Meet my four ducks!

[sunflour]

I have changed the title now.. It was a bit misleading.
Thank you

Seems I learn something new nearly every day….didn't know you could change the thread title..How did you do that ?

 

[donkeydew2farms]

hi jessica89 welcome to the forum. I have two cayugas , yours are beautiful.
this is my crew.,

 

[Jessica89]

Seems I learn something new nearly every day….didn't know you could change the thread title..How did you do that ?

Hahaha! If you look at the top of one of your threads .. it will say ''edit thread''. Click that and then click on the title and change it . Handy to know!

Oh I love your crew! What breed are the ducks with the brown body and dark heads? They are beautiful.

 

[sunflour]

@Jessica89

thanks for info on edit, searched and found there is a time limit on the edit function, thanks again.

 

[jtn42248]

Welcome Jessica89. Your ducks are really pretty. I really like the Saxony. I had not seen them before and they are really pretty.

I have 16 Cayuga ducks (2 drakes and 14 females) that I am doing a breeding program with. I liked the breed to begin with but when I found that they were an "at risk" breed I thought why not breed them. Mine are 17 weeks old now so are not laying yet. I expect that they may put that off until spring but you can never tell.

I also have a small flock of 5 adult ducks (1 Khaki Campbell drake, 1 Blue Swedish drake, 1 Blue Swedish female and 2 Khaki Campbell females) that have to be kept apart from the Cayugas because the drakes are intent on killing the Cayuga drakes and taking over the females. My Khaki females lay and egg a day each without fail. The Blue Swedish female lays 2-3 eggs each week.

Will ducks lay at this time of year? It depends on a number of things. First the breed. Were they developed to be egg layers like the Khaki Campbells were. Khakis will lay year round if the weather permits. That is the second thing. What is the weather like where you live. I am in West Texas and we are having nice warm Fall weather right now so the ducks are continuing to lay. When things get colder and the days get a little shorter they will probably stop until Spring. So, don't be surprised or disappointed if your ducks wait a few more months to begin their laying routine.

The "safe" combination of males to females is typically 1 drake to every 3-8 females. Less than that can result in over breeding and can injure or kill the female. Also, if you have not witnessed your ducks mating yet prepare yourself. Duck sex is not the most romantic thing in the world. In fact it is commonly referred to as Duck Rape. (Cover your children's eyes and ears now) Ducks are one of only 3% of birds that actually have a penis and an impressive one it is too. The female has the ability to isolate the male semen in chambers within herself and to expel it if he is not the one she wants to breed with. So, even though she may be aggressively and unwillingly mated she has the final word on who is going to be the father of her babies.

Cayuga ducks have the reputation of being quiet however mine are little chatter boxes who converse with one another all day long. They also can fly well enough to clear a 3-4 foot fence so be prepared for that if you have not had the experience of trying to chase down a loose duck.

Enjoy them, they are a real pleasure to have and raise. Best of luck.

 

[jtn42248]

Also, do you have a picture of Roy from the side and/or in brighter light. I can not detect a drake feather on him and his head does not appear to be as green as it could be if he is a male. Also his bill is the same color as the female and typically on the male it should change to a lighter grey/green color. Does Roy still quack like an Aflac duck or has his voice changed to more of a rasp?

 

[enriquec]

Yeah duck sex is pretty crazy http://www.buzzfeed.com/kellyoakes/this-aint-a-scene-its-a-sexual-arms-race?s=mobile

 

[Jessica89]

Oh deary me!
I would not like to be a female duck!! It sounds awful.. it is actually quite disturbing.
I don't want to sell Roy or Percy though.. Love them both.
Thank you for all your help.. it is much appreciated. I didn't know the female duck can choose who the father is.. that is very interesting!
Yes, ofcourse.. here he is!
The first photo was taken when they were very young,, this one was taken a few weeks ago.
He has like a raspy croack whereas Sybil has the quack! I didn't realise they are mutes and was going to take him to the vets thinking he had a throat infection! Haha

 

[jtn42248]

Oh deary me!
I would not like to be a female duck!! It sounds awful.. it is actually quite disturbing.
I don't want to sell Roy or Percy though.. Love them both.
Thank you for all your help.. it is much appreciated. I didn't know the female duck can choose who the father is.. that is very interesting!
Yes, ofcourse.. here he is!
The first photo was taken when they were very young,, this one was taken a few weeks ago.
He has like a raspy croack whereas Sybil has the quack! I didn't realise they are mutes and was going to take him to the vets thinking he had a throat infection! Haha

Much better picture. You can see the iridescent green head and the drake feather so nothing to worry about...it's a boy

 

[Jessica89]

Woo! Thought I would have to change his name to Royalina!

I am a bit worried about the two drakes now. I am so scared they will kill one of the hens!
I am such a worrier and adore them all.