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holding duck eggs

14 years ago

My question is, how long can you store duck eggs before you have to incubate them. I have heard that you can refrigerate them until you get enough to incubate. But I don't know how long or how cold they should be.

Last year I added them as I got them and was constantly having to clean the incubator because one would hatch and mess it all up. Hoping this year to eliminate that problem.

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Comments (4)

gardengalrn
14 years ago
I'm just guessing here but I would think it is a bad idea to put them in the fridge. I thought once an egg was fertile it had to be kept warm for the embryo to be viable. Someone may correct that but that is my guess. Lori
Naomi Miller
14 years ago
Here is a link that may help you out...... I usually answer most any question I have by checking with an AG university... there is usually one in every state...but I have used the guidelines here and never had issues.... good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: MSU egg info
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Dumor makes an egg laying mixture, get that and you won't have the problem anymore. I had the two elements separated at first, and the tiny little shell fragments by themselves aside from the food is not going to make them want to eat it. My ducks didn't even bother trying to eat the shell pieces. They would eat the food around the shell mix and leave it alone. Dumor takes the shells and turns it into a powder so it blends in with the food and they eat it regardless. And they love it, youll see a big change in their interest to eat. The shells in the food that the specific manufacturer produces were so tough i had to pry them open after the whole egg was cracked all over. The membrane on the inside of the egg had to be torn through it was so well made. Theres not much else to say other than to use that feed. All ducks were laying eggs of that quality. They also need tons of water to produce them but it sounds like you have that covered. The food is formulated specifically for Ducks and Chickens. Other Full flock feeds contain a broad range of grains that Ducks sometimes don't need as its not what they eat naturally, but its food nevertheless and its in front of them so they eat it. Or parts of it. You also have to give them worms every now and then which contain protein. They go absolutely crazy over them. But youll have super healthy Ducks with this feed. Good luck with it/them...
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Hi, I am sure there are others with far more experience than me, but I do have both chickens and ducks and have had them for a couple of years. As far as ease of raising, I can not say that there is an extreme difference.....both have their pluses and minuses.... I have Khaki Campbells and they are the more aggressive of my ducks... but not so much so that I would cease to have them. My chickens free range in an acre pasture so they are not hard either... they have an enclosed coop where they are locked up at night with feed and water...nesting boxes and a roost. The ducks have the same routine except they are cooped in free standing houses in a separated pasture area. We dug a pond and lined it for them but with just a few, a kiddy pool is acceptable..they are messy and the water needs changing often... a good quality feed is needed for either... as are vaccinations etc if you choose to do so... as for the eggs... there is not a noticeable difference in the taste of the eggs... a duck egg is larger of course and , at least to me, they seem to be richer in baking etc... my ducks seem to lay an egg about every other day while my chickens often lay daily... I can not suggest one over the other because I love them both.,... their antics, their personalities.... both are delightful...good luck to you with whichever you choose.
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She may just be 'hedging her bets'. I would suggest taking the eggs she laid outside and putting them in her other nest. Has she completely abandoned one of the nests? Are there predators around that might be bothering her? Is the big nest located in a sheltered location that she is cooped up in? You may want to keep her inside until she lays her eggs and then let her outside to encourage her to set on her original nesting site.
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farmgirl01
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you so much Heartzlink! That is a great web site! It told me everything I needed to know.
Here is a copy of what they said for all of those like me that didn't know:
It is recommended that most eggs be stored no longer than 1 week. Storing eggs longer will produce a greater incidence of hatching failures.

"The maximum storage period for chickens is about 3 weeks. Some turkey eggs will survive for 4 weeks, but quail will have difficulty developing from eggs stored longer than 2 weeks."

"Hatching eggs should be collected soon after lay and maintained at 50-65o F. The eggs must not warm to above 65o F. unless they are being prepared for immediate incubation. Relative humidity in the storage facility should be maintained at 70 percent and daily egg turning or repositioning is recommended to prevent the yolk "
prmsdlndfrm
14 years ago
I always store hatching eggs in the kitchen on a corner counter, mark one side with a crayon, it helps ya remember to turn em. I chose the kitchen because it has the best humidity in the house, bathroom humidity can be to hi during showers, other rooms can be to dry. You dont want the egg to lose to much moisture while you hlodem, and you dont wantem soaking up to much moisture, and household room temp is just right. Ya only refridgerate eating eggs,
josh

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