Does anyone here have Cayuga ducks?

[quiltbea]

I just saw some online and I fell in love with their color.
The fact that they are very quiet quackers and very friendly is a plus.
The egg production isn't as good as others at only 100-150 a year, but I don't need many eggs.

My favorite color is turquoise/teal shades and the fact that they have those irridescent colors among the black is simply an eye-catacher for me.

Please let me know if anyone has any and what you think of them.

Thanks,

 

[quiltbea]

I hope someone here can help me with their personal experiences with Cayuga ducks.

 

[sianara]

I have two hens named Bonita and Tanya. They were hatched in April 2010 and came from Holderreads. They are kind of shy but I don't mind. In fact Bonita is extremely shy. When I open the run up in the morning she often ends up being stuck inside while all the others run out instead of crossing "near" to me. They are beautiful.

 

[sianara]

I have to add that if they are a pure breed cayuga (and not a mix) they do indeed lay BLACK eggs

. Mine just started laying within the last few weeks ago and I've had less than 10 eggs between the two girls but the first 3 were actually black. Love them! Now they're getting a light gray color.

Here's a picture of my first two black eggs with a few WH and Chocolate runner eggs.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
I have two, Sadie and Opie. They spent their earlier months with someone else but she had to re-home them when they became too loud for her neighbors. I almost never have a problem with them unless all my other ducks (4 calls, 4 farm ducks and a runner) are making a lot of noise, if they want to get to the duck pond or if they see me walking to the duck run with treats. Almost all day I won't hear anything out of them! They are about 6 months old so Sadie hasn't started laying eggs yet, but should anytime I think.

I LOVE my Cayugas. Sadie is very motherly. She watches over my calls (3 months old) like they're her own and has since day 1! Opie is a watcher. He likes to sit on the edge of the pond and just watch the other ducks. However, if one of the other males goes near Sadie or the little calls, he will either stand between them or gently nip at them! Neither one of them are mean or hyperactive (well, not unless there's fresh water in the pond lol).

I would most definitely recommend them for anyone! In fact, we are expanding our duck run tomorrow and it looks like I'm getting a couple of females this weekend!

If you have any other questions you can ask me here or private message me anytime.

Sadie (the darker one) and Opie letting the calls have first pick at one of their favorite treats...peas!

Opie enjoying his daily morning float. He will sit there every morning just floating and watching what's going on around him. He has "Angel wing" aka drooped wing that's why it looks odd

Sometimes I think Sadie poses for pics on purpose! lol

L-R Opie, Jax and Sadie. Jax is a runner and also came to live with us from the same home as Sadie and Opie so they are all great buds!

 

[love_a_duck]

thank you so much for sharing your pictures, keyt1969.
beautiful, happy, healthy birds.
and those two watching the calls eat the peas is precious.

Beth

 

[jrobertson]

cayugas are only one of the breeds i raise and your spot on on everything except them being quiet ducks. that statement was probably made as a general rule for the breed but, i have some cayuga hens that rival my pekins in volume. its really the individual duck who is loud or not. but yes most cayugas are quiet and shy but some are bold and very loud. JMO.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

They are great to me, we have them in black, blue, splash and silver.
very beutiful in all colors.
Yes they do at first lay near jet black eggs, but only the first few in most cases, after a week or so, the color starts to fade, getting paler and paler til they are just off white in color.

the green shine on good males is to die for as well. very beautiful in the sun. Good all around duck, oh, they dont fly either, at least not a pure one, too heavy and weak in the wing for it. Mine will just run with their wings open, but none have ever gotten of the ground 1 inch.
Need to get some pics of the splash and silver we hatched this year, you'll love them, but here's some of the black and blue for ya....

 

[gryeyes]

I have a pair, whom I love. Louie and Thelma. They ARE quiet. Well, they're talkative, but it's quiet gabbling. Thelma only quacks every once in a while, when she's annoyed by something, and it's usually ONE very loud quack. I have heard her quack like that about 3 times in the past seven months!

Thelma's first 3 eggs were black, but all of them lightened up since. Now they're almost white, a very very light grey. Louie loves her, and she loves him, too. Louie also loves me, but Thelma is shy unless I'm distributing treats, which she will eat out of my hand.

This is Thelma joining the High Seniority Hens at treat time.

Louie likes to follow me around and tell me ducky stories. If I'm not paying attention to him, he'll pull at my clothing. Sometimes he nibbles at my forearms and can give a good duck hickie on occasion.

I can pick him up with no problem. Thelma, on the other hand, will avoid being picked up, but if I do catch her, she settles right down, very calmly.

Here they are with the chickens, free ranging in the front yard.

They will come into the house ANY chance they get - Louie bills the back screen (which doesn't latch unless I dead-bolt it) open and the two of them come in to get into the dog food and water. Then they walk around looking at things until I herd 'em back outside.

Here they are in their very own pool, a 300 gallon stock tank.

 

[wolftracks]

I'm so glad you started this thread.

My husband and I had wanted them, but never got the chance. My SIL wants ducks. Doubt he will get them being married to my daughter, but I've got him interested in them. This will give me a chance to give him infor and show pics I did have before.

I love the egg pics! Ducks are gorgeous!