How To Forage For Wild Eggs

Have you ever considered foraging for wild eggs?

Most people haven't.

Yet, wild eggs are a great source of protein. And, they're often easy to find.

Under normal circumstances, I would not recommend foraging for wild eggs. Not because they aren't healthy or safe to eat, but because taking the eggs can impact the local bird population.

However, it is still good to learn where birds lay their eggs and how to find wild bird nests.

This way you can fall back on foraging for wild eggs in an emergency situation. Either to eat, or to hatch as your own livestock.

Here's how to you can find bird's nests and eggs in the wild.

Ground-Based Nests: The Easiest Foraging Opportunity

The easiest eggs to find are from birds who nest at ground level. Common examples of this include: geese, quail, and killdeer.

Goose eggs are some of the most common. And, they are the largest wild eggs in North America. Female geese typically lay around six eggs per nest, giving you a plentiful food source.

The only downside is that geese are very protective of their nests, and may try to attack you if you get too close.

Quail and killdeer eggs are smaller. But, these birds will not try to fight with you. Both birds also nest at ground level. And each lay brown-speckled eggs that can often blend in with their surroundings.

How To Judge An Egg

When foraging for wild eggs, you want to find ones that contain a fresh yolk. Not a developing baby bird.

Fortunately, there is an easy way to do this. Hold the egg up to a light source such as a candle or flashlight will allow you to see what is inside. If the egg is completely dark against the light, this means that there is a baby bird developing inside.

In a worst-case scenario, you can still eat these eggs (and in some cultures, "fetal eggs" are actually a delicacy) - because eggs remain edible at any stage in their development.

The Easiest Way To Prepare Wild Eggs

Eggs are some of the simplest foods to cook. You can fry them in a pan. Scramble them. Or boil them.

If you are low on resources, the easiest way to prepare your eggs is by boiling them in a pot or enamel mug. This takes about 6-8 minutes, and leaves you with a delicious, and nutritious, meal.

Again, while foraging for wild eggs to eat isn't recommended in good times - it is worth going out and looking for bird nests.

This way you have experience finding wild eggs.

And, you can use this knowledge in a life-or-death situation.

If you ever need to.

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