Drakes Color Change

[DellaNTuff]

This is our first year with ducks, wow you think you googled it all but that's a lie lol.

We got a trio and I did read the Drake may change colors with molting and seasons but am honestly surprised by how much, so wanted to check all was normal.

This is him when we first got them in April

And this is him today, he is in the middle.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC!
Mine change drastically too, so I would say it's normal.

 

[DellaNTuff]

Thank you! I would not be a popular mom if anything was wrong with Wilbur lol.

 

[casportpony]

Oh, forgot to say they are really pretty!

 

[casportpony]

Thank you! I would not be a popular mom if anything was wrong with Wilbur lol.

What a cute name, I love it!

 

[DellaNTuff]

Thank you we just live them! We went on a family trip and they built a nest when we were gone so we let them carry on and now there's 3+8, and are building a bigger better pen for them.

I just love watching them swim and play, they are such characters.

The hen in a hissing at me position in the second is Paint she hatched the eggs and the other is Goldie, each of my kids got to pick and name one.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a beautiful family

 

[DellaNTuff]

What a beautiful family

Thank you!!

 

[WVduckchick]

Many drakes go through yearly molt and transform into their "eclipse" plumage, lose their flight feathers and look basically dull and drab. Defense mechanism from their wild roots. Their normal feathering is called "nuptial" plumage, when they are fully feathered and breeding and looking all handsome for the ladies!

My drake is in eclipse right now.

From February

A few days ago:

 

[casportpony]