Duck egg size

[SLTurner55555]

Hi. We just got 3 new ducks which were very dehydrated when we got them. These are mixed breed Cayuga ducks. The first eggs they new girls layed were way smaller than my full-breed Cayuga. At that point I just thought different breed, different size. Now I am wondering if due to dehydration eggs were smaller.

They person I got them from made a comment that she could not tell them from her chicken's eggs. I thought that was funny because our girls when they got laying well, produced an extra-large egg compared to our Buff orpington and Barred rocks.

So here are my two questions: Can lack of water effect size of eggs? Would lack of water effect viability of fertilized eggs? Thanks in advance.

[Oregon Swedes]

I don't know about the dehydration, but if you want to hatch their eggs, don't attempt until the ducks are completely recovered and healthy.

Personally, I don't hatch mixed breed eggs and if I did, I wouldn't hatch any eggs from birds who were not outstanding in some feature. If you hatch eggs from ducks who produce small eggs, you will get more ducks who produce small eggs. So, if you aren't looking for eggs, what is it about those mixed breed ducks that makes you need to have more just like them?

[Angela]

Curious,
My Cayugas always layed grey to black eggs.

[SLTurner55555]

Hi. I was asking because the people I got the ducks from were trying to hatch eggs from the ducks. I was just curious. I did contact them and tell them to give any future ducks a kiddie pool so they have more water. I was just curious.

Our girls we got from McMurrays produce dark grey eggs when the started laying and now after many months, off white eggs light grey. The new ducks eggs are darker grey. Thanks

[Angela]

In answer to your questions......water doesn't effect the size of eggs. As far as fertility...not directly, but ducks will breed easier on the water.

[Mary]

Any fowl that are dehydrated will have an affect on the ability of the eggs to hatch good quality birds. Likewise, I don't know how it affects fertility. Basically if you want healthy offspring from any fowl the parents need to be in prime shape, health, nutrition and hydration are all of great importance.

My Cayuga hens produced gray to black in all shades of gray including black speckles on gray. Now that they are a year old the current bunch of eggs are darker, nearly black. I wonder if diet has an affect on the darkness of the eggs or not free ranging right now.

[Evy]

Any fowl that are dehydrated will have an affect on the ability of the eggs to hatch good quality birds. Likewise, I don't know how it affects fertility. Basically if you want healthy offspring from any fowl the parents need to be in prime shape, health, nutrition and hydration are all of great importance.

My Cayuga hens produced gray to black in all shades of gray including black speckles on gray. Now that they are a year old the current bunch of eggs are darker, nearly black. I wonder if diet has an affect on the darkness of the eggs or not free ranging right now.

Color has more to do with their system. They'll be black or, with my Ameraucaunas, robin-egg blue, when they begin to lay & they fade as it gets closer to their molt. One of mine is now laying a nearly white egg. The same when I had Marans...they went from dark chocolate to tan as the season progressed. Some of the white Calls lay a pale blue egg, the Grays a slightly greenish one, both fading to white eventually. Being on grass may help some, just as it makes the yolks a darker orange.

[Mary]

Thank you Evy.

[Angela]

Color has more to do with their system. They'll be black or, with my Ameraucaunas, robin-egg blue, when they begin to lay & they fade as it gets closer to their molt. One of mine is now laying a nearly white egg. The same when I had Marans...they went from dark chocolate to tan as the season progressed. Some of the white Calls lay a pale blue egg, the Grays a slightly greenish one, both fading to white eventually. Being on grass may help some, just as it makes the yolks a darker orange.

Yep, got the same thing going on with my Ameraucanas. I pulled a white egg out of the coop last night and had to remind myself that I didn't have any white egg layers anymore.