Saxony Ducks - Questions

[Ravie]

I feel guilty about all the duck questions I have today!

I am 90% certain that I am going to be ordering some Welshies from Holderread's. But before I make the commitment, I am trying to learn as much as I can about other ducks.

The Saxony looks like a good option for me, but I have some questions.

1) If you have standard Saxonies, how well do they lay? What about Bantams?

2) Have you ever eaten one? - If so, do you know what how much it weighed when it was dressed out? Or, how many people did it feed? I know that a 5lb grocery-store duck will barely feed my husband and me.

3) Do they set and raise their own young?

4) Are they efficient foragers? I think one of my biggest concerns about the Saxonies is how much more expensive they may be to keep (relative to a 4lb Welsh Harlequin).

 

[mominoz]

I got 9 last May from Holderreads. He says his strain lays very well, 200+ eggs in some cases. They are very calm, active foragers, and good mothers (he said). Which is why I got them. Feed, as any meat duck they will eat a bit more say than a runner.(Not much), but if I throw greens in (winter) they ignore about 1/3 of their feed and I have to pick it up(to keep local birds from snacking). I heard they are a good meat duck

, don't know from personal experience. I really like their coloration, they blend in more. I try to stay away from white ducks, as I am in a high predator area.(I do keep them in fences in daytime and locked up well at night.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I don't have Saxonies. About all I know about them is that they are gorgeous.

A 5 pound (dressed weight) Pekin probably feeds 3-4 normal appetites. My son, who is a great big guy will eat half a duck. I can't finish a half and get a second meal off of my half. I find home raised duck to be a lot more filling than chicken.

Saxonies are built much like Appleyards. My Appleyards are more muscular than the Pekin. I haven't butchered one yet, but expect slightly more meat off of the Appleyard.

In addition to the meal my family gets, my dogs get 2 meals made from the giblets and boiled bones.

if your primary goal is eggs, then order the Welsh Harlequin. If meat is the most important, get Pekin. If you want both lots of eggs and lots of meat, choose between the Saxony and the Silver Appleyard.

 

[TTeddy]

Hi,
I have had my pair of Saxony Bantams now for about 2.5 months. I love them. Their eggs are yummy, they make great sponges!!
My Mrs Duck had her first hatchings last week.
You will find a thread here about the ducklings....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/726666/advice-for-first-hatchlings

She is a great layer. I will try to hatch more eggs myself next year.
I love them, they only downfall is that they don't make great mums first time round, and the drakes are known to kill the ducklings.

I don't think I will be eating them. If I'm going to start eating duck, I think I would go for another breed. The Saxony Bantam are too gorgeous!
My avatar is a photo of my Mr and Mrs Sax. They are lovely looking ducks and I don't think there are many breeders of them in Western Australia.

Cheers

 

[iheartchickens1]

Hey, i have 2 saxony duck females, but i dont now if they lay eggs without a male. do saxony ducks need a male to lay eggs or are they like chickens, and lay eggs every day with or without a male? plz help! x thxs

 

[TTeddy]

Hey, i have 2 saxony duck females, but i dont now if they lay eggs without a male. do saxony ducks need a male to lay eggs or are they like chickens, and lay eggs every day with or without a male? plz help! x thxs

I've just started out with duck, the Saxony Bantam seemed like a small breed for my liking. So I'm this is a learning experience for me also. I can't answer your question honestly. Maybe they are like chickens, dunno.
I will attempt to find out though. Also need to find out how often they lay eggs. Is it all year-round or is it seasonal. My duck hasen't layed an egg since she sat on those ones. I hope she does start again soon, I miss eating them and I would like to incubate some eggs.
Stay posted, I will endeaver to find out...just need some time

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Whereabouts are you iheartchickens1?

 

[wildsam]

I've just started out with duck, the Saxony Bantam seemed like a small breed for my liking. So I'm this is a learning experience for me also. I can't answer your question honestly. Maybe they are like chickens, dunno.
I will attempt to find out though. Also need to find out how often they lay eggs. Is it all year-round or is it seasonal. My duck hasen't layed an egg since she sat on those ones. I hope she does start again soon, I miss eating them and I would like to incubate some eggs.
Stay posted, I will endeaver to find out...just need some time

\

Whereabouts are you iheartchickens1?

Ducks usually lay eggs, even without a drake. And yes, they are seasonal! In winter or cold weather they either slow down significantly or stop altogether laying.
Also, if a duck hen is sitting on eggs, she will NOT lay any eggs, just like a chicken. She will probably resume laying about 1-3 weeks after either the eggs hatched or her nest is gone (meaning the eggs).