Why Raise Muscovy Ducks For Eggs? Homestead Poultry Tips

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Hi, I’m Ryan

I’ve had just about every kind of poultry on my homestead, but raising Muscovy ducks for egg-laying has been one of my favorite homesteading experiences. These personable birds stick around for a long time, producing rich, tasty eggs, so I love sharing tips about Muscovy eggs and breeding.

Are Muscovy Ducks Good Egg Layers?

While they don’t quite rival some of the best chicken or duck breeds for egg laying, Muscovy ducks are still good egg layers. With the right environment and nutrition, female Muscovy ducks can lay anywhere from 60 to 180 eggs every year. My own Muscovies lay an egg or two almost every day during the spring and summer, which is more than enough to supply my homestead.

The more eggs you want, the more female Muscovy ducks you’ll need to add to your homestead; maybe keep one male Muscovy to ensure some of the eggs will be fertilized during breeding season so you can hatch new ducklings each year to continue building your egg production.

If you’re just trying to find a duck breed that lays the most eggs, Muscovies may not be the right choice for you, considering most duck breeds lay more eggs than Muscovy ducks.

Keep reading to learn some of the unique benefits that ultimately led me to choose Muscovy eggs.

Can You Eat Muscovy Duck Eggs?

Yes, absolutely, you can eat Muscovy eggs. They’re not only edible but they’re also considered a delicacy in many countries for their rich flavor (and because Muscovies are rarer than other poultry). They’re especially good for baking, as the taste and consistency enhance the flavor and increase the fluffiness of many pastries.

If you know much about me, you know I love to cook and bake using the ingredients grown and raised on my tiny house homestead, and I’ve found that Muscovy eggs make a great addition to my morning omelet.

Are Muscovy Duck Eggs Good To Eat?

Aside from how good they taste, Muscovy eggs are also good to eat because they’re healthy for you. Even more nutritious than chicken eggs, the eggs you’ll gather from your female Muscovy ducks will provide a lot of protein as well as a variety of minerals, antioxidants, and omega-3s. These eggs are also known to be good for your skin and overall health by packing a nice punch of vitamin B.

Muscovy Duck Eggs

What about the timing and amount of eggs you can expect from your female Muscovy ducks?

You may already know that Muscovies don’t usually lay eggs during the colder months (September through January, depending on where you live), so it’s possible you might only get eggs through two seasons of the year. Of course, there are always exceptions to this, especially if you live in a mild to warm climate.

On my homestead in Charlotte, North Carolina, my Muscovies take a winter laying break, but it’s shorter than the average lasting only from November through early January. This gives me more eggs throughout the year than those who raise Musovies in colder climates.

How Often Do Muscovy Ducks Lay Eggs?

Female Muscovy ducks usually lay eggs daily, at least during the warmer seasons. After laying a full clutch of up to 28 eggs over several weeks, the ducks will usually become broody and try to hatch ducklings if these eggs are left in the nest. Most homesteaders, myself included, gather eggs daily to prevent the females from becoming broody.

How Many Eggs Do Muscovy Ducks Lay At One Time?

Muscovies usually lay one egg at a time. Most days, this will amount to one egg per duck, but sometimes, they will lay a second egg throughout the day, which I consider a nice bonus. There will also be days when your ducks won’t lay any eggs at all, so don’t be surprised if they miss a day here and there.

What Do Muscovy Duck Eggs Look Like?

Muscovy eggs are a creamy off-white color, and they’re significantly larger than chicken eggs, measuring up to 2.5 inches in length. Consequently, these eggs are also almost twice as heavy as chicken eggs, weighing up to 3 ounces per egg. Their off-white shells are also harder than chicken egg shells, and once cracked open, the egg whites are clear with deep, richly colored yolks.

How Long Do Muscovy Ducks Lay Eggs?

Muscovy ducks lay eggs for longer into their lifespan than many poultry, sometimes even laying up until they’re five or six years old. This long laying span makes sense when you realize that these birds can live to up to 20 years of age as domesticated animals and up to 12 years in the wild. While certain chicken breeds lay eggs from five to ten years, their peak production is really only in the first two years of their lives, with the latter years being much more sporadic. This narrows the gap between how many eggs a chicken and a Muscovy will lay in their lifetimes, with a chicken averaging around 530 eggs and a Muscovy averaging around 450.

What Months Do Muscovy Ducks Lay Eggs?

Originating from tropical climates, Muscovy ducks like warm weather best. As I mentioned, they typically lay their eggs from February through late August. Generally, you won’t get any eggs from your female Muscovy ducks in the fall and winter, but this is pretty much the same with all poultry. Even chickens slow down or stop laying all together throughout the colder months of the year.

While I personally don’t mind the break while my ducks aren’t laying, I know homesteaders who choose to preserve their excess duck eggs for winter. Food preservation is a vital homesteading skill, and if you do it right, eggs can be preserved for up to 18 months in a sealed container of lime-water solution when stored in a place that’s dark and cool.

Where Do Muscovy Ducks Lay Eggs?

Since they can fly if their wings aren’t clipped, wild Muscovy ducks like to lay eggs in high-up cavities in trees to keep them safe from predators. However, when they’re domesticated, they’re usually happy to lay eggs in safe and dry nesting boxes. Since you probably don’t want to be scavenging for Muscovy eggs in your trees, I’d recommend having nesting boxes set up for your females before they even start laying to get into good habits right off the bat.

Frequently Asked Questions About Muscovy Duck Eggs

Since Muscovy ducks are not as common to raise as other types of homestead poultry, people are curious. I get asked a lot of questions about these ducks and raising Muscovy Ducks for eggs — here are a few of the most common and fun questions.

Are Muscovy Eggs Smaller Than Chicken Or Quail Eggs?

Muscovy eggs are actually much larger than both chicken and quail eggs. Muscovy eggs average between 6 and 7 cm in length, which classifies them as jumbo eggs. Chicken eggs average under 6 cm and quail eggs average around 3.5 cm.

Do Muscovy Duck Eggs Spoil Quickly?

Since Muscovy eggs, like most duck eggs, have a thicker shell than chicken eggs, they stay fresh longer. Chicken eggs will spoil after three to five weeks, while your duck eggs will usually be good for as long as six weeks. I recommend storing them in the fridge (especially if you wash off their protective coating) to ensure the longest shelf life.

Will Muscovy Duck Eggs Earn More Money At Market?

Muscovy duck eggs are pricey to buy, but that also makes them quite profitable to sell, and they will definitely bring in more money at the farmers’ market. Your selling options will depend on your local connections in your community.

Many homesteaders I know sell to friends and family to cover their costs, and I also know a few who are able to sell to local restaurants, farmers’ markets, and stores.

Depending on where you live, there might be restrictions on who you can sell to if you’re not a licensed farm, so do some local research and start small by contacting family-owned businesses who might be looking for a local supplier of Muscovy duck eggs.

What’s Your Favorite Musovy Egg Recipe?

I love using Muscovy eggs in all of my baking, but especially in cake recipes. There’s just something about that extra rich taste and texture in these eggs that turns a good chocolate cake or pound cake into an extra fluffy, extra delicious treat. Add some homegrown strawberries and it’s hard to beat!

One of my favorite recipes to use my Muscovy duck eggs in is a duck egg marble cake, which is perfect for those family and friend gatherings. A homesteading buddy of mine uses his duck eggs to make the most delicious loaves of homemade brioche bread, and he also has fun experimenting with swapping out chicken eggs for duck eggs in lots of his other recipes to see if his family can taste the difference.

Once you’re past the duckling stage, you’ll find that Muscovy ducks are a breeze to raise. They’re independent, hardy birds, and I’ve enjoyed having them roaming my homestead almost as much as I’ve enjoyed delicious Muscovy eggs in my recipes.

Now that you’re prepared to enjoy these unique birds and eggs on your homestead, I hope the process is equally rewarding for you.

Your Turn!

• What makes you interested in raising Muscovy ducks for egg laying?
• Why do you prefer Muscovy eggs to chicken eggs?