Chubby little Drake

[CarolMck]

Hi all!

I hatched my first ducklings in April and gave the girls away to a lovely home and kept the 3 drakes as I didn’t think the neighbours would appreciate the racket of the runners

I’m left with two lovely Cayuga drakes and one cuddly as anything runner. All is well and they are still getting on like best buddies and I’m loving spending so much time with them all- but I have one question- or maybe not a question but just a bit of an observation.

One of the Cayuga boys is quite different to his brother. Little Jack has quite a short stubby beak and short little legs- he’s otherwise normal and happy- eats well and seems content.

Here they are side by side. Steve on the left has a slim and long beak while Jacks is stubby and short and has quite a cherub like face shape with a much more circular shaped head. I have no idea if it is related at all but his grooves under his beak are much more defined and sharper He’s going through a moult at the the moment hence the somewhat dishevelled appearance

and here he is on his own

Is it simply a case of all ducks are a bit different like humans? His beak almost reminds me more of a call duck proportion wise

They were both incubated from pure Cayuga eggs and hatched without assistance.

Interested to hear anyone’s thoughts

Best

 

[fatty and friends]

how much does he weigh? he looks big but reminds me of a black east indies (basically a call duck sized cayuga)

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If I had to guess it just looks like some recessive genetic traits coming to the surface. Not show quality, but backyard/hatchery.

 

[Miss Lydia]

He sure is cute

 

[CarolMck]

how much does he weigh? he looks big but reminds me of a black east indies (basically a call duck sized cayuga)

I think he was just over 6lb when we weighed them all last month

 

[CarolMck]

If I had to guess it just looks like some recessive genetic traits coming to the surface. Not show quality, but backyard/hatchery.

Thanks so much for the reply- that makes sense! We got them from a local farm so I’m not sure of their breeding setup but as long as he’s happy and healthy

 

[CarolMck]

He sure is cute

I think so too- I love his little quirks bless him. As long as he’s happy I’m happy

 

[Isadora]

Those boys are so handsome!!

 

[Quatie]

I had a Pekin that was like that. She had chubby cheeks. She was super lazy. We got other ducks and started to move and forage more. She slimmed down and lost her chubby cheeks.

You can see how chubby she was.

So yeah, some just get fatter. They are adorable though.

 

[CarolMck]

I had a Pekin that was like that. She had chubby cheeks. She was super lazy. We got other ducks and started to move and forage more. She slimmed down and lost her chubby cheeks.

You can see how chubby she was.
View attachment 2802320

So yeah, some just get fatter. They are adorable though.

Ahhh they’re all gorgeous!!