May 22, 2008


Posted by Anais Dervaes

Our fellow farmsteaders in South Pasadena have loads of duck eggs courtesy of their flock of over a dozen ducks. Jordanne takes full responsibility for turning them into urban quackers a couple years back when they dropped by our urban homestead one afternoon right after our first batch of baby ducks arrived back in 2003. The rest is duck-story!

The other day they dropped off a couple dozen figuring we have more contacts. So readers, if you are in the area and are interested in purchasing duck eggs contact us.

Of course, we fields lots of questions about using duck eggs. Here's what Jordanne has to say on the matter:

In our baking experience here on the urban homestead we find that by using duck eggs our baked goods turn out very moist and fluffy (winning lots of great compliments like "what's in these brownies?").

Duck eggs also have more albumen (the protein in the white) than chicken eggs, which gives them more structure when cooked. For this reason, many people prefer duck eggs for baking: the extra protein creates additional loft in cakes.

Never eaten duck eggs? Duck eggs taste pretty much the same as chicken eggs. The eggs and yolks are larger and they have a richer nutrient level. They have a longer shelf life because the shells are thicker.
Many of those allergic to chicken eggs can often use duck eggs instead. Of course, if you have severe egg allergies, we suggest you consult your physician before using duck eggs.

Cooking with duck eggs doesn't call for a major revision in technique. But there are differences: the yolks of duck eggs have more fat and the whites more protein than those of chicken eggs, and you need to take these differences into account when cooking. When fried, duck eggs set up firmer than chicken eggs (especially if they are very fresh) so you want to watch them carefully to avoid overcooking. Hard-cooked duck eggs are just like hard-cooked chicken eggs, only a bit richer. Because of the extra protein in the white, it is especially important not to overcook them. When beating eggwhites from duck eggs, it takes a bit more work to break the gel. As soon as they are frothy, however, they beat up fairly easily.


HEALTH BENEFITS: Besides being great to bake with duck eggs are sought by cancer patients. Apparently, duck eggs are alkaline (basic), chicken eggs are acidic. Cancer cells don’t thrive in a basic environment, so some cancer patients adjust their body’s environment by eating alkaline foods like duck eggs. “

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12 Comments: "DUCK EGGS" »

  1. What can you tell us about the production ratio of ducks vs. chickens? For instance, I had thought that chickens laid about 1 egg/day, while ducks laid only twice a year.

    What would be the most productive, if you could only have two animals?

  2. Hello Diana

    Our backyard breed of ducks (Khaki Campbell) are a hertiage variety breed exclusively for laying eggs. This English breed of ducks have a record of laying over 350 eggs a year!

    Check out http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2007/09/06/143/

    As for you quesiton chicken vs ducks. One of the benefits of ducks is that the KC ducks never go broody; however, ducks are messy in that their waste is "wet" so you have to manage their housing a bit different than chickens. Also, female ducks are relatively quiet - unlike chickens who like to let everyone know they've laid an egg. There's benefita and disadvantages to both so it's up to you.

  3. Trying not to get too excited yet as it hasn't been totally confirmed but I may be getting an unsexed pair of muscovy ducks early next week.

    The pic I was shown it seems they haven't feathered out yet , so probably less than 3 weeks old, and we are having reasonably cold overnight temps so I think they are probably going to be inside for a few weeks after they arrive.

    Any thoughts that it would be useful to know as a first time duck owner?

    Kind Regards

  4. That's really good information! We have some Khaki's (and a Harlequin). They're just young things now but I'm excited about getting duck eggs later in the summer.

  5. We bought two white domestic (?) ducks last Easter and today we discovered 12 eggs in the pasture. I am looking for any information now, such as can we collect and eat these eggs? If I keep collecting them like the chicken eggs, will she continue to lay?

  6. I have a "rescue" duck (male White Pekin) and a 5 month old female Indian Runner. This morning, I realized that the female had a nest with several eggs. I'm in the city now, but I had a small farm for 11 years and used to raise ducks primarilly for meat. I never liked the eggs, which tasted fishy to me, but I'm willing to try them again. I have used them for baking before, and they are good. These ducks are pets and we get a lot of enjoyment watching them.

  7. Hi, I got my 4 rouen ducks on easter when they were 1 week old. I was wondering what month it will be when they lay eggs


  8. My question is, if we have duck eggs, and we did them the phillipine way, which the eggs be digged in underground preferbely under sand, for about a week,then boiled,at that stage,they're hard inside, it is eatable,but not that great, however, one of the benfits of that, will make one egg, equals two viagra bills!
    is that really true?

  9. Never had duck eggs.Grew up on a Maine potato farm, had cows, grew vegetables for farm stand sales.

  10. Could you please tell me the type of duck in the photo at the top of this article?

  11. It was mentioned that cancer patients eat duck eggs because they are alkaline. What about the fat content? Dr. Gerson said cancer would start to grow again after fats were given to patients. He said the only fat to use is flax seed oil. Following is an interesting interview of Charlotte Gerson, his daughter, telling how he developed his therapy.


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