Birds Guide

A Cayuga Duck is a breed of domesticated duck used for egg and meat production as well as an ornamental bird. The Cayuga name is taken from Lake Cayuga in New York State where the breed was popularized. The traditional story for the development of this breed is that a miller in Dutchess County captured two wild black ducks and used pinioning to keep them at his pond. The offspring of this pair was prized for flavorfull meat and breeding efficiency.^[1]

Adult Cayuga ducks weigh approximately 6 pounds, and are characterized by a black bill and black plumage which is an iridescent beetle green in the correct light. The Cayuga duck has black shanks and toes. Ducklings have black plumage.

For those who wish to keep ducks, but live close to others that would make keeping the Pekin breed impractical because of the loud quack, The Cayuga duck may be an alternative as its quack is not as loud or frequent as the Pekin. The temperament of the Cayuga is docile.

The Cayuga duck will more often sit on and hatch her eggs than other domestic breeds of duck. Incubation for the eggs is 28 days. When using an incubator the temperature should be 99.5 °F at 86% humidity for days 1-25, and 98.5 °F at 94% humidity for days 26-28.

This breed of duck is listed as threatened by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.^[2]

References