Raising Ducks For Eggs: An Easy Beginner’s Guide

Raising ducks for eggs is fairly easy. In fact, many ducks will lay well into their seventh year! Duck hens do not require more work than chickens In fact, they’re way more social. They maximize egg production if allowed to roam freely. Additionally, duck eggs produce creamier and fluffier eggs than chicken eggs.

You need lots of water but a kiddie pool or a puddle pool (small area dug out) is enough. These creatures will follow you around like puppies on nice days. They’re quite adorable and comical at times too.

7 Good Reasons To Duck Raising For Eggs

1. Ducks are gentle creatures and make great pets.
2. The whites of the large duck egg have high protein content.
3. Duck eggs have a richer flavor than chicken eggs, and many people say they are better for baking.
4. They also store well in the refrigerator or freezer. Yes, we said freezer!
5. Ducks lay larger eggs than chicken eggs, which is why they are preferred by many backyard enthusiasts.
6. These birds free-range and leave droppings throughout the winter that act as a natural fertilizer for your garden plants.
7. Duck eggs have a longer shelf life, and can be produced year-round.

4 Health Benefits of Duck Eggs

If you’re looking for a healthier option when it comes to eggs, duck eggs may be the perfect choice for you.

• 50% more vitamins in One duck egg compared to a large chicken egg
• Contain more antioxidants
• Have more omega-3 fatty acids,
• Known for higher protein content.

In addition to the health benefits, duck eggs offer benefits such as:

• They say fresh longer.
• Larger yolks, bigger eggs. 2 duck eggs = 3 large chicken eggs.
• Creamier consistency making them ideal for baking.

Is It Hard To Raise Egg Laying Ducks?

Many people are curious if it is hard to raise backyard ducks and get eggs from them. Even in the wild, these beautiful birds are known for their docile nature. In fact, they are highly routine-driven, with any change in routine met with loud quacking until they get what they want.

As with most pets, routine is important to their health and happiness. The same holds true for raising backyard ducks.

These birds have robust immune systems which make them less susceptible to illness than chickens or other poultry birds. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have to spend as much time caring for them as you would chickens.

Being sure they have fresh food and water at all times and a safe coop area is essential.

Duck feed should be mostly grain, but can also include small amounts of sprouts or greenfeeds (alfalfa).

They love to snack on healthy snacks such as:

• Birdseed
• Fresh, Canned, Frozen Corn
• Fresh, Canned, Frozen Peas
• Chopped Lettuce, even chopped wilted lettuce
• Cucumbers

How Many Female Ducks To Keep For A Steady Supply Of Eggs?

The breed of duck and the size of the egg may vary in the frequency produced. However, in general, they will lay every 24 – 48 hours. If you have 3 adult ducks for eggs you’ll average 12-14 eggs per week. Remember, these eggs are larger than what chicken hens lay.

7 Best Egg Laying Duck Breeds

There are so many other duck breeds in the world, start here and as you discover new breeds, you can add them to your flock.

Duck Diet & Nutrition

Ducks are interesting creatures and make great pets. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they’re also quite amusing and playful. If you’re thinking of getting ducks for eggs, it’s important to understand their dietary needs.

Mature laying ducks need a diet that consists of at least 14% protein. While they can meet a lot of their nutritional needs through bugs and plants, it’s still recommended to have a balanced commercial feed available for them as well. Ducks need more grain than chickens due to the lack of forage; this is because their bills are specially adapted to help them dip in water between bites of food, which helps with digestion.

Be sure that the dishes and tubs you provide your ducks are deep enough for them–ducks love taking baths, and will be very unhappy if there’s not enough water for them to play in! A concrete mixing tub is the best choice for duck bathing; just be sure it’s big enough so all your ducks can get in at once!

When Do Ducks Start Laying Eggs?

Ducks are interesting creatures and there is a lot of mystery surrounding them. For example, when do ducks start laying eggs? This is a question that has puzzled many people for years.

Interestingly enough, the answer to this question varies depending on the duck breed. Most duck breeds reach sexual maturity before they are 7 months old, but some can take up to 12 months. Some ducks hatch from April through July, when the days are long and help them mature more quickly. However, most domesticated ducks will start egg laying between September and January because they have been bred to lay during cooler weather.

The first few eggs a duck hen lays will resemble chicken eggs in size. As she matures, her eggs will get progressively larger until they are their full size (usually around 5-6 inches long). A mature duck hen should start laying around 4 to 7 months or 16 to 28 weeks after hatching, although this may vary depending on the breed and artificial lighting conditions.

When Should I Collect Duck Eggs?

Duck eggs can be collected first thing in the morning. They usually lay in the overnight hours. Remember, consistency is favored by ducks. Collecting eggs at 7, 8, or 9 am each and probably a good plan for collecting eggs daily.

The only downside to collecting duck eggs is the collection part, which is tedious but not difficult once you have done it a few times. Duck hens will lay their eggs anywhere they please, meaning you must be prepared to search around for the eggs.

The best mindset is to embrace duck hen egg distribution habits with a smile and enjoy each morning’s hunt with your family.

Egg Storage

Unwashed eggs keep a protective layer called a ‘bloom’. If you don’t wash the egg, you can keep it at room temperature out of sunny areas. They can be kept for 2 weeks this way.

Washed eggs must be refrigerated because the protective bloom has been removed from the egg. Dirty eggs should be washed with warm water to remove dirt, debris, and bacteria before being refrigerated.

Are ducks easier to raise than chickens?

Backyard Duck farming is very similar to backyard chicken keeping with a few exceptions. For example, ducks drink more water than chickens do and they can be messier, much messier.

How hard is it to raise ducks?

Ducks are easy to keep and don’t require too much space. You should have a minimum of 4 square feet per bird. They’re friendly and don’t need a fence as high to keep them contained. If you’re already raising chickens, taking care of ducks is a breeze!

If you’re novice duck keepers you’ve already figured most of this out and found it’s not bad at all.

How many times do ducks lay eggs in a year?

Ducks are generally able to lay eggs year-round, but the time of year will affect how many eggs they produce.

The breeds vary a little on when they first start laying, however, on average, seven months (7 mos) is a good reference for expecting to find eggs laid.

What is the minimum number of ducks to keep?

When it comes to keeping ducks, you don’t need a lot in order to get started. In fact, you can start with as few as three ducks and still be able to produce eggs. Of course, the more ducks you have, the more eggs you’ll likely get each year. But if you’re just starting out or are limited on space, three ducks will do just fine.

These are social birds, anything less than three is really not recommended. Also, if you are keeping hens and drakes, you will want to have 1 drake (male duck ) for each 5-7 hens.

What works well for bedding for ducks?

There are a few different things that you can use as bedding for your ducks. One popular choice is wood shavings, as they are absorbent. However, you will need to change the bedding frequently, as it will get wet and dirty quickly.

The most favored option is straw. It is good for insulation, is not very dusty, and composts well.

How would we prevent the eggs from being fertilized?

If you have a drake with your hens, you want to be very certain you’re collecting all those precious eggs each and every day first thing in the morning as we discussed above.

Are Duck Eggs Different than Chicken Eggs?

Duck eggs are absolutely different than chicken eggs. They are larger, have more fat and cholesterol, and taste richer. They also contain more protein and vitamins than chicken eggs.

Which ducks lay the largest eggs?

The largest egg-laying ducks are the Khaki Campbells and the Pekin ducks.

What ducks lay green eggs? Blue Eggs? Black Eggs?

Green Egg Layers – Indian Runner, Call, and Ancona.

Blue Egg Layers – Indian Runner and Magpie.

Black Egg Layers – Cayuga.

However, the most common color of the egg is white with a cream or blue tint.

Looking to have any backyard poultry will also involve some clean-up regularly. Be sure to check out our favorite homeowner tools.

Do Chickens Lay More Eggs than Ducks?

Chickens definitely lay more eggs. You can find out our top egg layer picks in this article.