Duck eggs

[Chataigner]

I got my first duck egg of the season today. That's an important landmark for us as they will now keep us in more eggs than you can shake a stick at for a couple of months.

Muskovy duck eggs are the best ever. About 25% bigger than a large chicken egg, they also have a superb flavour, and (cooks note) have a higher yolk to white ratio than chickens do, very good for baking.

People will say that they are full of salmonella and other nasties, but that's because people keep the poor little buggers on ponds that gradually become duck sh1t soup. Ours are on a good sized field, with access to a section of the mill stream of our forge that is fenced in chain link in the water to keep them from becoming fox food. The flowing water keeps clean.

We get about 25 eggs per duck, laid alternate days, in each of two "seasons", the first one about now, the second about may time. 50 per duck per year does not sound a lot compared to a chicken, but the eggs are just soooooo good! Also, they mainly graze for food, so dont need much bought in from april to october. I'll add a photo tomorrow.

Finally, they are always cheerful! Chickens can be such miserable critters, the ducks always seem pleased to see you!

[mrgrimsdale]

We had khaki campbells. Egg laying machines!
Preserved the eggs in isinglass solution. Didn't look very nice bobbing about in mucky dishwatery solution but they kept fresh through the summer.

[Chataigner]

Khaki Campbells are quite close to Mallard aren't they? Over here we have what are called "Demi Sauvage", they look a lot like a wild duck, but are a tad bigger, we kept a flock for some time, but ended up prefering the Muskovies because of the size and quality of the eggs.

Couldn't get the girls to pose for the camera all together, but got this shot of a couple :



Further landmark, found the first goose egg of the season today. Must be spring!

[jake]

Khaki Campbells are a rouen/mallard/indian runner cross. We used to keep them when I was a kid, and my parents have kept them on and off over the years since. They lay most of the time (must be 200-250 per year at a guess).

[mrgrimsdale]

They stand tall a bit like an indian runner. Lay more eggs than any other - high protein input required, but the ducks themselves are a bit too scraggy and thin to eat, though foxes like them.

http://farmingfriends.com/khaki-campbel ... -sunshine/

[jake]

They stand tall a bit like an indian runner. Lay more eggs than any other - high protein input required, but the ducks themselves are a bit too scraggy and thin to eat, though foxes like them.
Lighter colour than this photo:

Yes, they are more of a tan colour than that writing

[Chataigner]

Herewith a picture and some egg stats :



Our chicken eggs average 65gm, the muskovy duck eggs 85gm, the goose eggs 200gm. The goose eggs are superb, I've never tried one as a boiled egg, mainly since I have no idea how long to cook it, but as fried eggs or in scrambled egg they are wonderful, much richer and fuller flavour than even a free-range chicken egg.