Baby Cayuga Ducks

May 3, 2005 We have two new additions to our family. Garrett and Damon, baby Cayuga Ducks just hatched from their incubated eggs a day before.   Here they are with the baby chicks from the hatchery before we bring them home. Only 2 ducks in with all those chicks, can you find them?

In the hatchery staying warm with baby chicks.

They are so small and cute, we will have to keep them warm and fed if they hope to survive.

Garrett and Damon's first day home.

Cayuga Ducks are rare and known for the metalic green shine of their plumage when the sunlight beams across their feathers of the adults.

Garrett and Damon start eating their baby feed right away.

The traditional story of this breed begins with a miller living in Duchess County, New York, and the pair of wild black ducks he caught on his mill pond in 1809. The miller removed a joint in their wings to prevent the ducks from flying away, and the pair proceeded to settle on the edge of his pond and rear large broods. The miller’s family harvested some of the flock as food, and considered their flavor equal to that of wild ducks. Breeders introduced these ducks to the Finger Lakes region of New York in 1840. By 1863, these prolific black ducks bore the name of a lake in northern New York named after the native Cayuga people; in 1874 the Cayuga was included in the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection. (Holderread 2001, 55) Source

So small they fit in the palm of your hand.

Justin and Sasha will take turns keeping their water & cage clean and making sure they have enough to eat. We keep them under a heat lamp so that they stay warm and dry.

Heat lamp keeps them warm.

So active they will pop right out if you don't hold them.

Sasha keeps them dry after a little swim.

May 8, 2005 The ducklings are now 5 days older and they really love to swim and play!

Damon and Garrett play in the tub together.

They are so cute when they swim

They both want to hop back in the water!

The Cayuga duck is a medium-sized breed that averages between 7 and 8 pounds. The Cayuga has long been recognized as one of the hardiest of domestic ducks. They are active foragers if allowed to run in areas containing natural foods. This bird averages 100-150 eggs per year; the shells of these eggs are black early in the season and they progress to light gray, blue, green, or white as time passes.

Jessie our beagle is very interested in these two mischief makers.

Damon & Garrett huddle together while they dry off.

May 10, 2005 We take the babies outside for the first time.

Damon & Garrett love the fresh green grass.

They follow each other everywhere.

They have a great outing.

May 17, 2005 Resting inside at night.

May 26, 2005 The ducks have grown significantly! They play in the tub together.

June 1, 2005 At almost one month old, the ducks are so big now they must live outside full time.

They are so attached to one another.

They play in their new pool!

When they are full grown we will allow them to roam free about the yard. We have a little water hole in the back for them to search for food and hide from predators.

June 17, 2005 Garrett & Damon are about 6 weeks old here.

Garrett & Damon are about 6 weeks old now and they eat duck pellets.

You can see Garrett's metalic green plume now!

They love to float around in their pool. It doesn't take long for it to get dirty.

Sasha & Damon

June 24, 2005 The ducks got an new extention on their pen today! So now that have even more room to play.

Ducks new extended pen.

It goes around the corner, to their little pool!

Here they are our two baby ducks!

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