FAQ’s

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers
Duck eggs taste pretty much the same as chicken eggs. The eggs and yolks are larger and they have a richer nutrient level. You’ll notice that the yolks stand up higher than typical chicken eggs. That’s because they are a lot fresher. We ship them the same day that they are laid, fresh from the nest. They have a longer shelf life because the shells are thicker. Many people also like them better for baking.
Our ducks are not given any antibiotics or hormones. They are also not given any chemicals to enhance productivity. The eggs are laid naturally. Our breeders are fed a waterfowl breeder feed, which consists of corn, soy beans, wheat, and ground beans.
Duck eggs keep for about 2 weeks if kept cool and for about 6 weeks refrigerated.
Many farmers freeze surplus eggs for seasons when production slacks off. Some farmers report that by following strict sanitation, they have been able to keep them for up to 12 months. However, because frozen eggs of any type can harbor bacteria that can cause acute intestinal infections, it is safest to store them no more than six months and restrict their use for baked or long cooked foods. Freeze them while they are fresh and select the cleanest eggs. Make sure that there are no signs of cracked shells. Wash them with warm water and then break them into a boiled (sterilized) mixing bowl. Blend the whites and yolks with a fork being careful not to beat in air bubbles. To prevent the yolks from becoming excessively thick during storage, add a good shake of salt and a pinch of cornstarch for each egg that you are freezing. This will help to keep the eggs’ consistency more or less unaffected by freezing. Some people say that a teaspoon of honey for each pint of eggs being frozen accomplishes the same result. The last step is to pour the batter into thoroughly clean ice cube trays or freezer containers, leaving 1/2 inch at the tops to allow for expansion. If ice trays are used, remove the egg cubes soon after they are frozen solid, seal them in a clean container and place them immediately in the freezer. Once frozen eggs are thawed, they should be used within twenty-four hours. Do not re-freeze thawed eggs.
We’re sorry, but we don’t sell in lesser quantities. Most duck farmers make their living by breeding and selling ducks for meat. Duck eggs are not as plentiful as chicken eggs which are widely mass produced so duck farmers don’t have the benefits of automation and wide distribution. The result is that duck farmers can’t afford to pack and ship eggs without a minimum order amount. Generally, they have to hire someone to do it.
Our policy is very simple. We are not satisfied unless you are. If your eggs arrive broken or if you are not completely satisfied, just contact us. We’ll either replace the broken eggs, give you a credit, or give you a refund for any eggs that do not arrive completely to your satisfaction. We ask that you contact us within 3 days of their arrival.
Usually shipping is about 5 – 7 days to the east coast and less in the western states. Don’t worry, the eggs are picked and shipped fresh from the nest and our shipments are fully guaranteed.
We have a bit of a catch 22 situation on rush orders. Because the farm is in a rural area, we have to call UPS the day before to get them to pick up an “overnight” or “two-day” shipment. So overnight deliveries really take two days to arrive and and two-day deliveries really take three days to arrive. In addition to that, during our busiest season, between March and June, Monday is “hatch day” so no egg shipments leave the hatchery on Mondays. If we do a rush order, “two-day” shipments via UPS are $40.00 extra. If we’re not there, just leave a message. Please Note that email (info@duckeggs.com) is the best way to reach us.

Sorry but we only ship the packages as shown on our site.

Duck eggs take about 28 days to hatch.

Here are some tips on keeping them warm, feeding, and caring for your hatched ducklings.

Small ducks need warmth (they can’t supply it themselves). You need to buy or make a “brooder” for their warmth and protection. To make one yourself, get a big box and hang a light bulb in there that is close enough to give off some heat but not so close that the little guy can get burnt. Don’t let him touch it. The box should be big enough so that the little guy can move closer to the heat when he is warm and move away from the heat when he is too hot. He’ll find his own comfort level. Always be careful about placing lights and electrical wires safe and secure to prevent fires.

The best “bedding” is an old bath towel. Don’t use hay or straw. It just sticks to them and is harder to clean. Don’t use newspaper either as they tend to be unable to get their footing and sometimes this causes “splayed legs” (Good footing when they are small helps their legs to develop more properly).

Since many ducklings hatched in captivity are separated from their natural mom, they should not be placed in water for too long at all and especially without constant supervision. Instinctually they love playing in the water, but since their oil glands are not able to produce enough oil to keep them afloat they’ll drown easily. In nature baby ducklings get their water resistant oils from their moms until they are five or six weeks old and their own oil glands begin to function. The bottom line is that baby ducks love to swim but without mom around are vulnerable to drowning and chills. They don’t need to swim to survive at all.

At the same time, baby ducklings do need lots of water with their food as they must have water to swallow. Due to the issues in the previous paragraph, you must devise a way for them to drink lots of water without diving into their drinking water. They can drown in that too.

The best method I’ve ever seen is to cut a small hole in the side of a plastic milk carton that is big enough for them to put their head into but make the hole too small for them to jump through it. Then fill it with water just up to that hole. You’ll have to change the water often as they will dirty it up daily (with food). You may have to teach them how to find the water in the beginning by pushing their heads in their a few times but once they figure it out, they will go back and forth between their food and water constantly. Once they start eating it seems like they never stop.

Regarding feed… go to a local feed store and ask for “unmedicated chicken mash”. Basically this is mashed up chicken feed.

It is important to ask for “unmedicated” brands as ducklings eat a lot more than chicks and will poison themselves on the medicated brands. They don’t need the medication like chicks do. They actually can be quite hardy once they begin growing up.

Lastly, remember that you are your duckling’s protector. The most common cause of death in pet ducklings (and ducks for that matter) is an attack by a predator. Ducklings have no real defense mechanism and are vulnerable to pet dogs or cats or a stray neighborhood pet. You need to be conscious of any animals around their environment and keen to provide protection. It only takes a few seconds for a playful larger animal or predator to kill your ducklings.

Domestic ducks, hatched in captivity imprint on people, so the best way to deal with them is to arrange for someone to take them after they hatch as a pet or as a farm animal.

Some people arrange to give them to pet stores to sell. Feed stores usually know farmers or property owners that have room for ducks on their property. Many pet or feed stores will take them to sell.

There are a lot of property owners that enjoy having ducks around and that will appreciate the regular supply of eggs (when the ducks mature if they are females). Ducks are very hardy, lots of fun, and easy to care for. With some drinking water, food, and basic protection from predators, ducks can do very well. They’re also good at foraging for much of their food on their own. They also help to keep a property free of slugs and bugs.

Contrary to popular belief, they don’t have to have swimming water or a pond to survive. Although they love going into the water, it is not necessary for their survival and ducks do very well on dry ground.

Letting them loose in the wild is not a good option. They become attached to people and therefore will not usually survive in the wild.

Yes we can (Contact us to check availability). They are $199.00 for 10 live hatchlings. This price includes shipping. This is the minimum order as new hatchlings cannot survive shipping alone. They need each other to stay warm and make the trip. Breeds with an asterick cost an extra $20.00. These are the breeds we carry…

Pekin Ducks- Most common white duck, excellent for meat production.

Rouen Ducks – Domestic non-flying cousin of wild Mallard.

Cayuga Duck Breed- Greenish, iridescent shine in the sunlight.

Buff Orpington Ducks- Fine multipurpose breed.

Blue Swedish Ducks – Hardy, calm breed, good forager.

Mallard Ducks- True flying ducks, same as in wild.

White Golden Layer – High production breed.

Khaki Campbell Ducks – Good egg layer and forager.

* Indian Runners – Slender upright stance – Fawn & White, Black, Blue, & Chocolate

*White Crested Duck – Pure white duck with orange feet and bill, and a large crest of feathers on its head.

We sell 10 ducklings for $199.00 which is all inclusive, shipped to your door. That’s the minimum order although we are happy to mix the breeds you can choose. If you need pictures, we’ll send them to you.

If you want to order live ducklings or if you have more questions, email us.

Since eggs (fresh for eating or fertile) are perishable, we cannot accept returns or give refunds on eggs once they’ve been shipped. At the same time, we want our customers to be happy with their products. If we are notified of breakage or spoilage within 3 days of the arrival of your shipment we will either issue a credit or send replacements. Customers are responsible for knowing local rules regarding hatching eggs and keeping or breeding ducks.

On incubators and other non-perishable supplies, we will accept returns in good condition and with prior notification but a 15% restocking fee will apply. Of course all the standard manufacturer’s guarantees apply.

It is truly our goal to have only happy customers and so far we’ve been able to maintain a 98%+ rate of satisfaction. Please do contact us if you have any problem or an idea or critique that you think will help us to do a better job. We welcome your feedback.

P.S. FOR ANY CLAIMS OR REFUNDS: Please note that the images/pictures are mandatory from all the angles of the shipment for any claims in case of any broken eggs in the shipment. Otherwise, we will not be able to honor any claims/refunds for the broken eggs if the proper pictures of the damaged shipment are not submitted.

Ducks make great pets. I think they’re the best kept secret of the pet world. Many people call them the “dogs” of the bird world because they are smarter than many birds and are loyal. When they imprint on you, they will follow you around just like they would their mother. They can be territorial so you should be careful when small kids are around.

We sell an excellent book on keeping ducks as pets. Books like this are hard to find. $39.95 & $5.00 Shipping – Great Book – Duck! There’s a Goose In The House. To order, email us at info@duckeggs.com.