A single duck egg contains about 130 calories. That’s for a typical duck egg weighing around 70 grams, which is roughly 40% heavier than a large chicken egg. The extra size and a proportionally larger yolk account for most of the calorie difference between the two.
Full Nutritional Breakdown
One whole raw duck egg (70 grams) provides approximately 130 calories, 9 grams of protein, and 9.7 grams of fat, including 2.6 grams of saturated fat. When you look at duck eggs per 100 grams (a standard comparison used in nutrition databases), the numbers climb to 185 calories, 13 grams of protein, and 14 grams of fat.
The cholesterol content is the number that tends to surprise people. A single duck egg contains roughly 619 milligrams of cholesterol, which is more than double what you’d find in a large chicken egg. For most healthy adults, dietary cholesterol has less impact on blood cholesterol than once believed, but it’s worth knowing if you eat eggs daily or have been advised to watch your intake.
How Duck Eggs Compare to Chicken Eggs
A large chicken egg weighs about 50 grams and contains around 72 calories, 6.2 grams of protein, and 5 grams of fat. So a duck egg delivers nearly twice the calories of a chicken egg, but it’s also a substantially bigger egg. Gram for gram, duck eggs are still more calorie-dense, largely because of a higher yolk-to-white ratio. Research comparing egg quality across poultry species shows that the proportion of yolk varies significantly, and duck eggs carry more yolk relative to their size than chicken eggs do. Since nearly all the fat and most of the calories in any egg live in the yolk, that ratio matters.
When both eggs are cooked and compared at equal weights (100 grams), duck eggs come in at 223 calories with 18.5 grams of fat, while chicken eggs land at 149 calories with 11 grams of fat. Protein is closer: 12 grams for duck versus 10 grams for chicken at that same weight. So if you’re swapping one for one in a recipe, you’re getting more of everything, not just more calories.
Vitamins and Minerals
Duck eggs are unusually rich in vitamin B12, delivering about 168% of the daily value in a single egg. B12 is essential for making red blood cells and building DNA, and it’s a nutrient many people fall short on, especially those who limit meat intake. Duck eggs also contain around 50% more vitamin A than chicken eggs, along with higher levels of folate and iron.
Selenium is another standout. Duck eggs provide meaningful amounts of this mineral, which plays a role in thyroid function and immune defense. They also contain higher levels of omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids than chicken eggs, making them a slightly better source of the fats linked to heart and brain health.
What This Means for Your Diet
If you’re counting calories, the simplest way to think about it is that one duck egg roughly equals two chicken eggs in terms of energy, fat, and protein. That can work in your favor if you want a more filling breakfast from fewer eggs, or it can add up quickly if you’re frying three of them without realizing the math.
For baking, the larger size and richer yolk make duck eggs popular for custards, pasta dough, and pastries where you want a creamier texture. Many bakers substitute one duck egg for one chicken egg but reduce any added fat slightly to compensate. If a recipe calls for multiple eggs, using one fewer duck egg than the chicken egg count usually gets you close to the same volume and richness.
People with chicken egg allergies sometimes tolerate duck eggs, though this isn’t universal. The proteins in duck egg whites differ enough that some individuals don’t react to them, but cross-reactivity is common. If you have a known egg allergy, testing under medical supervision is the safe route before adding duck eggs to your meals.