The simple answer to whether a “boy duck” lays eggs is no. The correct term for a male duck is a drake, and the female is a hen. Like all bird species, egg-laying is an exclusively female biological function, meaning only the hen possesses the reproductive anatomy required for this process.
The Difference Between Drakes and Hens
Only the female duck, or hen, possesses the necessary internal structures to produce and lay an egg. The reproductive system of a hen consists of a single functional ovary and oviduct, typically located on the left side of her body. This adaptation reduces body weight, which is beneficial for flight.
The egg production process begins in the ovary, where the yolk is formed from nutrients in the duck’s diet. When a yolk matures, it is released into the oviduct, a long, convoluted tube where the rest of the egg is constructed. As the yolk travels through the oviduct, layers of albumen (egg white) are deposited, followed by the formation of the shell membranes.
The egg then moves into the shell gland (uterus), where the hard outer shell, primarily composed of calcium carbonate, is added. This entire journey, from ovulation to the egg being laid, typically takes a little over 24 hours in a hen that is actively laying. This complex process is entirely driven by the female anatomy, which is structurally absent in the drake.
The Role of the Male Duck
The primary biological purpose of the male duck, or drake, is to provide the genetic material for fertilization. Drakes possess internal testes, located near the kidneys, for the production of sperm. Unlike most bird species, drakes also have an intermittent organ, a corkscrew-shaped phallus, which is used for copulation.
This unique organ allows for internal fertilization, where the drake transfers sperm into the hen’s reproductive tract. The hen has a specialized tract that can store sperm, allowing her to fertilize multiple eggs after a single mating session. A hen will lay an egg whether or not it has been fertilized; the drake’s presence only determines if that egg can develop into a duckling.
The drake’s contribution is also behavioral, particularly during the breeding season. Males engage in elaborate courtship displays, such such as head-bobbing and wing-flapping, to attract a mate. While drakes are responsible for fertilization, the female is solely responsible for incubating the eggs and raising the young.