Duck egg tastes: breed specific or.......?

[dumb_cluck]

I am staring a new thread. My question is: do all duck eggs taste the same? Or do different breeds have different tastes?
Also, does what the duck eats make the difference? Inquiring minds want to know...........

 

[Red Maple Farms]

I think so. My muscovies produce and egg that has a lighter yolk color than my mallard derivative ducks suck as pekins. I also notice that they free range differently on our three acre pond. The pekins and mallards prefer being near the source of the fresh water that enters the pond. This area is shallow and void of many aquatic plants, but has abundant plants on the perimeter. The muscovies prefer the deeper end where the water exits, which has abundant aquatic vegetation, small fish and frogs. Furthermore, the muscovies are much more active with free ranging on pasture.

 

[katharinad]

I've read the taste depends entirely on what they eat. I guess you would have to pen up different breeds and feed them identical food and then check. I guess by then the taste to so close if not identical that human beings can't tell the difference. Now another question that comes to my mind is the protein-yolk ratio the same in different sized eggs from different breeds. What does each breeds prefers to eat when it comes to free ranging food choices. Is it breed specific or is it flock specific? Wow, too many variables. I think this could be a big discussion. Has there been any large scale studies on this subject? I'm intrigued...

 

[FenDruadin]

I only have one breed laying at the moment, so I really don't know. I did start my flock with several different breeds, and the eggs all tasted the same to me, but they were all mallard derivatives and all foraging on the same things.

I have read that a fish-heavy diet will lead to fishy flavor in the eggs, so it makes sense to me that what they are eating would make a difference and that some types and breeds would forage differently and that might impact the flavor too. Also, it makes sense to me that muscovies would have a different flavor from any other type of duck (as Red Maple says), since they are technically a separate species and the other domestic ducks are all mallard derivatives.

But as for personal experience, mine is limited. Just posting what I've read.

 

[dumb_cluck]

Thanks! Any input would be very help full. Especially anyone who has tasted the different varieties!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I wouldn't really say there is a taste difference but our Muscovy eggs are thicker and richer than our Indian Runner eggs.

Steve

 

[Red Maple Farms]

Quote:
Do you notice any difference in the yolk color?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

They are about the same. They both eat pretty much the same feed

Steve

 

[dumb_cluck]

Does anyone who has eaten a duck egg think the egg tastes "gamey" ?

 

[FenDruadin]

Nope--nothing gamey or off or fishy or anything in our eggs. Just yum. I've shared them with LOTS of others, too, and everyone I know loves them. Professional chefs often prefer them because they are richer. It might be possible for them to taste gamey if they eat an odd diet, but free ranged or fed a high-quality non-fish-based diet, the eggs are just wonderful.