The Cayuga duck is of American origin. Before domestication, it lived in New York State. The breed appeared as a result of crossing with local poultry. It is bred to produce meat with dietary flavor and eggs. Let's look at the description and features of the Cayuga duck, its pros and cons, what to feed and how to properly keep it at home, and how to breed it.
Description of Cayuga duck
The American duck first became known at the beginning of the 19th century. But the Cayuga breed began to be bred only in the 70s of the century.At that time, selection was carried out among the new population based on appearance and weight. The cayuga can be recognized immediately by its characteristic black plumage. Their body is covered with black and green feathers, giving them a metallic sheen. In bright light, the feather appears black with a blue-green tint. This is especially noticeable on the feathers of the head and neck.
In female ducks, the greenish tint is less pronounced than in drakes; by this feature they can be distinguished from each other. Another difference is that the male’s beak is olive green, while the female’s is black with a bluish tint. The legs are also black. According to the build of the Cayuga duck, they are large birds; according to their constitution, they belong to the meat type. The body is long, wide, inclined horizontally. The head is small, elongated. The eyes are brown. The neck is short, curved, the wings are long, the chest is deep and developed.
Kayug meat is not fatty and is dietary. An adult drake gains up to 4 kg of weight, ducks - up to 3.5 kg. With intensive fattening, ducklings can be slaughtered when they reach 2 months. This age is due to the fact that later molting begins, and the process of plucking duck carcasses becomes more complicated.
The egg production of cayugas is sufficient not only for the reproduction of offspring, but also for the use of eggs for food. In a year, one duck can lay 100-150 pieces, each weighing 80-100 g. The duck lays eggs with a dark shell, which then acquires a greenish tint and becomes olive.
Breed habitat
The duck is a waterfowl, so even when raised in the yard, it needs a pond.The area with the pond must be fenced off with a net at least 1 m high to prevent birds from flying over it. In their homeland, the Cayugas lived in a temperate climate, so they do not like either heat or cold. This must be taken into account when keeping them at home - ducks need to build or equip a shed in which in winter the temperature will not drop below 5 °C.
The floor in the duck house should be covered with a layer of straw, sawdust or peat, and in the cold season, the walking area should also be insulated with these materials. In summer, the temperature should not exceed 25-30 ˚С.
What does it eat?
You can feed cayugas with grain mixtures and grass. While walking, they can eat insects and worms, replenishing the body with protein. In summer, ducks can be kept in a pen with a canopy, under which they will hide from strong sun and rain.
Ducks are fed 2-3 times a day. They produce ordinary grain mash, consisting of various types of grain, grain waste, boiled vegetables and root vegetables. Add fish and meat and bone meal, chalk or shell, and a little salt to the mixture. Laying ducks and during the molting period need to add more premixes with mineral elements to the feed, add minced fish, and liquid vitamins. Ducklings and adult ducks can be fed only on mixed feed. 2 weeks before slaughter, each portion of mash or feed is increased so that the ducklings can gain weight.
Character and lifestyle
Cayugas can live in small flocks or with other birds. They are calm in nature and are not aggressive towards other ducks. They rarely quack, walk slowly, and are not afraid of sharp sounds. They cannot be kept in a cramped house, much less in a cage. In a confined space, they become stressed, grow and lay eggs worse, and feathers may fall out.
Like waterfowl that lived on lakes in America, cayugas love to swim in the water. Therefore, the ideal place for raising ducks would be the nearest pond, and if there is none, then you need to build an artificial pond in the yard or place a trough with water on the walking area.
Reproduction and lifespan
Cayugas are bred “inside”, which means that to get ducklings you need to choose ducks belonging to this breed. When breeding crosses in subsequent generations, characteristic features will be lost. Females are ready to breed at 8 months, males at 10-11. One drake can have 6-7 females. The fertilization rate of eggs among Cayugas remains at a high level.
For hatching, you need to select eggs not with dark shells from young ducks, but with olive shells, which are laid by adult birds.
Up to 15 eggs can be placed under 1 duck. Hatching period is 28-30 days. Ducklings hatched by a female are left with her, and from the incubator are transferred to a brooder, where they are raised for 1 month. The species life expectancy of cayugas is 30 years; with good care in a private yard, they can live, it is believed, up to 20 years.
Care and maintenance
Like other birds, cayugas like to live in comfort. The poultry house should be warm in winter and cool in summer. It is important that there are no drafts. The room must be ventilated every day to freshen the air. Ammonia causes inflammation of the respiratory tract and mucous membranes of the ducks' eyes.
Another important condition for the well-being of cayuga ducks is good lighting. The duration of daylight should be at least 10 hours, even in winter. To do this you need to turn on the lamps. To prevent ducks from suffering from overcrowding, they need to be housed so that 1 sq. no more than 3 individuals were located.
Advantages and disadvantages
Despite the disadvantages, Cayuga ducks are of interest for growing and breeding in households.
Cayuga ducks are an unusual breed that can provide both meat and eggs. And also raise them as beautiful birds to decorate your yard. They require minimal care and standard feeding.
