Watervale

The Watervale is an Australian developed heavy breed of duck. They were developed unintentionally in the region of Watervale in South Australia, they are said to have been a sport from a closed flock of Cayuga’s, their size and shape is identical to that of a Cayuga however their differentiating feature is the colour. The breed is believed to have been developed in the 1980s by Mrs Holder of South Australia and began being seen at exhibitions around that time. Its popularity has risen and fallen over the decades with The Rare Breeds Trust declaring the breed as Critically Endangered.

Two other schools of thought around their development are also held, one being Cayugas crossed with the native pacific black duck resulting in what we have now, the other being Cayugas crossing with Khaki Campbell’s. However it took place, the outcome is a unique and striking colour.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Carriage: Slightly elevated, clear of the ground from breast to stern.

Type: Long, broad and deep.

Breast: broad and full - no keel.

Tail: long and well folded, a little raised.

Head: large. Bill: medium length, wide and flat, well set in a straight line from the tip of the eye. Eye: full and bold.

Neck: long and strong, shapely curved

Legs: large, sturdy, positioned slightly back from middle of the body.

COLOUR

WEIGHTS

Drake : 2.70kg - 3.60kg Duck: 2.25kg - 3.60kg

SCALE OF POINTS

Duck Points Scale from Universal Waterfowl Standards by Grow, O (1956).

SERIOUS DEFECTS

See Disqualifications

SOURCES

Ref: Breed topic by Gez Farr in Exhibition Poultry Australia https://www.facebook.com/groups/603965729721558/search/?q=%23watervale

NSW Waterfowl Breeders Association: https://nswwaterfowl.com/duck-breeds