Cayuga duck molted into a green/white duck at 1 year molt

[Fluffy Hens]

I have 2 Cayuga ducks that came from McMurray hatchery. At their one year molt they grew white feathers. Whats up with that ?? They were a beautiful emerald green/iridescent black prior to this molt. Here are photos. She gets Purina duck food. Sometimes Neutrena All Flock. She gets to go in a clean, non stagnant pond and out in out field when I can watch. None of my other ducks molted to non standard colors for their breed.

 

[Fluffy Hens]

This is her son when she bred with my Saxony male. (The grey headed drake is a Saxony/ Silver Appleyard cross, he is so handsome )

 

[SilverBirds]

That is the wonderful thing about cayugas. They start off all black and with each molt grow more white feathers. Their eggs also go from black-olive to a lighter color as they get older. And you may notice more orange on their feet and bills.

 

[Fluffy Hens]

That is the wonderful thing about cayugas. They start off all black and with each molt grow more white feathers. Their eggs also go from black-olive to a lighter color as they get older. And you may notice more orange on their feet and bills.

No kidding? I never knew that. Thanks for the info!!!

 

[SilverBirds]

Your welcome! They don't all change on the first molt. One of my cayuga girls turned almost entirely white for her first molt and my other female only had white specks here and there for hers. And then my male didn't get any white until his second molt.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Happens with blk Runners too. And my Blue Runner is turning white also.

 

[Fluffy Hens]

Happens with blk Runners too. And my Blue Runner is turning white also.

Wow, I just never new this. I guess that explains the color of her son LOL. That made me scratch my head.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I suspect one of these days they will be all white. lol my drake only has a small amount of white on him they are going to be 6 end of this month.

 

[SilverBirds]

 

[Miss Lydia]

Beautiful! I like the speckles.