In the kitchen area, duck eggs run a bit bigger than chicken eggs, possess a larger yolk, and also both the yolk and albumen are richer compared to chicken eggs. Egg white recipes such as meringues will fluff higher with duck eggs compared to chicken eggs. According to UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, baked goods made out of duck eggs are going to be moister, fluffier and richer.

If your flock is big enough to produce marketable numbers of eggs, take into account that Oliver’s promotion of duck eggs in cooking resulted in a 72% increase in duck egg sales at one specialty food retailer in the United Kingdom, according to a report in the London Daily Mail. While your word might not carry the weight that Oliver’s does, a few tasty samples baked with duck eggs will push sales at the farmer’s market. You may additionally take into consideration quoting Oliver or playing the segment of his show in your booth. Package duck eggs in half dozens, so that customers can give them a try without committing to a full dozen.

If you want your duck eggs turn into another duck, instead of a meal, you can incubate the eggs. However, time of year is important for duck hatching. Ducks ought to reach sexual maturity at 7 months of age. If they’re born between September and January, they’ll react to the longer days of summer by reaching sexual maturity up to 2 months prematurely. The resulting eggs will smaller and have really low hatch rates. To make sure that your hatches from April through July are reaching sexual maturity as the days are growing shorter be sure to schedule your hatches from April through July.

For the best possible hatch rates, your flock should have one male 6 females. In case you are selling eggs for hatching, collect the eggs early in the morning, handle very carefully, storing with the small end down at a temperature of 55?F. Soiled eggs could be washed thoroughly, with water at 110 – 115ºF . You must dispose of small, cracked and misshapen eggs. Eggs can be held for about Fourteen days without a serious loss in hatchability.

For natural incubation, give your ducks with a somewhat elevated nesting area that will remain dry. Nest boxes must be approximately 12″ wide x 18″ long x 12″ tall. Line the nests utilizing straw, wood shavings, peat moss or peanut hulls and don’t take it personally when the duck rearranges it to her own style.

In artificial incubation an egg incubator having a temperature of 99.5ºF and a relative humidity of 55% (84.5ºF wet bulb temperature) is necessary. Turn the eggs a minimum of 4 times per day. If your duck incubators have an automatic turner, set it up for hourly. A lot of duck breeds need 28 days to hatch out. At 25 days turn the temperature down to 99ºF and the humidity up to 65% (88ºF wet bulb) and stop turning the eggs. The moment eggs pip, raise humidity to 80% (93ºF wet bulb). As the hatch progresses, gradually lower the humidity and temperature so that when the majority of eggs are hatched the temperature is 97ºF and also humidity is 70% (90º wet bulb).

Read more information regarding duck egg incubation check out www.duckincubator.org.

My Duck Laid An Egg — Now What? is a post from: WiredWriter