Cayuga's turning white??? why is this?

[riverman]

I just bought a Cayuga pair (my first ducks!! I'm stoked!) and all the pictures I've seen of them they are solid black and green. The guy said they just started turning white not too long ago and it might have been form stress or the seasons. They're still black with the green sheen(especially the drake) but they have white on their stomachs and wings a bit. It's mainly the female.

Did I buy a pair of mixed breeds or is this a common episode with Cayuga's? He said they're around 2 years.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[duckyfromoz]

As they age- many if the black duck breeds will loose colour. It is not necessarily through stress or seaons- just age. In time they may go almost completely while with just a splash of colour.

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

If you had a goo close pic I could probably tell you whether it is a cross or other, or if it is due to age or sun damage.

 

[sweeterdeeter42]

Yep, they are getting older. Just like dogs, cats, people.... chickens and ducks can get whiter as they age.

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
Exactly.

 

[riverman]

Ahhh thank you very much everyone. So does 2 years old sound about right for loosing some colors or did the guy probably lie to me?

 

[desertdarlene]

I'm not sure about if it's too early to change colors, but I do hear that female Cayugas tend to turn white faster than the males at a younger age.

They actually look very pretty when they age. I've heard, though, that people tend not to show the ones with white on them, but, instead, breed them and show off the offspring while they're still all black.

ETA: Here's a website that I saw about them that talks about turning white: http://www.domestic-waterfowl.co.uk/cayuga.htm

 

[tiffanya]

Mine haven't started turning white yet but my understanding is that only the duck, not the drake will gradually turn more and more white with age.

 

[riverman]

Ahhh, thank you all so much. With all your wonderful duck knowledge

 

[70%cocoa]

All breeds with "extended black' genes will turn white eventually, as duckyfromoz says. This means that all colours of Swedish will turn white too (less noticeable on the Splash though as they already have white). I have a black Swedish drake who is just starting to show some white at 2 years old. Lasting 2 years before showing white is pretty good! Many birds show white much earlier than that.