Duck allergy!!!

Okay, so we got 20 ducks last year for the first time ever. We've had chickens for 25 years, but never ducks. I was so looking forward to their eggs because everyone says they are great for baking and are super rich. They are now a year old (although we lost 2 to predation along the way) and producing eggs like crazy. The problem is that it turns out I am allergic to duck eggs! Who knew? I'd never eaten one in my life until last fall when our ducks began laying. After twice eating them and then spending the rest of the day alternating between severe projectile vomiting (yuk!) and more or less camping in the bathroom (plus fever, cramps and generally feeling like I had a severe case of the flu coupled with an asthma attack and near heart attack!) I finally had to concede that it was the eggs. Since then, I've found that I can't even go near the duck yard (especially their nest boxes) without getting a headache and shortness of breath. My husband has totally taken over the chore of feeding them and gathering eggs, etc. but I can't even cook them for the dogs without his having to scrub them first. Even then, I have to wear rubber gloves to handle them. Anyone else here allergic to duck eggs (and the ducks themselves apparently--at least their feces )? What should I do? We're vegetarians and only have ducks and chickens for their eggs, so I don't want to give them to someone who will kill them. Anyone know someone who would like ducks as pets and for their eggs who would keep them for life (their NATURAL life)?

Sooooo strange never heard of that Deb. What kind of ducks? It couldn't be anything to do with the area they are in or what they are eating? I'm really curious as to the difference in the duck vs. the chicken that would make you react. Hmmmmmm

been a professional cook for 23 years--have never, ever heard of this.  There is certainly well documented illness of poultry CAFO workers getting lung diseases, exposure to ammonia, fecal dust. Also plenty of dirt on stockyard industry, the cattle, the feeders. But never a diner, sorry.

Hmmmm, the only thing I can think of is that ducks poop on their eggs a bunch more than chickens do. Perhaps the first time you washed the eggs, you didn't use hot water or somehow some feces got into the eggs. Perhaps it's some sort of microorganism in the duck poop that messes with you? That would explain why even going near their house would mess with you.

The only thing I can think of is, have you tried fermenting their feed? Perhaps that would change the bacteria/fungi in their feces and it wouldn't aggravate you?

Allergic reactions to eggs are common enough that Utah's new food freedom legislation requires a warning label on foods that are prepared in the same kitchen as eggs.

I suppose that we don't hear much about duck egg allergies, because they are eaten so infrequently by so few people.
Duck Allergy: An Introduction

s wesley wrote:Sooooo strange never heard of that Deb. What kind of ducks? It couldn't be anything to do with the area they are in or what they are eating? I'm really curious as to the difference in the duck vs. the chicken that would make you react. Hmmmmmm

The ducks are Khaki Campbells, Cayugas, Rouens and Appleyards, but I don't think it has anything to do with their feed or where they are at because we have had chickens in that same area for almost 20 years, and I eat chicken eggs with no problems.  They also eat the same food--including fresh greens from our garden every day. I do know that people who are allergic to chicken eggs can often eat duck eggs with no problem because the proteins are different.

Nicole Alderman wrote:Hmmmm, the only thing I can think of is that ducks poop on their eggs a bunch more than chickens do. Perhaps the first time you washed the eggs, you didn't use hot water or somehow some feces got into the eggs. Perhaps it's some sort of microorganism in the duck poop that messes with you? That would explain why even going near their house would mess with you.

The only thing I can think of is, have you tried fermenting their feed? Perhaps that would change the bacteria/fungi in their feces and it wouldn't aggravate you?

Apparently, it is the proteins in the eggs that I am allergic to and since their feces also contains proteins specific to ducks, that would explain why even just touching the eggs can start me feeling like I can't breathe. Considering how little it takes to make me feel like I may be about to go into anaphylaxis, I don't really want to experiment with eating them at all. The last time, I really felt like I was going to die! It was not fun and I almost went to the hospital. The only reason I didn't is that I am one of those stubborn types who would pretty much have to have a leg cut off or something similar to send me to a doctor.

Joseph Lofthouse wrote:Allergic reactions to eggs are common enough that Utah's new food freedom legislation requires a warning label on foods that are prepared in the same kitchen as eggs.

I think I read somewhere that eggs are the 8th most common food allergy--especially among kids. Duck egg allergies are relatively rare (it's usually chicken eggs) but naturally, I have to be one of the few who has it! It really bums me out because I was looking forward to them for so long.



At any rate, I guess I didn't make my original post very clear. What I am really interested in is finding a home for our poor ducks--it isn't their fault I can't be around them and I don't want them to die. Does anyone know someone who absolutely wouldn't kill them and would just like to have their eggs and keep them as pets? They are beautiful ducks and we have a few drakes as well so they are capable of reproducing. (One Khaki female has been trying to set on a nest for the last month and we can't make her stop! We definitely don't need more ducks at this point.)

Everyone in my family is allergic to duck.  I found out when I was 15 and treated to a special duck dinner prepared especially for my birthday in the Poconos.  I was so ill that I had to be rushed to the hospital.  Years later, frying everything in duck fat became a huge fad in the U.S. and  I ran across some duckfat fried potatoes that made me quite ill in a popular food establishment in Washington, D.C.  The restaurant said that they had never heard of the allergy before.  About 20 years later, while living in Oman, I tried a dish at a Chinese restaurant that contained some duck, with even more disastrous results.  Later, in Morocco, some friends took us to their farm and offered us raw milk (I am lactose intolerant) and duck eggs.  No matter how much I tried to politely refuse them, they insisted that I take the milk and eggs home with me for my "health."  I gave them to a neighbor, because I was so afraid, I didn't want to handle the eggs.  Everyone is always surprised when I list duck and rhubarb as my food allergies, but, although they are uncommon, they have proven many times to be true.

Tanya Anderson wrote:Everyone in my family is allergic to duck.  I found out when I was 15 and treated to a special duck dinner prepared especially for my birthday in the Poconos.  I was so ill that I had to be rushed to the hospital.  Years later, frying everything in duck fat became a huge fad in the U.S. and  I ran across some duckfat fried potatoes that made me quite ill in a popular food establishment in Washington, D.C.  The restaurant said that they had never heard of the allergy before.  About 20 years later, while living in Oman, I tried a dish at a Chinese restaurant that contained some duck, with even more disastrous results.  Later, in Morocco, some friends took us to their farm and offered us raw milk (I am lactose intolerant) and duck eggs.  No matter how much I tried to politely refuse them, they insisted that I take the milk and eggs home with me for my "health."  I gave them to a neighbor, because I was so afraid, I didn't want to handle the eggs.  Everyone is always surprised when I list duck and rhubarb as my food allergies, but, although they are uncommon, they have proven many times to be true.

I can definitely sympathize! I am extremely allergic to the eggs so I might also be allergic to the duck meat if I ever ate it. (I won't, of course, because I am a vegetarian). We never found anyone to take our ducks so I just avoid getting too close to them--my husband deals with them completely now and I only handle the eggs (we feed them to our dogs) while wearing rubber gloves just to be safe. I'm 63 and never had an allergy before so this really sucks!

This is true. It’s not bacteria, or anything else. It is a true allergy. I get so sick for 24 hours after a very itchy and swollen mouth, throat, and lips. Sooo sick!i was tested and it’s an allergy. Allergies can affect your stomach and intestines. I had no idea.

Absolutely, allergies can affect your stomach and entire gastrointestinal tract.

Garlic, and to a slightly lesser degree onions (basically the alium family) devastate me, and unless it is a tiny amount, it never even makes it to the intestines! Technically, for me this would likely be classed as an "intolerance", as it does not cause swelling or breathing issues; just a NASTY gut upset.

I am anaphylactic with mango and RAW chicken egg whites. Oddly, if WELL cooked, the egg white protein is altered and I am non reactive. Needless to say I trust NO ONE to cook eggs for me!

I had a reaction exactly as described by Deb, about 30 years apart!
Mid-sternal pain, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramps and severe distress.

After the first experience I fastidiously avoided anything with even the suggestion of duck. My friend’s suggestion of her farmyard duck eggs didn’t even get a glance.

At a restaurant recently, I went to the trouble of asking, twice, what fat their potatoes were prepared in. They did not bother to verify.
It was a good thing I had been seated near the bathroom. I had the same unmistakeable reaction within minutes of ingesting the potatoes. I had eaten no meat that day.

I thought it could have been due to my Jewish heritage ( both Sephardic and Ashkenazi ), but I researched and found that Schmalz can be made from duck or chicken.  Maybe none of my ancestors ever ate duck, because I have absolutely no tolerance for it.

I HAVE THIS TOO and its a severe allergy. As soon as i put brownies in my mouth that are made with duck eggs my throat starts itching uncontrollably and i get soooo sick

Yes this is true! Almost my exact story, never ate duck eggs before, raised 4, and after the third time was the worst, eating them knew for sure, tried one small bite of my husband egg sandwich, he was fine I end up in hospital after collapsing on bathroom floor from throwing up 2 hours straight. Doctors useless, wouldn't listen to my background, just stomach flu he said. No, after same situation over a few months you know. After my throwing up stoped my nose ran, I was sneezing and my throat itchy scratchy. I eat chicken eggs all the time no issue. I don't have any problem with being around or caring for my ducks though.

Deb and Tanya,

You're not crazy. When I was a child, I remember coming home from a local Chinese restaurant that served "Peking Duck." Right after arriving at home, I lost control of my stomach. Like I said, I was a child, and we never did figure it out. Then, this summer, a friend that I was visiting gave me some nice, big, fresh, white duck eggs from her flock. She told me how much richer was their flavor, and, being a big foodie, I couldn't wait to get home and make an omelet with them. So, they were still very fresh when I whipped them up and put them in the skillet with some butter. And yes, they did taste much more rich! Then, about 45 minutes later, I started feeling queasy and I got the sweats. In 5-10 more minutes, I was running for the bathroom. After the worst happened, I literally fell over on to the sofa and went comatose for about 8 hours. I'm 63 years old, and nothing like this had ever happened to me - except for when I was a kid and ate a little piece of Peking Duck at the local Chinese restaurant.

Bummer!!! I have always wanted to just try fois gra, and now I realize that I dare not eat anything from a duck!

Thanks for your comments!
Tim

I will start by saying that I do not have any medical training beyond lifeguard and first aid. Even if I did, I would never suggest someone with as severe a reaction as you expiriment.

However, for those people who have a more mild reaction, who want to try to sort things out, I want to share some information. Sometimes we think allergies are to a specific thing, and we find out they are really different... or for a different reason.

Jack Spirko on his podcast has several times talked about how people who could not eat chicken eggs could eat his duck eggs (which is not uncommon), but also found that people could eat his duck eggs who could not eat other duck eggs. They found it was related to what the ducks were fed. His ducks were fed a GMO-free soy-free diet. They suspected for these people it was actually the soy, not the egg itself that was causing the reaction. I have heard similar stories about people not being able to eat store bought eggs, and can't eat some farm eggs, but eggs that are organic or soy-free they can eat.

A little off topic, but there are many people talking about why they believe gluten was not a problem before, and is such a big problem now. The idea is that in historic times, the wheat was left in the field to dry. Dew would settle on it at night and dry up during the day. This process allowed the gluten to be broken down into something that humans can handle better. In this case, people who have reactions to gluten (really their body just doesn't know what to do with it), are most likely affected because modern agriculture sprays the field with chemicals to kill it all at the same time and then uses machines to dry it quickly out of the elements, which does not allow the gluten to break down (and leaves herbicide on the wheat as well).

A friend of mine had a diabetic son who kept reacting to apples in a negative way. They could have assumed it was the apples themselves, but they found that some places spray a sugary substance on the apples to preserve them. If he peeled them or ate non-sprayed apples he was fine.

Again, I would never suggest someone with severe reactions experiment, but I would suggest that allergies and intolerances are complicated by the sheer number of things that are on or in the foods we eat.

I am amazed, I take it the Ducks got a new home?

Hi Deb,

I also have a severe duck egg allergy! It took me a long time to figure it out since it was the last thing I expected. It seems like the allergy got worse the more times I was exposed to them. First few times I ate them I don’t remember getting sick at all. But after the next couple time it nearly killed me… in one of the first two severe episodes, my husband came home to me unconscious on the floor and had to call me an ambulance. I was in the hospital for a week before my vitals were stable enough and the doctors let me go home. By that time we connected the dots and realized it was the duck eggs.

Years have gone by now and last week I placed an order at a farm that I get my dairy and meat from. And I added on some of their fresh GF blueberry muffins.

So the next day, I come home from work, ate a muffin, made and ate dinner… and not long after dinner I knew something was wrong… within 20 min I was violently ill, puking, diarrhea, dizzy, etc… my husband wanted me to go to the hospital but I just thought it was bad food poisoning and it would pass as soon as I got it out of my system. The puking didn’t stop and I started having trouble breathing so my husband rushed me to the hospital and within another 30 minutes I was having convulsions and had 104+ fever. Took them 2 hours to stop the shaking and start actually treating me. They kept me for 4 days on observation until my vitals were stable and I could keep food down.

I couldn’t figure out what could have done it since nothing I ate was unusual. But I said to my brother it was so similar to my duck egg allergy - but worse. So he decided to call the farm…
It just so happened that the farm ran out of their chicken eggs and a local vendor offered them duck eggs as a substitute for their baked goods. I think the odds of me ordering THAT batch of muffins has to be less than getting struck by lightning!

Honestly, I don’t know if I can ever order anything that has eggs listed on the ingredients. I read that as long as it says “egg” in the ingredients, it can be chicken, duck or goose. Even though I’m sure most are chicken, I can’t take the risk…

Anyway, been researching a lot about it and saw this blog and thought I’d share.

There is a common misconcetion that an allergy simply "is".

Allergies can develop/occur at ANY time throughout one's life AND once triggered can get exponentially WORSE with repeated exposure.

Interestingly, they can also "disappear" if exposure to an allergen is eliminated, ideally for seven years. Cell replication in the human body means within 7 yrs, likely ALL the cells "activated" or reactive/allergic cells will be gone in that time. In NO WAY am I suggesting that one could ever assume a severe reaction can be eliminated in seven years, but it is not uncommon.

Personally, I just had another round of "allergy testing" that has shown this to be true, for myself. I HAD two items (raw egg white and mango) that I had anaphylaxis to historically that I now test negative for. Others that I had "sensitivity" (reactions that did not cause anaphylaxis to, but would cause respiratory issues) to such as tree and grass pollens, food items such as wheat, beef, yeast, and animals such as cat and rabbit along with a host of others; all are now also "non reactive".

Original testing and avoidance began 25 years ago, testing was via "scratch tests", and repeated at various intervals over the past few decades. Most recent testing had to be via blood draw (due to auto immune issues and medications that block histamine production).

Again, I am NOT suggesting IF one were to "stay clean" for 7 yrs and you would "recover" and no longer be at risk; but there is the real possibility that severe reactions CAN, over time have the possibility of reducing and potentially eliminating severe reactions.

Yes, I still and always will carry an epi-pen.

My daughter has the same issue with being anywhere near ducks, she gets asthma attacks, we had to move the cage very far from the house.

Hi Linda,

Welcome to Permies.

I too, get violently ill to Duck. Duck Fat fries sound delicious but not to my inside. I have been tested and it is indeed a protein in the Duck itself that makes me ill. It is more common since cooking with duck fat has been a trend in fine restaurants around the world. I had fried chicken in a swanky restaurant that had been friend in duck fat. (We had told the waiter of my allergy and he said nothing about how the chicken was cooked in duck fat). About 15 mins after dinner arrived I was vomiting and was transported to ER. (I was dizzy, sweating profusely, and couldn’t stand in addition to the rest). Be careful out there! I have other food issues but this one just seems so absurd to most people!

Ps. I hope you found good homes for your ducks!

Lorinne Anderson wrote:
Interestingly, they can also "disappear" if exposure to an allergen is eliminated, ideally for seven years. Cell replication in the human body means within 7 yrs, likely ALL the cells "activated" or reactive/allergic cells will be gone in that time. In NO WAY am I suggesting that one could ever assume a severe reaction can be eliminated in seven years, but it is not uncommon.

Personally, I just had another round of "allergy testing" that has shown this to be true, for myself. I HAD two items (raw egg white and mango) that I had anaphylaxis to historically that I now test negative for. Others that I had "sensitivity" (reactions that did not cause anaphylaxis to, but would cause respiratory issues) to such as tree and grass pollens, food items such as wheat, beef, yeast, and animals such as cat and rabbit along with a host of others; all are now also "non reactive".

Lorinne, I'm glad you still carry an Epipen! I would be very wary of assuming an antibody-based blood test for allergy that was negative after an extended period of avoiding the trigger meant you weren't allergic any more. It simply means that there are no antibodies in your system currently. That might be because you're no longer allergic. But antibody levels will naturally reduce over time for many things, yet could be released in floods if a person is exposed to whatever the trigger is. The lack of antibodies to those allergens could mean you haven't been exposed to the trigger recently enough for your mast cells and other cells that to release allergy chemicals to have produced any antibodies to it. There are some things that given long enough our body will "forget" it used to react to, and other things that it never, ever forgets!

I know from my own experience with mast cell activation disorder that after a period of trigger avoidance, misbehaving mast cells can settle down and get far less reactive. But that tends to be more the case with sensitivities than IgE allergic reactions, which generally involve different immune system cells.