What's Up With Quackers ???

[Chickie Mamma]

Hello, Quackers is a beautiful 1 year old Cayuga. She went through a molt this spring and has alot of white feathers that came in. Will these grow out? She was completely black for the past year with the royal blue, green, and purple coloring in the feathers. Its hard to see in the pic but the white goes around the front of ther chest. Is she lacking something? She is eating, pooping, swimming just fine.. Any ideas would be great!

 

[ChickenToes]

If I remember correctly, this is normal for Cayugas as they get older.

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Really?? she looks like she tried to bleach her feathers. I do not use bleach by the coop or pen. Ah, so its just old age? Wow, only a year old

She still has her colored feathers.. beautiful. Maybe a "splash Cayuga"

 

[DuckFanatic]

I have a 3 month old Cayuga drake that did the same... maybe it's the breed?

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Thanks for the pics, she has the white feathers in the same places. I just thought they always remained fully black. Those are really beautiful ducks!! What breed is the gray and white one?

 

[Cetawin]

ChichieMamma we just discussed her in my tri-color drake ancona thread. We have concluded that she is a silver ancona. I have one that is only 6 weeks old and this big girl of Duckfanatic;s is just gorgeous.

 

[CityChicker]

The white feathers are called "aging white". Cayugas, the females in particular, get white feathers as they age. Some eventually become almost pure white. This is different from juvenile white. A lot of black ducks have some white plumage the first time they feather, but it molts out usually.

BEI get the white feathers too. I don't raise Cayugas, but maybe someone else knows if the white feathers are common for only a year old. I am sure some get them that young, but I don't know that it is particularly common.

 

[DuckFanatic]

Quote:
Haha I love my "Oddball", she's my only sweet duck

 

[Chickie Mamma]

My Cayuga is the sweetest duck I have ever had! She lets me pick her up, she goes in at night by herself. I am just glad its not something to worry about. She can be whatever color she wants to be! I want a SILVER ANCONA!! That duck is gorgeous!! I had hatched out Ancona's last year, but lost my babies to a fox attack. When they are ready to breed, keep me in mind..

 

[DuckFanatic]

Quote:
Aww thank you

I will keep you in mind for sure

So sorry about your duckies!

Oddball was the silliest looking duckling! We were so confused as to what breed she could be! You have to see her in her awkward stage...