Can you eat mallard duck eggs?

In this brief article, we will answer the question, “Can you eat mallard duck eggs?”. We will further elaborate on the appearance of mallard duck eggs, the nutritional content and the benefits of mallard duck eggs along with different recipes in which mallard duck eggs can be used.

Can you eat mallard duck eggs?

Yes, you can eat mallard duck eggs. In fact, mallard duck eggs are like chicken eggs in respect of safety. 

In the US, the standards which have been set for the regulation of chicken eggs are the same for mallard duck eggs.

The appearance of mallard duck eggs

The colors of mallard duck eggs are variable. Mallard duck eggs can be of white, brown, light green, brown and black color. Although the colors of the shells of eggs vary, it does not affect the taste or the properties of eggs. 

Among poultry species used for commercial egg production, the mallard ducks have the highest weight of egg (70g), yolk (23g), albumen (32g), and shell, shell  thickness (0.34 mm), short (14 cm), and long (16 cm) circumference. Mallard duck eggs weigh about 65 g on the average, depending on the breed (2).

The taste of mallard duck eggs

According to some people, duck eggs are creamier than chicken egg yolks. However, the taste of chicken egg and duck egg resembles a lot. Depending on the diet of ducks, the taste of duck eggs can be more intense as compared to chicken eggs.

The nutritional content of mallard duck eggs

Following are some nutrients that you can avail of by eating mallard eggs.

  • Protein
  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Phosphorus
  • Sulfur
  • Magnesium

A study showed that 100 g of fresh mallard duck eggs contain 4.5 g fat, 15.5 g protein and 2.4 g dietary fiber. It also contains important minerals. In 100 g fresh eggs, there are: 4.44 mg P, 3.92 mg K, 5.04 Na, 3.61 mg Ca, 0.14 Fe, 0.29 Mg and low amounts of Zn and Cu  4.5 g. An egg weighing 65 g provides 79-91 kcal (1).

Mallard duck eggs are found to contain more unsaturated fatty acids than saturated ones. The major fatty acids in egg lipids are oleic, myristic and linoleic acids. Myristic and lauric acid are strongly correlated with higher cholesterol levels. Combined myristic and lauric acid for duck eggs range from 27.28 – 29.34% (1).

Different recipes in which mallard duck eggs are used

Following are different recipes in which we can use mallard duck eggs as an ingredient source.

Duck egg cake with rosemary: 

After preheating the oven to 325 degrees centigrade, the loaf pan is greased with butter. Duck eggs are cracked in a large bowl, sugar is added and then combined by beating with a whisk. Fat is combined well with the mixture and then rosemary is sprinkled over it. 

Flour, baking powder and salt are combined in a separate bowl. The batter is baked for about fifty minutes after pouring it into the pan. To make sure the cake is ready, put it with a toothpick. A clean toothpick means that the cake is ready. Cake can be eaten warm or at room temperature according to the requirement.

Baked duck eggs with spinach and peppers: 

The oven is preheated. Spinach is placed into a large pan along with seasonings. Water is required as already present droplets are sufficient. Spinach is cooked over medium heat until it becomes wilted. 

It must be made sure that water is not present, so any water present must be drained. Add melted butter and spinach to a pan along with grated nutmeg. Parmesan and pepper are added after one minute of cooking. After baking for ten to fifteen minutes, these are served with fresh bread.

The benefits of mallard duck eggs

Following are some benefits of mallard duck eggs.

Presence of choline: 

The presence of choline in mallard duck eggs makes sure that neurotransmitters, cell membrane and rain remain healthy. Choline is also very effective during pregnancy. Choline has important and diverse functions in both cellular maintenance and growth across all life stages. It plays some roles in brain development, and bone integrity (4).

Rich in protein: 

The white part of mallard duck eggs contains a lot of protein. This protein is very essential to maintain bone structure and teeth development. Egg-white ovalbumin thus represents a valuable source of amino-acids for human nutrition. Besides  ovalbumin, egg white is concentrated in antibacterial lysozyme that is currently used as an anti-infectious agent in many pharmaceuticals and as food preservative (4).

Selenium: 

Selenium present in mallard duck eggs perform many body functions and keep it active. Duck eggs contain more Selenium (0.0364 mg)  than hen eggs (0.0307). This can vary, depending on the animal feed (4).

How many eggs do mallard ducks lay per year?

The nest of mallard duck is built from leaves and grasses and is prepared by female mallard duck. The feasible time for laying eggs is from mid of march to the end of July. 

Normally there are twelve eggs per clutch. These twelve eggs are laid at intervals of one to two days. To make sure that mallard eggs are protected from predators, clutches must be covered.

Depending on the feed (quality and quantity) and management (water and space availability), mallard ducks lay from 200 to 250 eggs in a year. Studies compared duks performance when raised in an intensive management system (complete confinements given pure duck layer pellets) and modified extensive management system (ducks are herded during daytime and given additional feed gift of duck layer pellets in the afternoon). Results indicated an increase in the average total gain in weight of mallard layers when they are raised under a modified extensive management system (3). 

How can you hatch a mallard duck egg?

Following are three steps through which you can hatch a mallard duck egg.

  1. Setting up the incubator: The incubator makes sure that eggs are at optimum temperature for hatching. The incubator is placed on a table inside the home, avoiding contact with the sun as much as possible. The temperature and humidity of the incubator are set before two days of putting eggs.
  2. Maintaining the eggs in the incubator: After making sure that eggs are not cracked, these are placed in the incubator. For about 26 to 29 days, the humidity and temperature of eggs are maintained until eggs are hatched. Eggs are turned 3-7 times a day.
  3. Hatched ducklings are put under intensive care: Moisture is not good for ducklings. So these must be kept warm and dry. Ducklings must be served with fresh water and hygiene feed. Once feathers of ducklings appear, these must be released into water resources.

Other FAQs about Eggs that you may be interested in.

Can you eat lobster eggs?

How to tell if eggs have gone bad?

How long do hard-boiled eggs stay good?

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have answered the question, “Can you eat mallard duck eggs?”. We have further elaborated on the appearance of mallard duck eggs, the nutritional content and the benefits of mallard duck eggs along with different recipes in which mallard duck eggs can be used. 

References

  1.  Mopera, L.E. Nutritional Quality of Fertilized and Salted Philippine Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos L.) Eggs Consumed in Victoria, Laguna, Philippines. Proceedings of the 2019 International Joint Conference on JSAM and SASJ.
  2. Bondoc, Orville L., et al. Comparison of egg quality traits in different poultry species and breeds. Philipp J Vet Med, 2020, 57.
  3. Datuin, J. M., et al. Egg production performance of mallard ducks raised under intensive and modified extensive management system. 2. Asian Buffalo Association Congress, Makati City (Philippines), 9-12 Oct 1996. 1996.
  4. Réhault-Godbert, Sophie, Nicolas Guyot, and Yves Nys. The golden egg: nutritional value, bioactivities, and emerging benefits for human health. Nutrients, 2019, 11, 684.

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