Cayuga Hen just launched herself 5 feet off the ground

[cayugaducklady]

Hi,

I just had quite the surprise. I opened the garage door to lead my Cayugas to their day pen. My largest Cayuga hen proudly showed me that she could launch herself 5 feet off the ground. She jumped straight up and flapped her wings a few times. She had several seconds of hang time.

I didn't have time to grab a picture.

All four of them have been stretching and flapping their wings for weeks now. But I've never seen any of them actually get off the ground.

They're teenagers and are just starting their second molt ( and possibly playing hop on top).

Any one else experience this with their ducks? I am wondering if I need to prepare my self to clip wings or if they'll grow to heavy to actually fly away.

Here is a picture of them foraging from 2 weeks ago to show their size. My best estimate their weights now are about 3.5 to 4 lbs. I could be way off on that guess though. I try not to pick them up to avoid stressing them. They haven't finished filling out yet because their wingtips overlap a bit on their backs.

I have more recent videos and can pull stills from them if needed.

The iphone does a terrible job of capturing all the beetle green & blue iridescence of their feathers.

 

[lynss94]

My Khaki is VERY petite, no more than 4 pounds and probably closer to 3.5. I know for a fact she can get at least 6/7 feet off the ground with no problem. She doesn't do it often but she can. My Pekin on the other hand, tooooooo fat.

I don't like the idea of clipping my Khaki's wings even though she could realistically jump over the 4 foot fence around our backyard. I would say watch them for now and see what they do. If most of them get too big to become air born, the few that may be able to won't really "learn" how to because they haven't been around other birds that fly. My Khaki stays on the ground less than my Pekin. She is the one that TRIES to fly. It's a hoot to watch.

 

[cayugaducklady]

Wow thanks for sharing your experience. I probably would have jumped out of my skin if my cayuga got that high off the ground. It startled me enough seeing her get to eye level with me.

Our acreage isn't fenced yet but i do worry about them flying away.One local hatchery I talked to said they always have a few cayugas that fly away in the fall. but they were the only ones out of the many I talked to that told me that.

The other 3 are definitely just tippy-toeing it while they flap their wings. They all flap and stampede when i lead them from the night room to their day pen.

 

[lynss94]

Wow thanks for sharing your experience. I probably would have jumped out of my skin if my cayuga got that high off the ground. It startled me enough seeing her get to eye level with me.

Our acreage isn't fenced yet but i do worry about them flying away.One local hatchery I talked to said they always have a few cayugas that fly away in the fall. but they were the only ones out of the many I talked to that told me that.

The other 3 are definitely just tippy-toeing it while they flap their wings. They all flap and stampede when i lead them from the night room to their day pen.

Yes, this is what my girls will do! I also worry about clipping because of predators. At least if she has the ability to fly, she can possibly get away.

 

[cayugaducklady]

Everyone is now jump-flying the few inches from the ground to get into their repurposed dog pool.

Thanks for reassuring me.

 

[lynss94]

Everyone is now jump-flying the few inches from the ground to get into their repurposed dog pool.

Thanks for reassuring me.

No problem! Good luck with your duckies!

 

[Sfraker]

My Cayuga mix can get a couple feet off the ground and some of my WH can do the same. They started that at about the same age as yours and have not changed in the ability. In fact I have one that must take her afternoon naps on top of two straw bales. I think she likes to look down on everyone else like ha ha!

I don't think they will leave the fenced in area as they know its safe in their yard and all their friends, food and water are there.

 

[cayugaducklady]

They have invented a new game for themselves. If I sit in my chair cross my legs at the knee (while they're free foraging outside of their pen) they'll take turns flying up on my foot and resting there until I startle them or they poop on me :/.