Duck egg color variations?

[thoeffel1994]

Chickens seem to have a huge variety of egg colors. Are the only colors that ducks produce, black, grey, white, and green? Why does it seem like chickens have all these different shades of colors, but ducks only have a few?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Chickens seem to have a huge variety of egg colors. Are the only colors that ducks produce, black, grey, white, and green? Why does it seem like chickens have all these different shades of colors, but ducks only have a few?

I guess the same reason other species of birds lay eggs in colors that chickens can't?

 

[Fallenone05]

Chickens seem to have a huge variety of egg colors. Are the only colors that ducks produce, black, grey, white, and green? Why does it seem like chickens have all these different shades of colors, but ducks only have a few?

Cayuga ducks lay black or grey (depending on genes). I've heard some runners lay green, but also probably depends on what genes they have. My Cayuga lay a dark grey - not quite black like I've seen other pictures of. Their first few were off white.

I wonder what mixing a Cayuga to a Runner would do for color.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

My new Dutch Hookbill lays pretty blue eggs.

 

[thoeffel1994]

Cayuga ducks lay black or grey (depending on genes). I've heard some runners lay green, but also probably depends on what genes they have. My Cayuga lay a dark grey - not quite black like I've seen other pictures of. Their first few were off white.

I wonder what mixing a Cayuga to a Runner would do for color.

I was actually wondering the same thing. I guess it depends if the genes for the black/grey eggs and genes for the green eggs will both express at the same time or if one will cover up the other.

 

[thoeffel1994]

My new Dutch Hookbill lays pretty blue eggs.
View attachment 3635932

Those are nice looking eggs. The top one looks like it's a a light tan color, I haven't seen that before.

I noticed that one breed can produce different colored eggs. I would love to try to select for color and stabilize it in some of the breeds I have. Like maybe get a breed that always lays green eggs, one that always lays black/grey, etc

 

[Miss Lydia]

Most of my Runners lay pretty blue eggs

 

[King of the Farm]

Wow, I never knew ducks lay anything but white eggs!

 

[Awaytome]

My chocolate and blue Runners lay blueish eggs. My white Runners lay off-white. Very similar to cheezenkwakers picture above.

There's a good article about duck egg genetics here: https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/eggs-meat/how-genetics-determine-duck-egg-color/

 

[pawsmic]

My new Dutch Hookbill lays pretty blue eggs.
View attachment 3635932

Awesome! Any chance you might have hatching eggs, or could you let me know where you got yours? thanks!