Bred back in 1874, the American duck cayuga (kayuga) quickly gained popularity among farmers and continues to use it to this day. We have to admit that this is quite natural, because this bird has many undeniable advantages. So, she is able to boast of excellent quality meat and high egg production, which is extremely important for any owner. In addition, this duck has another obvious plus: a spectacular appearance, thanks to which the cabbage is often kept as a decorative bird.
Cayuga Ducks
As for the very peculiar name of the breed in question, it comes from the lake of the same name located in the US state of New York. It was there, almost 1.5 centuries ago, that this duck was first presented, rightfully considered one of the most beautiful representatives of its biological species. If we select its most characteristic feature, then this is the color scheme: black with green and blue tint - thanks to which the cayugha very clearly stands out against the general background.
Description of Key Features
Talking about cabbage ducks, it is worth noting that they are of the medium-heavy type. This is confirmed by the weight characteristics of adult males and females belonging to this breed, which are 3.5-4 and 2.9-3.1 kg, respectively. As for other notable features of these birds, the list of the most significant of them is presented below:
- fairly strong physique;
- paws and beak are painted in deep black color without any impurities;
- eyes have a dark brown shade;
- the length of the lower extremities and tail (the latter is directed upwards) is average;
- the wings are very tight to the body;
- a noticeably arched neck, the length of which is relatively short.
The description of these ducks says that at present there are two directions to which the kayugi can belong: the first is characterized by a prevailing green tint of the plumage, and the second is blue. Each of the listed species looks very aesthetically pleasing, which is confirmed by the huge mass of photos of these remarkable birds presented on the vast expanses of the Internet.
Kayuga's character and lifestyle
Continuing the description of the ducks belonging to the breed in question, special attention should be paid to the features of their character. So, they behave very calmly: they grunt infrequently and behave peacefully in relation to the surrounding birds. The discipline inherent in kayugs is also noteworthy: thanks to it, they can be safely left to graze on the lawn without supervision, without fear that they will scatter throughout the district. It is also noteworthy that these ducks with pleasure eat insect pests, without causing harm to the plants planted by the owners.
Another equally significant feature of the kayuga is the ability to master in a variety of climatic conditions. Practice shows that these birds feel equally well both in southern and temperate latitudes. Due to their unpretentiousness, they can easily overwinter in poultry houses at temperatures as low as 5 ° C, without feeling any discomfort if the floor of their home is covered with a layer of straw. For this reason, it is quite possible to keep them in the countries of the post-Soviet space, most of which a gentle winter is completely unusual.
Power features
As mentioned above, the musher is hardly a finicky bird. This thesis is also true in everything that concerns the nutrition of such ducks, which is not distinguished by any complexity. If you select those ingredients that are primarily recommended to be included in the diet of these birds, then their list is as follows:
- various greens;
- finely ground wheat and corn;
- stirrers steamed on dairy products or meat broths.
Food of animal origin, namely insects, should be added to the diet of the ducks. As a rule, for this, it is enough just to give the birds the opportunity to regularly walk through the beds - in such cases, they will easily find their "arthropod delicacies" on their own.
Provided that the kayuga eats well, it grows rather quickly: in just 2 months.
Breeding of Cayuga ducks
Experience shows that the birds considered in this material fly very well, and therefore difficulties with their breeding are extremely rare. On average, one female is able to lay about 1.5 hundred eggs per year, the average weight of each of which is in the range of 70-100 g. As for the color in which the cabbage egg is painted, at first it is black, and as the duck matures acquires a greenish-whitish hue. It is also necessary to note that the first, darkest eggs for hatching are not suitable, and therefore it makes no sense to select them for this purpose.
American kayuga duck in Samara
Parent flock of Cayuga duck.
Special attention should be paid to the fact that females of the presented breed have a much more developed maternal instinct than most other ducks. For this reason, they make excellent hens, in which they are able to develop annually for 28 days. As a rule, the first duckling begins to hatch on the 26th day, and then, over the next 48 hours, all the other representatives of the brood do the same. Most often, one duck mother brings up a group of 1.5 dozen babies, which should be taken into account when selecting eggs laid for her.