyone notice a difference in taste and size? Thanks!

 

[mattdog1995]

One thing you should probably already know is that they dont lay the same as a chicken. Ducks lay a clutch in the spring and thats it. They are very protective and i personally dont see the need in eating them. They only get a clutch a year so dont ruin it.

. Im thinkin the eggs will probably be white or speckled white. depends on if its considered a "wild" mallard. Probably about twice the size of a chicken egg.

 

[lishah2000]

My mallards lay really light green/blue color eggs. But I'm not positive they are pure mallard. Not very big, but they feel different than chicken eggs. Almost waxy feeling to me.

 

[Denninmi]

Here's a photo of the egg harvest of a couple of days ago. The darker brown ones are Isa Red and Rhode Island Red hen's eggs. The light colored, speckled ones towards the lower right are turkey eggs. The green ones are Rouen duck eggs:

PS -- the dark brown, speckled one at the top of the photo is just a chicken egg with some calcium spots/speckles on it -- I guess that girl was just having an off day that day, it happens.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Huh. I have a Cayuga pair, and the hasn't demonstrated "seasonal" laying. She laid an egg every day for quite some time, with just a couple days break. Then she didn't lay for a couple weeks. Now she's laying again - and she first started last summer.

I do eat duck eggs. If she only laid a clutch in the Spring, I would feel different about it, perhaps. But I've had duck eggs all winter.

They are much larger, taste more "rich" and they are wonderful in baking, making cakes and baked good very fluffy.

 

[FirstLady]

Thanks for the responses. Do all ducks lay clutches? Also, I have one male mallard and one female mallard.. i guess it will be possible to have baby ducklings however I heard that the ducks will stay monogamous for one season and then after that they part. Will this be a problem if they are the only two ducks? Will they only mate once and then ignore each other?

 

[gryeyes]

I cannot remark about mallards. So maybe I should post... but I just can't help myself, sorry!

My Cayuga pair are a couple. She doesn't lay clutches, just lays her egg any old place and walks away. Thelma and Louie love each other very much. She's always flirting with him to get him ... uhh.... going....

They range freely together, tend to sleep fairly close to each other in various grass tufts, and often swim in the kiddie pool together.

 

[FirstLady]

I would love to know more about their egg laying patterns and if they will be okay if they are the only two ducks in the coop. Feel free to post more. All of this information is helping a lot! Thanks.

 

[lishah2000]

My mallards do tend to try and lay a clutch, wanting to hatch them. If they get a bunch collected they will try and set. But if the eggs are taken they keep laying for a long time. I had one set and hatch and she was a great mom. Totally free-range and she didn't lose any.

The pekin seem to just drop them where ever they happen to be at the time. They seem to lay a lot of eggs and have no interest in them.

 

[TomG]

Quote:
Awww, very sweet! Makes me want ducks....which I can't have. Someday soon I hope.