How to Identify Duck Eggs

By Laura H.

Duck eggs hatch within 28 to 35 days, depending on the type of duck such as pekins or muscovy. A female duck can lay an egg every day or every other day for up to two weeks. The female duck will drop her eggs anywhere she is, such as in the water or around the banks of the water. She will retrieve it to place in the nest. The female duck does all of the work with her eggs such as creating the nest, incubating and protecting them without the help of the male duck.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need:

Book about birds
Book about birds

Step 1

Look for a nest on the ground. Ducks live near the water which is where they will develop their nests. The nest will be on flat ground hidden by bushes. The nest is large and round made up of twigs, leaves and broken branches.

Step 2

Determine the weight of the egg. Duck eggs weigh about 2 to 2 1/2 ounces. The width of a duck egg is about 2-inches thick and the length is almost 3-inches long.

Step 3

Feel the eggs. Duck eggs have a waxy coating on their shell, and they feel a kind of rubbery. The shell is shiny, as well as thick, compared to most other types of bird eggs such as chickens.

Step 4

Count how many eggs are in the nest. Ducks have from eight to 15 eggs in one clutch. A clutch is the total amount of eggs layed during one nesting period. Sunlight can effect the egg production of the female duck. More eggs are layed during the summer months than in the winter since there is more daylight.

Step 5

Notice the color of the eggs. Duck eggs are off-white or light green in color, depending on the type of duck. For example, pekin duck eggs are off-white and mallard duck eggs are light green.

Step 6

Shine a flashlight over the egg. If the egg is close to hatching, then you will be able to see a figure resembling a duckling. Point the light at the top of the egg and out of direct sunlight.

Tips & Warnings

If the egg is already cracked and there is orange yellow yolk inside, then it is an egg of a duckling that didn't have time to develop and hatch. The off-white eggs' yolk will be more yellow than orange.

Wash your hands after handling the duck eggs.

Resources

Books on Ducks

About The Author

I work in a college and write articles and short stories for a living. I have been writing for several years and enjoy learning to new things to write about and share with everyone.

Featured Video

How to Take Apart a Swiss Army Knife

The Swiss Army Knife is a traditional accessory for outdoor enthusiasts. It is sturdy and reliable for multiple everyday tasks. The knife appears rock-solid in its construction, but is actually fairly easy to take apart. Hobbyists do this to create custom knives by comb...

More Backpacking...

Bass Fishing Tips in November

By the time November rolls around, most bass anglers have winterized their boats and, for the time being, forgotten about fishing. These fishermen believe the bass bite is done for the season, and choose to hunt or engage in some other outdoor activity. Some anglers cann...

More Freshwater Fishing...