Cayuga drakes crossed to Ancona ducks (hens)

[Doug O]

So, when I ordered my first flock of ducklings last year, I only could get straight runs. (Ordered from Cackle Hatchery and was very pleased with the experience) In the order, I ordered 4 Cayugas and 4 Anconas. All four Cayugas turned out to be drakes and all four Anconas were ducks, go figure. So now, I just had my first brood hatch out (using a Blue English Orpington hen to incubate them) and figured I would share with whoever was interested my new hybrid birds. I had googled to see if anyone else had crossed the two to see what their birds grew up to look like and perform but I found nothing. In the mix of 8 that hatched I had two Pure Khaki Campbells and one that looking like an Ancona (but I think is a Ancona x khaki campbell cross...that I named Nibs).

 

[Doug O]

The five Cayuga/Ancona look a lot like Black Swedish ducklings. These kids are three days old.

 

[Doug O]

At two weeks

 

[Doug O]

The kiddos at three weeks

 

[Doug O]

The ducklings during week three. First time on grass.

 

[Doug O]

The wee ones at four weeks old...not so wee anymore.

 

[Leave a LightOn]

Adorable! Thanks for the updated photos. They grow so fast!

 

[Annieb12345]

So, when I ordered my first flock of ducklings last year, I only could get straight runs. (Ordered from Cackle Hatchery and was very pleased with the experience) In the order, I ordered 4 Cayugas and 4 Anconas. All four Cayugas turned out to be drakes and all four Anconas were ducks, go figure. So now, I just had my first brood hatch out (using a Blue English Orpington hen to incubate them) and figured I would share with whoever was interested my new hybrid birds. I had googled to see if anyone else had crossed the two to see what their birds grew up to look like and perform but I found nothing. In the mix of 8 that hatched I had two Pure Khaki Campbells and one that looking like an Ancona (but I think is a Ancona x khaki campbell cross...that I named Nibs).View attachment 1054484

Hi Doug, last year we ended up with about twelve fertile eggs from our Cayuga hens. There were both Ancona and Cayuga drakes fathering them. The ducklings look just like yours. They are so pretty with their black and white markings when they are young. All the pretty black faded out and although they still have unique markings, only the pure Cayugas maintained the black markings. Maybe yours will keep their attractive contrasting colors. I miss all my baby ducks! Our females were wiped out by a raccoon so we incubated the eggs and raised the nine that hatched in our bathtub with a heat lamp. It was such fun watching them swim and learn to be big ducks! Have fun!

 

[Doug O]

The babies at five weeks, relaxing and enjoying some lettuce.

 

[GoofyNewt]

Updates please? I was thinking of doing this and am curious how the cuties turned out