[goosepimple]

Have you?  We have a mallard laying in our hen house at the moment, I marked her eggs and have taken a few fresh -  broke one open to put on the dog's tea - the yolk is deep orange - brilliant colour. 


Anyone had them fried / poached / boiled?  Would make an amazing orange sponge cake I think!

[doganjo]

They are just duck eggs.  Can't see them being any different to domestic laying ducks.  Some people are allergic/have a reaction  to duck eggs - i think there was a thread on here last year - but other than that I treat mine the same as hens  eggs.  But they are great for baking.

[Tala Orchard]

As boiled eggs duck eggs are super but you need to boil them for 6 - 7 mins not 3-4 like chicken eggs, as said befor great for baking as they are not acidic like chicken eggs.

[goosepimple]

I know, I know, we are inundated with Muscovy duck eggs every year and use them for baking all the time - they come out almost solid when fresh - like a big jelly fish and they're brilliant poached because they stick together in the water better than a hen's egg.


I'm sure you can eat a Mallard egg - wasn't meaning that, just wondered what it tasted like - suppose I should just boil one up and give it a go!

[robbiegrant]

We poach our IR duck eggs rather than fry.
All domestic ducks come from the Mallard strain.
Wouldn't do any harm to try one.
One thing for sure you wont get a better free range bird! 

[Clansman]

All domestic ducks come from the Mallard strain.

except the Muscovy

[adamhfc]

I thought it was illegal to move or disturb wild birds nests or eggs

[Clansman]

I thought it was illegal to move or disturb wild birds nests or eggs

It is, although this could well be a domestic mallard, no one mentioned it being wild.

Can you clarify GP?

It must be fairly tame, so I don't think the legality applies if its laying in your hen house 

[Womble]

All domestic ducks come from the Mallard strain.

except the Muscovy

That's a goose  .

[roddycm]

A muscovy isn't a goose, it's a duck that originates from central and South America! People often say it acts more like a goose hence the confusion but it is most definitely a true duck just as a mallard or a teal etc are. I personally love Muscovy duck and would never be without them! As for the egg question, yes they will be fine to eat enjoy! 

[Womble]

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I'll grant you it probably is a duck (well, two out of the three). However, if it walks like a goose and eats grass like a goose, you can see my point of view as well I hope!! 

[roddycm]

Haha I totally see your point! They are the odd man out of the domestic ducks and have rather different habits!

[goosepimple]

Genetically Muscovy are nearer a goose than a duck so I've read.  The ducks on our pond certainly think so and none of them socialise with the Muscovies, definitely seen as odd by the others - grass eaters, roost in trees, good mothers, eat from humans hands.  The geese see the Muscovies as different too and don't socialise with them either.  The Muscovies don't give a jot so it seems 


Mallards - we get loads every year on our pond and they lay anywhere in long grass or tree stumps but they are wild here whilst appreciating the 5 star it has to be said.


The one in the hen shed has ceased to lay there since I opened the door last week and saw her, so she's probably started a new nest.  Presently we have one laying in a very high up window box  , last year one made a nest on the bonfire  .  Still haven't eaten that egg yet, it's in the queue.

[john and helen]

I love duck eggs… my girl lays about 300 a year..But !!!! duck eggs don't love me… 

everyone else was fine..just me who keeps feeling sick afterwards…something to do with the protein

chooks eggs are fine though 

[bigchicken]

Yes fantastic eating and as has been said great for baking, when I was a boy we used to collect all differant kinds of eggs peesies whaps and gull eggs were all very good eating and the local baker would take all the gull eggs we could supply as they made a beautiful colourful sponge. My father told me when he was a boy gull eggs were sent to London to be used in the making or paint for artists and fetched a good price. All this is a no no nowadays.