As it turned out over the weekend, we were in a place that sold duck eggs - why not?
(Notice the point of origin: "Product of Canada". I had no idea Canadian duck eggs were so well known!)
Below you can see a comparison: on the left is a "standard" chicken egg, on the right a duck egg. There seemed to be much less of a difference in size that what I had read or anticipated, although the duck egg clearly has a different color caste of shell (the shell was not exceptionally thicker either).
In this case I cooked and scrambled the egg. Honestly, I could not retally taste a difference.
It is not as if I do not have information on ducks and the keeping of them:
I find the concept fascinating (although it seems most people do not keep them primarily for eggs, apparently, although there are some species that appear to be higher producers than others). Perhaps something to investigate in the coming years now that it is quite possible I will have a place to keep them.
That is not what I have experienced. I have a buddy that raises ducks. They are a quiet, and don't quack loudly like white ones. The young catches flies and mosquitos out of the air. Their egg shells are 3x the thickness of store bought chicken eggs, and the yolk is a dark orange. It's the white that is special tho. It is so sticky that cooking with them gives a different texture to the breads. They really hold everything together.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
STxAR - That is what I had read repeatedly as well, thus my surprise. These were very much like more expensive chicken eggs with a slightly (1 g) higher protein content.
DeleteMaybe I need to go find some on the "black market" (e.g., Farmer's market) and see what home produced duck eggs are like. I am always in the market for higher protein foods.
All my experiences around duck eggs have centered around balut, a fertilized and partially developed embryo duck egg that is consumed in certain Pacific rim countries. Thus far, I have not consumed enough alcohol to get over my hangups of eating a boiled egg with crunchy bits in it though those I've watch eat them tell me they are quite delicious.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of this Ed - that said, I think I side with you that there may not be enough alcohol. But again, have heard people that like them.
DeleteI kept a duck before in a previous, more congested residential neighborhood. It was the generic "Peking" duck, though the more PC among us will chastise me, saying it was a "Bejing" duck. It's name was Duke. It foraged our back yard endlessly, looking for bugs and snails. Quiet? Hell, no! There's something all-encompassing about that "QUACK-ACK-ACK-ACK!!!" at 0500 that puts a rooster to shame, amplitude-wise. I have no doubt that God could hear it in His Heaven! This was ultimately the reason we freed Duke at a local pond. As for "his" name, Duke turned out to be a duchess, and laid an egg every couple of days. I never tried eating one. 'Don't know why, either. That duck's eggs were indeed larger than a large chicken egg.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to raise ducks, do so only if you have a natural body of water for them. We had a kiddie pool for Duke. Duke pooped and mudded up that thing daily, producing a smell that only a duck farm can produce; a mix of chicken ranch and hog farm... OH, the FLIES!
That being said, if you're in a position to be able to raise ducks, why not? In the coming times, food will be food!
Pete, from what I have read they can great pest control items. And I assume at this point that the noise would be an issue - good heavens, I was shocked to find out the noise that came from a male quail (they crow, just like roosters). The overall waste management is a consideration.
DeleteI do enjoy duck occasionally as a treat.
Ad I understand it; Bakers prize the richness of duck eggs for baking, not eating.
ReplyDeleteAnd if they are from Canada, how fresh can they be?
Fair Linda: I have seen it more in the context of baking. I suppose I thought it would extend to regular eating.
DeleteI am not even sure what the "expiration" date is on the regular eggs we buy. It has to comparable with something flown or driven in from Canada.
I've raised ducks. Hens are noisy, the ones we had were broody and good mothers (Swedish Blues). We did not provide a pond or pool because of the mess they make. We used a rubber bucket so they could dip their heads in to clean their nostrils. We used a chicken tractor to move them every few days for sanitation. I liked the eggs best for baking, french toast and custards. I prefer chicken eggs for frying, scrambled and deviled eggs, it was a texture thing and sometimes taste (too much fresh grass).
ReplyDeleteThis is all rather helpful Judy. Thank you so much for responding!
DeleteThe only ducks I've raised have been Muscovies. They are the only breed not related to Mallards and are considered tree ducks rather than water ducks. Because of that, some folks say they don't need a pond, but our Muscovies loved their daily bath. The only rule was that the water had to be sparkling clean. If it was dirty, they'd go try to take their bath in the goats' water buckets.
ReplyDeleteEventually, I had to keep the goats' water out of reach for the Muscovies. Even if they didn't try to bathe in the buckets, they still liked to use them to clean out their nostrils. Chickens scratch, but ducks shovel through soil with their bills. Hence the need to keep the nostrils clean.
Unlike some of the egg-laying breeds, Muscovies are fliers, although they don't seem to go far because they are also a heavy bird (good for meat). Interestingly, they are a quiet duck; they rarely quack. Mostly they twitter and coo. They only quack when they are alarmed or under stress.
They are prolific breeders! We had one hen that would raise 2 or 3 clutches of eggs each summer if we'd let her. Muscovy eggs are large and have very hard shells. They are also very rich, in fact, Dan couldn't eat them. But when I researched for How To Bake Without Baking Powder, I learned that duck eggs are often the egg of choice for gourmet chefs because they produce a better rise in baked goods. I found they did well for that.
End of commercial, LOL. I'll add that we plan to get another pair of Muscovies this spring. Our last one was killed by a roaming dog.
Leigh - I thought I had recalled that you had ducks, at least at one time (and was hoping you might chime in!). That is interesting - but makes sense - about needing to clear their nostrils with a bath.
DeleteThe flying has always concerned me a bit (as if I had ducks), as would the noise level - depending on where you live, of course. Out in the country - say The Ranch - there is no-one to care.
The breeding item would be very important to me (this is one of the downfalls of Coturnix quail, I found: they are terrible breeders). One wants something that can be self sustaining.
The eggs continue to interest me - again, what I have read supports what you suggest, that they are preferred for baked goods. I cannot think what an egg too rich to eat would be like (but may find out anyway - I am a protein scrounge!).
I appreciate all information, and am looking forward both to the pictures in the spring as well as the "But wait, there is more" portion of the commercial...
the future is rife with possibilities! Ducks would be fun! I have never had duck eggs either but like most unknown meats 'tastes like chicken' it might be the same way to describe different eggs.
ReplyDeleteEGB, it is a long time since I have been able to use that term, but you are right!
DeleteI can say that quail eggs did not taste significantly different than duck eggs. Now I want to find an egg that tastes different...
I apologize for being late to the discussion, but I wanted to give someone else the chance to mention that keeping ducks might not be all that it's quacked up to be.
ReplyDeleteJohn, there is one in ever crowd....
DeleteYes, and depending on the crowd, there may be more than one. :)
DeleteBe kind to your web footed friends, 'cause a duck may be somebody's mother.
One of my favorite books as a child.
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