Cayuags flew:UPDATE

[pirtykitty]

My male has sailed across the yard a little ways.. and female jumped out of night pen and went a little ways.. they are 16 weeks... but I think they have too much junk in the trunk to go very far or high... the male is getting really big. and the female is half his size.. I think they might get even bigger before through growing.. we have 6 and 8 ft high privacy fence..

 

[hendrix25]

Ok wow. Maybe this explains why they can fly. Their primary flight feathers are super long, they overlap on their backs. when they hold their primary feather by their side they touch the ground. Maybe they are Cayugas and their feathers are just super long. Could this be because I give them DE in their food once a week? I know their feathers are beautiful since I've been using the DE. Oh boy this will be an adventure. They're aren't too willing to let me hold them.

 

[Duck Keeper]

Nah, their feathers are supposed to overlap; it means the feathers are healthy and they aren't all scraggly before a molt. But if clipping them keeps them grounded until they flesh out, I'd do it.

The feathers will grow back in over time as well. So no worries about permanent damage unless you hit a blood feather.

Make sure to search that on here to get a better understanding first...?

 

[1lpoock]

I can tell you that they definetly arent cayugas..there is no way they could get over a few feet off of the ground and stay in flight. My black east indies sound the exact same as to what you are describing. Also, my BEI's have a lot more green to them than my cayugas....i think somehow you got BEI's

 

[hendrix25]

Yes I will research it before attempting the task. Should I feed them a higher protein feed for weight gain?

 

[Livinzoo]

My Cayugas are about 6 months old and have never been able to fly. Maybe since they are hatchery stock the hatchery crossed them with a BEI at some point and made for a smaller bird.

If you need help wing trimming I'm east of the lake. If you want an unrelated drake I have several for sale. black, blue and silver.

 

[duckboatprincess]

I have two cayugas around 3-4 months old. Neither can fly. They can barely jump. They just flap their wings and run down hills. I don't think you've got cayugas. Sorry. Is the person you got them from certain they are pure bred and that they are in fact cayugas?

 

[hendrix25]

Quote:
Thanks for the offered help. I will attempt this and if I need you're help I will let you know

Thanks, but no thanks on the drake, all of mine turned out to be drakes, so now I have three.

 

[hendrix25]

As far as their breed, I held the drake that was the "dad" and I seen pictures of the duck (she was killed by a predator) they both were really big. I asked the breeder and she order Black Cayugas from a Hatchery. She's had the drake for about 8 years and the duck was 2 years old. I recently sent her the story about them flying and she is just as shock as I am. She said the rest of the brood hasn't attempted to fly at all. This is just a weird story. I am going to try to get a higher protein food and see if that will put some weight them and trim their feathers too. Strange.