Cayuga Quality Evaluation? (( Pictures Added!!))

[Wolf-Kim]

I have a beautiful Cayuga drake, but I wonder just how close to show quality the lil bugger is. I plan on taking a picture to share tomorrow, but for now, can someone post the standard for Cayuga ducks. I imagine there is a standard, I just don't know where to look.

EDITED TO ADD: Here are some quick pictures of him, tomorrow I'll get better pics with him in the sun. He's a large duck, seen here picture in a large wire dog crate. I was just wandering how he evaluates with those who have more experience with them. He is also pictured with Rouens, Cayuga females, and mallards. They are in their nighttime enclosure, tomorrow I'll get picture of them in the yard.

Thanks
-Kim

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Here's from Holderread:
Description
Cayugas have typical duck conformation. Their bodies are moderately long, medium-wide, with good depth carried from the well-rounded chest to the moderately full abdomen. They have necks that are medium in length and diameter and only slightly arched forward. The medium-sized head is oval and the moderately long bill is slightly concave along its top line. Body carriage is approzimately 20 degrees above horizontal. The crowning glory of the Cayuga is its resplendent green-black plumage.
Selecting and Preparing Show Birds
Look for ducks that have solidly built bodies and good size. Everything else being equal, the greener the plumage and the blacker the bill, legs and feet, the better. . .

 

[Wolf-Kim]

He's standing a little taller than normal in the pictures, he didn't appreciate being woken up to be placed in the dog kennel for pictures. LOL

I'll get pictures of him in his "relaxed" state tomorrow in the yard.

-Kim

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Do you think it's worth entering him into the local fair? Personally I think he fits the standard fairly well, but then again I'm not exactly a poultry judge.

-Kim

 

[Goat_Walker]

HE IS GORGEOUS! So green and all, my girl is black with limited green and blue tint

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Thank you. I think he is my most beautiful duck, I just seperated the breeds so hopefully I'll have some beautiful lil Cayugas running around in a few weeks. LOL

Unfortunately the sun ducked behind the trees before I remembered to get pics.

Tomorrow!

Here are some pics of tonight, still not much good. Photography is all about lighting and I've missed my lighting opportunities!

A solo pic of him and then a pic of him and three girls I've seperated out for him.

Later on, I may seperate him down to just him and that female front and center. She has so much green sheen she could almost be a male!

-Kim

 

[citalk2much]

I am not a pro at all but I think he is stunning

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Wow that last pic really shows a lot of green and even some blue shimmering in there. I think he's real nice, but I'm not a poultry judge.
Let us know how he does if you decide to enter him in the fair.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Thank you everyone so much for all the kind words. I'll have to look into some of the local fairs, I guess it wouldn't hurt too much to enter him and see how he does. I think the fees are minimal and it will give me a reason to make the hubby take me to the fair. LOL

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
If you get delayed to next spring in your breeding program ( and I expect you will) You might want to include females that are showing a scattering of white amoung the black. for reasons unknown such hens tend to throw birds with superior green sheen on the feathers. green sheen is desired, blue or purple sheen is considered a fault! Cayuga ducks (female) aren't usually shown after their first year because of developing the white feathers. Each year they get whiter and whiter but throw young ducks with the deep black and green sheen. I'm not a judge either but your drake could be a winner against weak compention but won't win in a big show. Becarefull if you wash him for a show because soap scum could completely wipe out his green sheen, it isn't a true color but just a surface effect. ~gd