When do darker ducks start to turn white?

[PoultryGirly]

Hi. I have 2 ducks I got at an auction. There is a male Black East Indie and a female call duck. I don't know the age of them when I got them. The female was all black when I got her, but now she has some white feathers. I am trying to figure out her age, so, at wahat age do they start to turn white??? Thanks in advance!!!

 

[PoultryGirly]

Oh, by the way, I've never seen an egg from her. She has about 5 white feathers...

 

[Kevin565]

Depends on the birds. Many hatchery birds can show white feathering as early as the second year. Each molt more and more just show up.

 

[PoultryGirly]

She is not a hatchery bird, so what is the average age for a female call duck?? Thanks for the info Kevin565...

 

[PoultryGirly]

???

 

[keyt1969]

She is not a hatchery bird, so what is the average age for a female call duck?? Thanks for the info Kevin565...

The average life span of a call duck, with good care is 10 years old. I've heard of some going up to 15. As far as feathers turning white, as Kevin said it depends on the bird. I have some cayugas that have half of their feathers turning white and they are 5. I have 5 call ducks that are 2 years old and none of them are turning yet. I think every situation is different. Even when they start turning, despite it meaning they are getting older, they can still reproduce just fine.

 

[tiki]

10 years! I thought it was 30?

 

[Kevin565]

10 years! I thought it was 30?

The life span of a duck?

 

[keyt1969]

10 years! I thought it was 30?

It depends on the breed and the care it gets.