Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/26/2007

Question
About a year ago my neighbor took in an injured wild duck and made it her pet. She took the duck to a vet and she assures me that the duck is now very clean and healthy. The duck is now producing eggs. My neighbor says that she eats the eggs but the eggs are quite large and she can not make use of all the eggs herself. So she is offering me some. So my question to you is: Do you think is is safe and healthy to eat these home grown eggs from a domesticated wild duck?

Answer
I don't offhand see any reason why these eggs would be any less healthy than any other eggs. Your neighbor is eating them and I presume has shown no ill effects. Usually the only health problem associated with eggs is letting them spoil or eating any with cracked shells, or not cooking them enough.  Although I can't speak for the condition of your neighbor's duck house or the health of the duck, I suspect these duck eggs would be just as healthy as store-bought eggs.