Even though our classic breakfast eggs are almost always chicken eggs, you can also eat duck eggs. But how do duck eggs taste and how many eggs do ducks lay?
Duck eggs can be eaten and processed just like chicken eggs. Compared to chicken eggs, duck eggs taste creamier and more intensely “eggy”. Duck eggs are on average larger than chicken eggs and ducks also lay eggs in winter.
Contents
Comparison between duck and chicken eggs: taste, nutrients, egg colors…
| Duck eggs | Chicken eggs | |
| Taste | creamier, more intense “egg” taste than chicken eggs | milder than duck eggs |
| Size and weight | 2 to 2,6 oz (60 to 75g) L to XL eggs larger yolk | on average 1,7 to 2 oz (50 to 60g) |
| Egg color | white, gray, green-blue | red, brown, white, speckled, green-blue, green, black… |
| Laying capacity per year | e.g. Campbell ducks 340 eggs per year | e.g. Leghorn up to 300 eggs per year |
| Nutrients | higher protein and fat content, more omega-3 fatty acids than chicken eggs | smaller yolk than duck eggs |
Can you eat duck eggs?
Yes, you can eat and process duck eggs just like regular chicken eggs. You can use them cooked as breakfast eggs, scrambled eggs or for baking.
How many eggs do ducks lay?
Depending on the duck breed, their egg production can vary greatly; Indian runner ducks, for example, lay an egg about every day, much like chickens. Campbell ducks are known to lay an especially large number of eggs.
Most duck species also lay year-round and don’t have a dip in laying performance in the winter, as many chicken breeds do.
Another difference is that ducks remain longer in their highly productive phase. Chickens lay most of their eggs within 1 to 2 years, after which egg production declines. For ducks, this period is more like 4 to 5 years.
One of the best breeds of ducks for egg production are Campbell ducks, they can lay up to 340 eggs a year and are a very hardy duck breed.
Other duck breeds with good egg production include:
- Ancona ducks
- Indian Runner ducks
- Saxony ducks
- Orpington duck
- Magpie ducks
- American Pekin ducks
- Cayuga ducks
- Muscovy duck
Which colors have duck eggs?
Duck eggs come in 3 different colors: white, gray and blue-green. Unlike chickens, where the breed determines the egg color, this link is not as strong in ducks. So it can happen that in a group of Pekin ducks there are also some ducks that lay eggs of different colors. A duck always lays the same egg color throughout its life, differing only in nuances.
Ducks breeds that lay mostly white eggs:
- Pekin ducks
- Saxony ducks
- Silver Appleyard ducks
Ducks breeds that lay mostly gray or black-gray eggs:
- Cayuga ducks
Ducks breeds that lay mostly blue-green eggs:
- Indian Runner ducks
- Mallards
- Ancona ducks
- Magpie ducks
What do duck eggs taste like?
Compared to chicken eggs, duck eggs taste more intensely of egg and are creamier due to the higher fat content.
More questions about keeping ducks:
How much do ducks cost?
Ducks cost an average of 20 to 35 dollars per duck, with drakes being more expensive than hens. You can often buy an Indian runner duck for around 10 dollars. Ducklings can often be bought at 4 to 7 dollars per duckling.
How to determine the sex of ducks?
Female (hens) and male ducks (drake), can be easily identified in most duck breeds due to their different plumage colors.
Can you keep ducks without a pond?
Ducks don’t urgently need a pond, but they always need access to water where they can swim and clean their feathers. A large pool, for example, can serve as a substitute.
Can ducks eat bread?
Even though you commonly see wild ducks being fed bread in parks, it is not a healthy food for them. The bread may satiate them, but it doesn’t contain many other nutrients that ducks need. Also, bread often contains lots of sugar and salt, which is not healthy for ducks.
Can chickens and ducks live together?
Chickens and ducks can usually be kept together without problems, but they should be housed in separate pens and require different feed. Here is a whole article about how you can keep a mixed flock of ducks and chickens.
How long do ducks live?
Mallards usually live 5 to 10 years, but ducks can live up to 20 years if well cared for.
What do you need for a duck coop?
A duck house should be as spacious as possible, well ventilated and well lit (preferably with daylight).
In addition, the following things should not be missing in a duck house:
- Feed and water troughs
- Bedding e.g. straw or hay
- some nesting boxes
Size of the duck coop:
- 3 to 5 square feet per duck
How much space do ducks need?
Ducks need comparatively much space, as a rule of thumb you can calculate with 15 to 20 square feet per duck. Indian runner ducks should have more space, because they love to move and explore.
How can you tame your ducks?
To gain the trust of your ducks, you need a bit of patience, depending on the breed. It’s best to stay as quiet as possible around them so they don’t get spooked, and entice them with their favorite food. Over time, they will trust you more and more and seek your company.
Are ducks noisy?
Ducks are very communicative and quack at every opportunity. How loud they are depends on the duck breed and gender. Drakes (male ducks) are much quieter than females. Call Ducks are known to be one of the loudest duck breeds, whereas muscovy ducks are considered one of the quietest.
