Swedish black ducks, also known as the Swedish duck, are a breed of domesticated duck that originated in Sweden. They are a hardy, dual-purpose breed that is raised both for meat and egg production. Swedish black ducks are a popular choice among homesteaders and small farm owners due to their natural foraging abilities, cold hardiness and excellent egg laying. But when it comes to their eggs, what color eggs do these ducks lay? Let’s take a closer look at Swedish black duck genetics and egg color.
Swedish Black Duck Breed Overview
The Swedish black duck breed standard recognizes only one color variety – pure black. They have an iridescent black plumage with bright purple-tinged highlights when viewed in sunlight. Their bill is dark gray or black and their legs and feet are dark orange or reddish-black. They have a unique head shape that is long and narrow.
Swedish black ducks are a heavy breed, with mature drakes weighing around 8 pounds and hens weighing in at around 7 pounds. They have an upright, horizontal posture when resting. Unlike the iconic white Pekin duck, the Swedish black duck has a horizontal body carriage rather than the more upright stance of other duck breeds.
Originally bred as a productive meat and egg duck, the Swedish black is an excellent dual-purpose breed. The hens are known for being exceptional layers of large white eggs even in cold climates. The ducks are good foragers when allowed to free range and are very hardy in both hot and cold environments.
Egg Color Genetics in Ducks
All duck breeds lay eggs with shells that are some shade of white, green, blue or brown. Unlike chicken egg color, which is determined by the earlobe color of the hen, duck egg shell color is not breed specific. The actual color of a duck egg shell is influenced by genetic factors as well as environmental conditions.
There are two main pigments that contribute to egg shell color in ducks:
- Protoporphyrin – Responsible for brown egg color
- Biliverdin – Responsible for blue-green egg color
All ducks lay white or pale eggs when they first start laying eggs. Over time, pigment deposition increases, leading to blue-green or brown tinted egg shells. The protoporphyrin and biliverdin pigments get embedded into the eggshell as it is formed within the oviduct of the duck.
What Influences Duck Egg Shell Color?
Some key factors that influence duck egg color include:
- Genetics – Some bloodlines tend to lay darker colored eggs
- Age – Shell color darkens as the duck ages
- Diet – Increased carotenoids make darker egg shells
- Environment – More sunlight exposure = darker eggs
- NEST BOX – Clean vs dirty nesting material
As you can see, many factors come into play when determining the final color of a duck egg shell. Even within the same breed, egg shell color can vary from duck to duck based on these conditions.
What Color Eggs Do Swedish Black Ducks Lay?
Swedish black ducks most commonly lay eggs with pure white or lightly tinted shells. When they first begin laying at around 6 months old, their eggs will be white or extremely pale. As the ducks mature, the egg shells will gradually take on a blue-green or light brown tint.
Some key facts about Swedish black duck egg color:
- Young ducks lay very light colored eggs
- Older ducks lay eggs with more pigmentation
- Blue-green and light brown are the most common
- Dark brown or olive green shells are less common
- Pure white eggs may be laid at any age
While Swedish blacks have the genetic potential for dark brown eggs, it is not commonly seen. Their egg color is heavily influenced by environmental factors such as access to grass/insects and sunlight exposure. If the duck has a diet high in carotenoids from foraging in fields and gets plenty of sun, the egg shells will be darker.
Typical Egg Production
Swedish black ducks are considered a good egg laying duck breed. They excel at egg production even in cold northern climates thanks to their hardy nature. Here are some typical egg laying traits of Swedish blacks:
- Begin laying at 6-7 months old
- Lay an average of 200-270 eggs per year
- Highest production seen from March-June
- Continue laying eggs for 3-5 years
- Lay larger eggs than most duck breeds
- Average egg size is 70-80g
- Will lay eggs sporadically in winter if light is provided
Swedish black ducks reach peak egg production from around 1-3 years old. Their productivity will gradually decline as the ducks age. But with proper care, these hardy ducks can continue providing eggs for several years.
Typical Egg Color Progression
As Swedish black ducks mature and age, their egg color will normally progress like this:
| Duck’s Age | Typical Egg Color |
|---|---|
| 6-12 months old | White to pale green |
| 1-2 years old | Light blue-green |
| 3-5 years old | Blue-green to light brown |
However, shell color is not just dependent on the duck’s age. Other factors like nutrition, environment and individual genetics also play a key role in determining egg color. Some Swedish black ducks may never lay dark brown eggs while others have the genetic potential to do so.
Comparison to Other Duck Breeds
Here’s how Swedish black duck egg color compares to some other common duck breeds:
| Breed | Typical Egg Color |
|---|---|
| Swedish Black | White to light brown |
| Pekin | Creamy white |
| Cayuga | Dark green to black |
| Welsh Harlequin | White to pale blue |
| Rouen | Blue to dark green |
| Magpie | White |
| Runner | White to green |
As you can see, Swedish blacks tend towards the lighter end of the duck egg color spectrum. Other breeds like Cayugas and Rouens are far more likely to lay dark colored eggs while Swedes produce mostly lighter eggs.
Egg Color Doesn’t Affect Quality
It’s important to note that egg shell color has no bearing on the quality, nutritional value, taste or composition of the egg itself. The color stems from pigment deposition in the outer shell, not the interior contents. So you can rest assured that a blue-green egg from a Swedish black duck will taste and nutrition wise be the same as a brown egg from a different breed.
Increasing Darker Egg Color
If you are set on getting darker egg color from your Swedish blacks, here are a few tips:
- Allow ducks access to grass/insects
- Feed carrots, marigolds or other carotenoid sources
- Provide direct outdoor sunlight exposure
- Use clean, dry nesting materials
- Select breeders that lay darker eggs
Following these guidelines can help encourage more pigment deposition in the egg shells. But darker eggs should not be expected from all Swedish black ducks, as their genetics simply favor lighter egg color overall.
Conclusion
Swedish black ducks typically lay eggs that range from white to various shades of blue-green or light brown. Their egg color is heavily dependent on the age and environment of the duck. While they have the genetic potential for darker brown eggs, lighter coloring is more commonly observed. With excellent cold hardiness and efficient egg production, Swedish blacks remain a wonderful backyard or homestead duck breed – regardless of shell color!
