@CayugaJana , just to clarify are the spots they are getting on their neck? If so, some cayuga have some white feathers on their neck although that isn't really preferred. The aging and getting the spots usually starts on the back of the head for the ducks and on the back for the drakes. The reason it starts on the back of the head for ducks is because that is the down that is pulled out all the time. The drakes don't develop the white with age.
Here is a description and standard for the ducks for showing. Looks like the white on the neck would be a DQ for showing even though it is included in the livestock cons ervatories description of the breed as occurriing in some of the offspring.
Cayuga Ducks
STANDARDS:*
Appearance: Bill, slate/black Legs, orange/black
Plumage, black with beetle green gloss. A broad deep long bodied duck. lumage in both sexes is a deep green black with a pronounced sheen. Bill is black legs and webs as dark as possible black for preference.
Needs: Do require water for swimming to stay health, also need it changing regularly as the oil that produces the sheen and gloss will scum the water
Names . .Canard de Cayuga.
Country Of Origin;......... USA
Carriage; A broad deep long bodied duck
Purpose;..........Meat Production: EggProduction:....Seasonal layer,
Egg Colour .......................black outer ..white shell under sooty pigment large
Egg Numbers............80 /100 . . Seasonal layer,
Breed Defects. . . . .Orange legs; white in male feathers
Broodiness:... . acceptable often a private mother hiding the eggs well. . Incubation: 28 days Maturity:
Breed Hints.... Kept as trio or pair .. will go broody and hatch
Weights; 6 to 9 pounds / drake 3,0 - 3,5 kg duck 2,7 - 3,1 kg
Breed Tip****Females have white feathering as they age .. starting with a few white flecks until by 6yrs the female is often white.NEVER any white on the male.
Flying . females occasionally fly when young a good back garden all rounder;
Genetic profile;-Gene : Extended black/ symbol E/ Dominant.Causes solid black pigment to be laid down in all areas except those influenced by genes for white spotting. Typical of the Black Orpington(USA) Black Cayuga and Black East Indian. Evidence exists suggesting that extended black influences eggshell colour giving it a grey tint when crossed or 'improved' this is lost first
Some day I hope to be able to fence off the yard around the house itself and claim that as my growing space. Right now I'm too busy building pens and such for all the other animals.
