Very small Cayuga duck

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

I just picked up a Cayuga duck to add to my flock for crossbreeding. They said she was 5 months old. I've never had Cayugas before but aren't they supposed to be one of the larger breeds? This girl is smaller than my khaki Campbell. I know she's still young but my other ducks have been full grown at 5 months old. Is there such a thing as a smaller type of Cayuga? Even if she was a crossbreed, what could she be crossed with to make her even smaller than a Khaki Campbell?

 

[sourland]

What does she weigh? 6-7 # is fairly typical for a mature Cayuga hen.

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

What does she weigh? 6-7 # is fairly typical for a mature Cayuga hen.

I can't get my scale to work, but I would say not more than 2 lbs. Definitely not six or seven.

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

Maybe she is an East Indie duck? The lady who had her said they got them for meat ducks but didn't know they'd be such a small amount of meat. I can definitely see why.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

Can you post a picture? Ive read they were used as meat ducks until the pekin came along. I believe they’re typically just smaller than a pekin? Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

I have some Cayugas right now that are 6 WEEKS and they’re the same size as my 2 year old khaki campbell. Are you sure she didn’t mean 5 weeks?

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

Can you post a picture? Ive read they were used as meat ducks until the pekin came along. I believe they’re typically just smaller than a pekin? Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

I have some Cayugas right now that are 6 WEEKS and they’re the same size as my 2 year old khaki campbell. Are you sure she didn’t mean 5 weeks?

Yes, sorry, I meant to post a picture! Here she is next to my Khaki Campbell. She is fully feathered and has a loud quack, so 5 months is probably correct. She's definitely a LOT smaller than a pekin.

 

[Quatie]

Reminds me more of my black runner.

This is one of my Cayuga for comparison

 

[Canadian Wind]

I'm sorry to say that that is not a Cayuga. A cross, maybe, but not pure. The white feathers are a sure indicator of this, as well as the conformation and look. I agree with @Quatie that this looks more like a Runner.

A lot of people assume that because it's black, then the duck must be a Cayuga.

This is my purebred Cayuga drake. Yes, I know he's missing his tail curl, it got plucked during the Spring matings!

 

[BabyGotQuack]

Yes, sorry, I meant to post a picture! Here she is next to my Khaki Campbell. She is fully feathered and has a loud quack, so 5 months is probably correct. She's definitely a LOT smaller than a pekin.

View attachment 3246417
View attachment 3246415

She does look kind of small but I’m not a Cayuga expert.

Got this off metzers site, which is where I got mine

Cayuga 4.75 - 6.00 lbs
Khaki 3.50 - 4.50 lbs
Jumbo pekin 9.00 - 13.50 lbs

So maybe she’s just on the small side?

 

[BabyGotQuack]

I'm sorry to say that that is not a Cayuga. A cross, maybe, but not pure. The white feathers are a sure indicator of this, as well as the conformation and look. I agree with @Quatie that this looks more like a Runner.

A lot of people assume that because it's black, then the duck must be a Cayuga.

View attachment 3246570

This is my purebred Cayuga drake. Yes, I know he's missing his tail curl, it got plucked during the Spring matings!

Female Cayugas actually do get white feathers, I do believe it usually comes with age. Not sure at what age the white starts. Drakes can still get white feathers but I don’t think as much as a female.