All Things Duck Eggs: Basics and Details

Here I cover a lot of the basics and some specific details about duck egg production, fertilization, troubleshooting, storage, etc. Hope this informs or helps. Post questions or thoughts below!
Here is a link to how we've arranged their nesting space now and it's working great!
• Muscovy Duck Nesting B...

[@themojoverse]

A random muscovee showed up at my house during this past winter. Wouldn't leave so we have a pet duck now. All this time we thought it was a male but yesterday I was cleaning the pool and giving it fresh water. Imagine my surprise when I noticed an egg sitting in the box in its cage. Blew my mind!

[@adthegb]

I searched all over youtube and this was honestly the best and most thorough video I've seen yet. Thanks!!

[@gryphc3860]

I love Muscovy.. especially their tail waggling 😍 Great video and information ❤️

[@kamauwikeepa7308]

I only cut flight feathers on one wing, to keep it grounded. The broad feathers insure good cover when sitting.

[@jedi46300]

Dude.... Dude! Absolutely nobody on this platform has explained some of the questions I've had as good as that. Thank you.. I don't know if you're still reading these comments but I do have a question that I was hoping to get answered when I stumbled across this video..... My Pekin yesterday and this morning laid an egg that seems to be quite a bit longer at the narrow end than all of her other eggs. I wouldn't say that their hook or sickle-shaped but just oblong as compared to her other eggs. Is this something to be concerned about?

[@homegronhomestead8640]

Glad it was helpful! In my experience sometimes the shape isn't perfectly egg-like, like you're describing, and can either be a tendency of an individual duck or a temporary trend but I haven't heard of it being a concern unless they're lash eggs or egg bound. Good luck!

[@jedi46300]

@@homegronhomestead8640 I have kind of read that a symptom of a duck getting ready to be egg-bound is very long eggs.. this hasn't gotten to that stage I'm hoping that she has just decided to drop some interesting looking ones lately. Anyway you have no idea how appreciative I am that you replied you've got a new subscriber and bell ringer in me!

[@homegronhomestead8640]

@@jedi46300 haha you're welcome, best of luck!

[@tommymejiaES]

Thank you, my duck just had her first eggs and I was concerned because she is not sitting on them, she just has 4 so let’s wait a few more days.

[@michellehendrick7648]

New to owning ducks. My question is, do you eat the newly fertilized eggs that haven’t been sat on and developed yet? Or how do you determine which eggs to eat vs let develop into ducks?

[@haileysingh8290]

I eat the fertilized eggs all the time! The upcoming spring/summer i will definitely candle (check for an embryo) and raise a few ducklings as well as chicks, as they need to be super warm and it’s much harder to maintain their temperature during the cold months. I have a couple broody hens both ducks and chickens, so they will definitely raise them themselves or I could put them in an incubator to hatch and put under a grow light for them.

[@dianamsipha8306]

Thank you very much ♥️ it's very helpful, may you do another vedio on the hatching part of I've tried twice hatching and nothing with plenty eggs each time 😭

[@clivecchi70]

We have a few ducks, males and females. I regularly find eggs in random places. Other than trying to coax them to a specific places to lay, how can I know if the eggs I do find are still edible? How long can the eggs lay around in nature before they are no longer good to eat?

[@emiloxs.2460]

Hi a duck is around my house and she made a nest in front of my porch. There used to be 20 now it’s down to 3 and looks like something keeps eating them. I want to save the remaining ones, how do I know if they are good??

[@emiloxs.2460]

Also the duck doesn’t seem to care, can I just take them inside and wrap a towel?

[@bilalzafar2912]

shelf life of fertile egg suitable for hatching.? the day duck laid egg to the 1st day she became broody and sat on it. that time period of the egg remain fit from hatching.?

[@OscarMeza-sz4ct]

Wow so cool I have ducks a female and a male but still no eggs !

[@yvonnepotgieter1111]

is it ok for the ducks to lay there eggs in a damp area

[@davidj.mackinney6568]

The yoke to white ratio is much higher than in chickens.

[@bilalzafar2912]

1 video pls on the hacks and tricks to get the duck broody. farmers face this problem because the ducks usually didnt sit on eggs easily like the chickens do

[@laurenlarmanis9230]

How do you know if an egg is fertile?

[@destinydouglas7333]

What makes duck eggs roat before hatching

[@farmerfox3332]

You just got another subscriber

[@keaton10k]

Ty

[@andreamos8670]

Thank you very very much now I know what to do I got a farm is a wooden eggs but we’re

[@parmpayter]

Watching from Philippines new subcriber

[@springteen3743]

My city ponds have many goose eggs around the bank, are they save to eat? These are not farmed goose. Thanks🙏

[@esmeraldaalvarado5997]

I live in apartaments next to a pond and there is a duck that made her nest in one of my plants 🪴 and she's been leaving her eggs are they okay to eat ?

[@maryporter1925]

Wild ducks layed eggs in the yard one by one and leaves. Will the ducks sit on the eggs? How long does it take for them to hatch and leave?

[@homegronhomestead8640]

That's a big maybe! Lots of variables there. If they're comfortable and have access to food/water then yes! Time depends on the species.

[@flowersintheattic128]

My male duck messes with her eggs and sometimes tries to lay on them...strange

[@yergman]

Would you recommend them for backyard egg production? thank you!

[@rubihernandez4781]

How long are unwashed eggs at room temperature good for?

[@homegronhomestead8640]

Depends, always do the float test and smell before cooking :) Usually a few weeks at least!

[@mcaluag]

How long is a duck egg good until you have to throw it away?

[@aiden4382]

i say like 7 days

[@lekis57]

It’s 3 weeks to a month. If in doubt do the water test floating eggs are not good to eat

[@yardlabrado3500]

My Muscovy duck has popped on some of her eggs will they hatch any remedy

[@homegronhomestead8640]

Maybe; it's not great if they are dirty, so it's a maybe...if you can remove the dirty ones that's probably best.

[@UniflixmediaChannel]

Great video!

[@nailsbyerika4688]

Hello, great video very informative. Had a question on when to harvest the eggs. I have a rouen female 🦆 that has already laid about 60 eggs and she has not laid on them. She has a male partner, Pekin not the same breed but read that they can still mate. So I have decided to harvest them instead. I was wondering if it is okay to pick the eggs even though they been in her nest for 2 weeks, she has never laid on them she just lays them and she is out of there. Lol. I don't know much about duck eggs so I am hoping you can help me with my question. Thank you.

[@homegronhomestead8640]

Good question! If she hasn't laid on them then they haven't developed; however, do a float test and if they float in water then they've lost too much moisture to be eaten. If your bird doesn't go broody after ten eggs or so, it may not be the right time. Hope that helps!

[@nailsbyerika4688]

@@homegronhomestead8640 awesome, thank you so much for your help.

[@melleysagibson5013]

I have 6 six and i don't know why them not laying

[@cazsantics525]

If I leave the eggs Where she Lays them Will there be okay as they are starting to get a bit mucky ? One more question roughly what age does a Muscovie duck go broody ?

[@homegronhomestead8640]

It's your call on where you'd like the eggs...we encourage laying in the house because of ease of access for us and to deter predators/scavengers. Usually Muscovies will start to lay at about 6 months old, but usually that means midwinter so they won't lay until the weather warms again. Broody-ness is another conversation, based on number of eggs in the nest.

[@cazsantics525]

Between her eggs and the goose eggs there’s probably 20 eggs in her nest I take all the other types of eggs out so there’s just a goose and her eggs Finally the weather is starting to get nice fingers crossed 🤞 she will go broody soon I am not good at waiting lol

[@TheEigylyte]

My duck pekin started lay eggs in winter december 25th, l cant find eggs since december 30 is it OK is it natural? The place is save, food is evry day is different, l feed her often, whe water is clean, no drake, no stress, l dont know is it natural lay eggs and then stop

[@homegronhomestead8640]

Depends...I don't have experience with that breed, it could easily be the cold. Good luck!

[@Cbuzz1399]

Its also the light cycle. If you provide a light at night to give them anywhere from 12-14 hours of light total for the day, they will lay more consistently

[@leebopbae123]

So how do u know if the eggs are fertile or not because I’m pretty sure I have one female duck and two males but I’m not for sure if they are breeding or not

[@tomwcs8997]

If you have a male there is a very high chance the eggs are fertile.

[@aprilthomas1489]

Months. At least two, three should be fine, longer is possible. Put the egg in water to determine if its bad. if it floats its bad.

[@n00n1n]

That thing look like a mix between a chicken and a duck

[@franciscoolvera3408]

Do males lay eggs?

[@Skrillo7510]

I have one female and 3 males 🤣😭😁

[@TRINTRINNY]

They be fighting over her lol

[@tonyarice2877]

I’d definitely see about getting more males. Drakes do it multiple times a day each and only having one hen there going to wear her out or hurt her, I’d definitely look into it soon.

[@Naneve1970]

A drake needs at least 4 ducks or he will over mate the females.

[@Skrillo7510]

@@Naneve1970 oh okay thanks!:)

[@AdnanFarooq-cr5oo]

Duck is forbidden in your religion

[@krzysztofrudnicki5841]

Religion= stupidity.

[@myfathersdaughter6983]

Stop saying ummmm

[@veeanon7231]

Your ducks look weird lol