donnasducks

The most popular market duck in America is the Pekin. It is bred in one variety, white; and a creamy white plumage and orange shanks and toes are desired. The bill should rich yellow in color, and black in the bill or bean is a serious defect. Pekin ducks should weigh not less than, adult drake, 9 lbs.; young drake, 8 lbs.; adult duck, 8 lbs.; young duck, 7 lbs. The correct shape is of a long, broad, deep and full breasted type, to carry an abundance of meat. The Pekin breed is of Chinese origin, a country in which duck raising is extensively followed, especially in some districts. The first Pekins were imported to the United States about 1873.

The Black Cayuga is of American origin, and takes its name from Cayuag county, New York state. It carries the blood of the wild black duck, the Black East India, and probably some Rouen blood was introduced for the purpose of somewhat larger size. The Cayuga should be bred to the meat type. Desired weights are: Adult drake, 8 lbs.; adult duck, 7 lbs.; young duck, 6 lbs. Some Cayugas fail to attain these weights, and specimens of decidedly deficient size should not be bred.

Reference:
All Breeds of Poultry, Origin: History: Description, Mating and Characteristics, by Frank L. Platt. Published by AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL, Chicago, Illinois.

The Buff Orpington originated as a cross breeding programme between Indian Runner ; Rouen ; and Aylesbury by Mr W Cook in Kent in order to create a dual purpose breed. It was introduced a few years after the Khaki Campbell and can suffer from the fact that although it used to be written of as an egg laying breed with high annual laying figures it is now more respected for its beauty of plumage and colouring. There are a few Blue / Lavender Orpingtons About as well as the more usual Buff.

*** Both colours suffer from fading in the colour of some females with age

Reference from The Domestic Waterfowl Cluc of Great Britain