Eggs won't peel

I want to make my husband pickled eggs. I tried a few weeks ago but the eggs (duck) were too fresh. I saved a dozen duck eggs and put them in the fridge for 2 weeks so that that wouldn't be an issue. Yesterday I cooked up the two week old eggs ( brought the eggs to a boil and then turned off the water, leaving them for 17 minutes as instructed) and immediately plunged them in cold water, then drained them after 15-20 minutes and then put them the fridge. This morning I tried to peel them... and what a mess. So much for the pickled eggs. What do you do when you make hard boiled eggs? Is there a secret to it that I don't know? Please share.

peel them right away as they are cooling in the water in sink, I have never cooled them overnight and then tried, also never tried hardboiling duck eggs before, maybe they are different to peel?

I found the duck egg we boiled to peel very easily and it was laid that day. I put vinegar and salt in my water when boiling. Usually, I only boil 2 week old eggs, this was a special case.

That said, I also leave eggs I want to boil on the cupboard for a day or so and then put them in the fridge. It usually works.

You can also try putting a little cooking oil into your water.

I always use soft water, be that rain water or water with salt in it. do not cool the eggs and then try to peel them. I think that is your mistake. Peel them as soon as you can handle the eggs after cooling. I put cold water in the pot, drain that off and then more cold water, and peel immediately. Always have eggs that peel easily. For surely, you had let the eggs get cold and then they become horrible to peel. Been there, done that. Don't cool the eggs down, somethin happens. Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

The trick is to crack the shell (I tap with a spoon) before putting them in the cold water. My eggs peel like a dream ever since I started doing this!

Chickencrack suggests massive amounts of salt in the boiling water.