Weight.—The standard weight of the adult drake is 9 pounds; adult duck, 8 pounds; young drake, 8 pounds, and young duck, 7 pounds.
BLACK CAYUGA DUCKS.
History.—The black Cayuga ([fig. 5]) is distinctly an American duck, having been bred so long in this country that all trace of its origin is lost. It is said that it was first found in the central part of New York, on Cayuga Lake. It was sometimes called the "Big Black duck," and again the "Lake duck," but is now known only as the Black Cayuga duck. By some it is supposed to have originally come from the wild Black duck, and another story has it that it was first found in Dutchess County, in the State of New York, where a miller was raising a flock of thirty, which, he said, were bred from a pair he had captured several years previous in a mill pond. They were kept in the poultry yard, easily tamed, and built their nests on the edges of the pond and raised large broods. For many years the Cayuga has been raised in this country and has been considered by those who have bred it to be a profitable duck to keep.
Fig. 5.—Pair of Black Cayuga ducks.
Description.—By some raisers the Cayuga is considered to be as good as the Pekin for early markets, and the claim is made that it can be grown as cheaply. This assertion is not verified by any practical demonstration, as these ducks are rarely, if ever, seen on any farm where ducks are raised exclusively. Though raisers generally speak of their merits as making them profitable, and place them next to the Pekin for early markets, they prefer the latter for exclusive duck raising where early maturity and plump carcasses are wanted. Their black plumage is against them also, and many assign this as the reason why they are not more extensively bred. The farmer who desires a good, practical duck to raise on his farm in conjunction with other poultry will find this a valuable bird to keep. More time can be spent in dressing it for market than is generally given to the dressing of the white-plumage birds, and the profits will be proportionately as great. Duck raisers, like broiler raisers, are partial to white feathers for market fowls, but those who do not look with this partiality on the white varieties will find an excellent choice in the Cayuga duck.
Cayugas are splendid birds for a restricted range and breed well in confinement; they are quiet, docile, and form a strong attachment for their home, evincing no inclination or desire to stray far away from the place where they were bred. They are hardy and prolific, producing from 80 to 90 eggs in the spring, and sometimes they also lay again in the autumn. They are easily kept in good condition, but if fed too liberally they will fatten too quickly and will become too heavy behind. The ducklings are hardy and easy to raise, and attain good size and weight at an early age.
The head of the Cayuga is small, with glossy black plumage; bill rather short and broad, of dark color, black being preferred; the eyes dark hazel. The neck is medium, gracefully curved, clad in black feathers with a greenish luster; the back is broad, and the body long, well rounded, and very plump, the feathers being of a glossy black hue. The wings are long and are carried smoothly against the body, and are black in color, excepting those of the duck, which are sometimes of a dark brown. The coverts of the drake are a very lustrous green black; the tail feathers are black, as are the thighs. Black shanks, toes, and webs are preferred, though dark slate color is permissible according to the standard requirements. The color of the plumage must be lustrous black throughout, and feathers of any other color will disqualify a bird in the showroom.
Weight.—The standard weight of the adult drake is 8 pounds; adult duck, 7 pounds; young drake, 7 pounds, and young duck, 6 pounds.