Duck breed question.... Cayuga or Rouen???

[ChickenWendy]

i would bet they are cayuga mix as my cayuga babies were black with yellow bellies - but they were black as night from the beginning - not brown. i bet they arent pure. but they are sweet.

 

[CindyS]

They look like swedish to me. A cayuga should be solid black, Im thinking they are a mix. sometimes the black bibbed pattern comes out in a cross.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Hi,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think you got snookered. The Black Cayuga should not have anything other than black in it as a chick. Later it will develop a Beetle Green sheen and the more the better.

The Rouen isn't a Rouen either. The darker bird actually looks more like a Swedish Blue but it's got too much yellow on the breast. You can see pics of my Cayugas and Swedish Blues on my website. Just click on the "Babies" or "Ducks" album.

If you were told these were purebreds, I would strongly encourage you to go back to the guy and let him know that you know he didn't sell you purebreds and see if he'll work something out with you. If I ever have somebody sell me something that it turns out isn't, I'll be advertising their fraud more than they advertise to sell.

One last suggestion for you and anyone else who wants purebreds - find a reputable breeder. Go to the applicable breed club for starters. Most will know who the reputable breeders are. For example, if you go to the Ameraucana Breeders Club you will find my name on their Breeders List.

Hope that helps.

God Bless,

 

[Webfoot]

Cayuga babies have yellow chests when they hatch. They'll loose it when they get their feathers in. Those are textbook Cayugas.

Webfoot (Cayuga breeder)

 

[mikarod]

I'm sorry...but all the Cayugas I've ever seen have a slight yellow coloration up front, but NOTHING to that extent. Here's what I mean by "slight"

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
Well, I'm at a loss as to what to say. I mean who am I to disagree with a Cayuga Breeder?

All I can say is that my Cayugas never had a yellow chest and you can see them on my website. They aren't the best pics but you can clearly see they don't have a yellow chest. They do have somewhat of a grayer chest sometimes but I've never seen yellow.

I also did a fairly exhaustive Google search and never found a single picture of a Cayuga duckling that looks like those. Textbook Cayugas? I don't think so. They might be hatchery/production/utility stock but I certainly wouldn't say APA SOP and that is my definition of "textbook".

Now, having said that, there's nothing wrong with them at all if you have what you want and they turn out to be what you love. If you're not after SQ, and just want a nice duck, then take care of them, treat 'em well, love 'em and enjoy 'em!!

God Bless,

 

[Webfoot]

No need to be sorry. Some Cayugas hatch out solid black, some have yellow breasts to varying degrees. My Cays hatch with yellow and they are certainly not crossbreds. (And for the record, I just checked to see if I have any pictures of mine as hatchlings, and I don't)

My concern is with the poster who told the OP to contact the seller, accuse him of misrepresenting his birds, and "advertise" him if he didn't admit to it. It's a little premature to start taking such extreme measures.

Until these birds get their feathers in, you cannot definitively say they are not purebred Cayugas. I'd hate to see someone falsely accused of fraud based on duckling fluff.

Webfoot

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
Webfoot, that poster was me and you're absolutely right. I need to apologize to OP and others for not elaborating a bit more in my post. That call should be made ONLY after one is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that there was false advertising.

I do stand by my statement, "If I ever have somebody sell me something that it turns out isn't, I'll be advertising their fraud more than they advertise to sell." But I would like you and others to know that I don't say that out of vindictiveness or to get revenge but rather the only way to stop unethical people from perpetrating their fraud on other innocent parties is to make people aware they're out there. And unfortunately, there are a LOT of folks on the internet, in the paper, and elsewhere that are KNOWINGLY selling products (including poultry) that ain't what it is said to be.

But again, thanks Webfoot for pointing that out to not be hasty and jump to conclusions. I still think the Cayugas in the picture have way to light of breast and way too much of it but if I'm wrong it sure won't be the first time.

God Bless,

 

[Omniskies]

I'm leaning toward them just being Cayugas. I've ordered Cayugas from the hatchery in the past and had them arrive with yellow chests. I checked McMurray's description and found this:

Ducklings have black feet and bills, black down, and have an occasional trace of yellow on their breast.

For the record, McMurray is where I got some of my old Cayugas. It wasn't occasional and it certainly was more than a trace

I agree with everyone else. Don't bother the breeder right away. If the yellow down turns into white feathers _then_ be concerned. For now you should be safe. Enjoy them while they're small and cuddly without worrying about whether or not they're pure. You'll have enough information in a couple of weeks to get a better idea.

Good luck with them

 

[beryl1143]

The brown coloured ones are not cayuga ducklings the black ones with the yellow chest are , some are born like this and it goes away or might be a colour fault