What to do with duck eggs

[GooseHerder]

I have two female pekins about 6 months old. One of them started laying. I noticed that she started burying her eggs in a nest she made in the coop. The other day I found nine eggs that she had buried. None of the eggs are fertilized. What should I do with the eggs? Should I collect the eggs or should I let her just sit? The eggs are only about a week old

 

[sourland]

I would be tempted to mark 2 or 3 as 'nest eggs' and then collect the fresh eggs daily for eating.

 

[Duckworth]

Duck eggs are good to eat and especially to bake with. Some people who are allergic to chicken eggs can eat duck eggs with no problems.

 

[gal5150]

I collect daily. If they aren't fertile, and/or you don't want ducklings, no need to leave them and risk one of them going broody for no reason. Going broody is pretty hard on their body, no need to have them go through that if you can avoid it.

 

[chickens really]

Collect all the eggs and destroy the nest....I would not eat those eggs...Start collecting daily...

 

[rebrascora]

I can't imagine why you would destroy the nest or not eat the eggs.
Have a baking spree.....cakes and quiches. Crack them individually and if any smell bad then bin them, but they will certainly not go off in a week or even a fortnight. If you are overly concerned, just make sure to cook them thoroughly rather than fried or boiled with runny yolks. The duck will hopefully continue to lay in the nest and now you know where to look, you will be able to collect the eggs daily from now on. As others have said, a nest full of eggs may tip her into broody mode and if you have no interest in allowing her to incubate and raise chicks, then don't encourage her by leaving them.

 

[chickens really]

If you don't want a Broody?.....That's why you destroy the nest....She will still lay an egg in another spot but not set them....

 

[lomine]

If a hen really wants to go broody she will, whether you leave one egg, ten eggs, fake eggs, or a golf ball. Destroying the nest won't stop her either. If she is only slightly inclined that's a different story. Just because the eggs were covered doesn't mean she is broody; maybe she just found a spot she liked. I personally would leave the nest so she keeps laying in the same spot but that's because I don't like daily egg hunts.

I say collect the eggs so they don't go bad or get accidentally broken in the nest. Using them is up to you. If the weather hasn't been especially hot they are probably fine. Test them as rebrascora suggested. Collect and use eggs in the future. They are the absolute best for anything with a custard base.

 

[Smschiro]

If you don’t want to eat them, you can poke a hole in each end, blow the insides out, and dye them, add some beads and string, or decorate them any other way. Just a little craft idea. That’s what I am doing with the first egg my ducks lay, as a momento.