Duck Dilemma, to Cayuga or not to Cayuga?

[Miss Lydia]

did I get my first Cayuga egg today??

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My Cayuga ladies are almost 6 months. I figured they wouldn’t lay until spring but today I got this dar@shawk egg. I’ve never gotten a dark one so I’m thinking Cayuga?

@shawluvsbirds

 

[shawluvsbirds]

did I get my first Cayuga egg today??

View attachment 3368556

My Cayuga ladies are almost 6 months. I figured they wouldn’t lay until spring but today I got this dark egg. I’ve never gotten a dark one so I’m thinking Cayuga?

Possibly, I get plenty that look like that. But if it's her very 1st egg I would expect it to be darker than that. The 1st couple of eggs that mine lay every season are nearly black.

 

[CoriM]

Do you enjoy the cayugas personality-wise?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Do you enjoy the cayugas personality-wise?

I do. I have not had other standard size ducks to compare to but In comparison to my call ducks they are a lot more sociable and fun to interact with.

 

[CoriM]

@shawluvsbirds So you have calls as well? I was actually thinking about trying calls, or just adding a few more standard ducks to my flock of 6 this spring. You enjoy interacting with your standard size ducks a little bit more?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

@shawluvsbirds So you have calls as well? I was actually thinking about trying calls, or just adding a few more standard ducks to my flock of 6 this spring. You enjoy interacting with your standard size ducks a little bit more?

Yeah I do, but,
I would say that is mostly due to my set up.
I keep the calls and in a completely enclosed house/run that is not in my main back yard. And i have like.. 20 of them give or take. so between having thay many and my set up they just aren't as interactive with me.
They are super fun and cute to watch though. It's just harder to keep them safe and in a fenced area Because they can fly and they are snack size for predators.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

@shawluvsbirds So you have calls as well? I was actually thinking about trying calls, or just adding a few more standard ducks to my flock of 6 this spring. You enjoy interacting with your standard size ducks a little bit more?

I will also add to this when making your decision here, You want to consider a plan for having a separate housing situation for the little ones in case it doesn't work out mixing them with your standard size. A horny drake 5 times the size of a call hen could severly injure or kill her pretty quick. Or even another standard size hen fighting with a call. Plenty of people have their flocks mixed like that without issue but bear in mind what might work for 6 months or even years can change overnight for whatever reason when it comes to ducks.

 

[CoriM]

Yeah I do, but,
I would say that is mostly due to my set up.
I keep the calls and in a completely enclosed house/run that is not in my main back yard. And i have like.. 20 of them give or take. so between having thay many and my set up they just aren't as interactive with me.
They are super fun and cute to watch though. It's just harder to keep them safe and in a fenced area Because they can fly and they are snack size for predators.

Okay, that makes sense! Would you ever house your calls with your standard size ducks? Just curious about whether it would even be practical to try calls since I would probably be adding them in with my regular ducks as I don't have two coops.

 

[CoriM]

Oops, saw you just answered my question. I only have females, but yeah, having two spaces just in case seems wise. I'll probably have to stick with standard size for now.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Oops, saw you just answered my question. I only have females, but yeah, having two spaces just in case seems wise. I'll probably have to stick with standard size for now.

I don't personally just because I don't want to deal with issues Should they arise. Now I have brooded call ducklings and cayuga ducklings together without issue, And chances of it working out would probably be better if they were raised together. But I separated mine once the cayugas out grew the calls by enough i worried they would squish them.