Chickens aren't the only ones who lay eggs. Ducks do too!
If you haven't tried duck eggs, you're in for a treat! From a longer shelf life to more nutrition, you may have heard some good things about duck eggs. But what about duck vs. chicken eggs?
We rounded up the ten reasons you should give duck eggs a whirl and why we believe duck eggs are better than chicken eggs. From Easter eggs to baking tricks, if you're not using duck eggs yet, these perks might make you want to build the perfect duck coop to get started.
Duck Eggs vs. Chicken Eggs
High protein food for puppies usually contains quite a few eggs, and food for people is no different. Chicken eggs are popular among people looking for a high-protein diet, but using duck eggs in your cuisine will give you more protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Paleo diet followers love duck eggs for this very reason, but they are many other reasons why duck eggs are beneficial. Here's a look at duck eggs vs. chicken eggs.
1. Duck Eggs Stay Fresh Longer
Ducks lay eggs with a thicker shell. And a thicker shell means duck eggs stay fresh longer than chicken eggs. Duck egg shells also come in a larger variety of colors than chicken eggs, though chickens can and do lay blue eggs.
2. Duck Eggs Are Different
Odds are, you know, chicken eggs: been there, done that. However, duck eggs taste a little different. The taste of a duck egg is a bit creamier and a bit richer than a chicken egg. Some people with chicken egg allergies even find they can eat duck eggs. They also have lower water content than chicken eggs do, making them easier to burn when cooking.
3. Duck Eggs Are Bigger
Duck eggs are easily bigger than average chicken eggs, but they are also much larger than an x-large chicken egg. The egg white of a duck egg contains more protein (9 grams of protein with a duck egg; 6 grams for a chicken egg), and the yolk is larger in proportion to the egg white than a chicken egg. The larger yolk has a higher fat content, more healthy fats, and even a little more cholesterol.
While on the subject of size, if you are curious about other types of eggs, quail eggs are tiny, about half the size of a chicken egg, and goose eggs are enormous, about twice the size of a duck egg. All eggs go through the same steps to be made, with a few variations between breeds and species.
4. More Healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Duck Eggs
Omega-3's contribute to heart health and may reduce inflammation. However, some researchers believe inflammation may contribute to heart disease and cancer.
5. More Vitamin D in Duck Eggs
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Duck eggs often have more Vitamin D, particularly if they are pasture-raised. Vitamin D supports bone health and skin, as well as mood. Ducks who roam around outside (also known as pasture-raised) are far more likely to have higher vitamin D levels from sunlight.
6. More Essential Vitamins and Minerals
While there are many health benefits to eating chicken eggs. Duck eggs may be higher in essential vitamins and minerals like thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folate, choline, selenium, vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and retinol.
The egg yolk's nutritional value and quality depend on what the duck eats. Ideally, ducks have access to the outside to eat plants, slugs, and bugs, just like chickens, and their eggs will reflect this.
7. Ducks Are Efficient Egg Layers
Free-range ducks are more efficient at laying eggs. If you have a laying flock, ducks might be easier on your wallet when compared to chickens. This is because the layer feed needed to produce a duck egg costs less than the feed to produce a chicken egg, and ducks tend to lay throughout the year, whereas chickens tend to slow down in winter or during molts.
8. Ducks Are Easier to Raise Than Chickens
You may not realize it, but ducks can be so much easier to raise than chickens. Ducklings are generally hardier, healthier, don't scratch up the landscaping, and their manure needs less aging than chicken manure before you apply it to your garden.
They do need a water source to swim in (a big tub or kiddie pool), and they are a little messier than chickens. I'm quite tempted to raise ducks myself!
9. Duck Eggs Are a Baker's Secret Ingredient
Do you bake? Duck egg whites will give you fluffier cakes, taller meringue peaks, and lighter cookies. The secret is in the albumen content of duck egg whites than in chicken egg whites, which makes them easier to cook with.
10. Duck Eggs Are Tough and Beautiful
Duck eggs are beautiful, durable, and range in colors from white eggs to green eggs to gray eggs, depending on the duck breed. The large and strong shell also makes for excellent Easter egg decorating.
So there you have it, ten reasons why we believe duck eggs are better than chicken eggs.
If you're interested in trying fresh duck eggs for yourself, your best bet is to find them at a local farmer's market, a specialty grocery store like Whole Foods, or an Asian market. They are a little more expensive than chicken eggs but well worth the cost!
Have you ever tried duck eggs? What do you think? Tell us on our Wide Open Pets Facebook page.
This article was originally published on September 21st, 2021.
