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Much have been written about the origins and development of the Cayuga duck, but what is known is that it originates from near Lake Cayuga in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The first imports from America, according to Lewis Wright's Poultry in 1873, were said to arrive in 1871, from a Mr. W. Simpson and was imported by a Mr. J.K Fowler. They were said to be on the small side and speculations that they been crossed with the Black East Indian, to achieve the green sheen that is seen when the light is right, to give an almost iridescent colouring.
Lewis Wright says that in an effort to improve their size they "...were afterwards crossed, by some with Aylesbury and by other with Rouen" As a result the type was altered sufficiently for the birds to look more like the Aylesbury and early paintings by the famous poultry artist Ludlow confirm this Aylesbury ‘look-alike’. Lewis Wright goes on to say that "… original birds had no keels, while the modern English exhibition Cayuga has this feature very pronounced"
Modern day Cayugas don’t have the size or the keel that early paintings show, but their green brilliance has been improved over the years. A frequent complaint about the birds nowadays is they are not heavy enough. The American and British Cayugas look very similar in appearance.
The Cayuga duck was standardised in America in 1874 and later in 1901 in Great Britain.
The Cayuga duck breed would make an excellent choice for those who want to keep ducks, but live close to neighbours and are concerned about noise. The Cayuga's quack is not as loud, except the females are quite vocal while often the male is mute. The temperament of the Cayuga is docile and adult Cayuga ducks enjoy eating snails, slugs, and most other insects. Which makes them handy pest controllers in the garden.
The ducks is fairly prone to broodiness and will more often sit on and hatch their eggs than other domestic breeds of duck. Incubation for the eggs is 28 days. Cayuga eggs' colour vary from black to grey, light green and white. They are typically darker towards the beginning of the laying season and get lighter in color as time goes on.
Details:
Purpose: Exhibition, Utility, meat.
Eggs: 80 to 160 Eggs annually
Origin: United States
Weight: Drake: 8 lb, Duck: 7 lb
Classification: Heavy
Pic by @Jessica89
Pic by @Jessica89
Pic by @barred-rocks-rock
Pic by @Neverenuff
Pic by @Neverenuff
BYC Reviews:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/cayuga
Breed Discussions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/877841/cayuga-duck-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/185523/so-tell-me-about-cayuga-ducks/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/960165/what-color-are-your-cayuga-eggs/0_30
Do you own Cayugas? Are you an Cayuga breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:
· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!
Lewis Wright says that in an effort to improve their size they "...were afterwards crossed, by some with Aylesbury and by other with Rouen" As a result the type was altered sufficiently for the birds to look more like the Aylesbury and early paintings by the famous poultry artist Ludlow confirm this Aylesbury ‘look-alike’. Lewis Wright goes on to say that "… original birds had no keels, while the modern English exhibition Cayuga has this feature very pronounced"
Modern day Cayugas don’t have the size or the keel that early paintings show, but their green brilliance has been improved over the years. A frequent complaint about the birds nowadays is they are not heavy enough. The American and British Cayugas look very similar in appearance.
The Cayuga duck was standardised in America in 1874 and later in 1901 in Great Britain.
The Cayuga duck breed would make an excellent choice for those who want to keep ducks, but live close to neighbours and are concerned about noise. The Cayuga's quack is not as loud, except the females are quite vocal while often the male is mute. The temperament of the Cayuga is docile and adult Cayuga ducks enjoy eating snails, slugs, and most other insects. Which makes them handy pest controllers in the garden.
The ducks is fairly prone to broodiness and will more often sit on and hatch their eggs than other domestic breeds of duck. Incubation for the eggs is 28 days. Cayuga eggs' colour vary from black to grey, light green and white. They are typically darker towards the beginning of the laying season and get lighter in color as time goes on.
Details:
Purpose: Exhibition, Utility, meat.
Eggs: 80 to 160 Eggs annually
Origin: United States
Weight: Drake: 8 lb, Duck: 7 lb
Classification: Heavy
Pic by @Jessica89
Pic by @Jessica89
Pic by @barred-rocks-rock
Pic by @Neverenuff
Pic by @Neverenuff
BYC Reviews:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/cayuga
Breed Discussions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/877841/cayuga-duck-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/185523/so-tell-me-about-cayuga-ducks/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/960165/what-color-are-your-cayuga-eggs/0_30
Do you own Cayugas? Are you an Cayuga breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:
· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!
I had to re-home him earlier this summer because he was so fixated on my crippled pekin, Waffles. He would mate her excessively every chance he got. She became ragged and refused to come out of the doghouse except to eat and drink. 
