Which Saxony Drake do I Keep? *NEW PICS*

[HidingInTheHenHouse]

Saturday is butcher day, and I only want to keep one of these drakes for breeding. I have never had ducks before, and I really don't know how to decide which drake to keep. They all weigh about 6.5 lbs, except for the first one, which is 7.5 lbs. I have additional pics if anyone needs a different angle.

Also, these are from Holderread's so I sent pics to them and asked them the same question, but have not received a reply so I'm depending on you guys to help me out please!

Orange Band

Pink Band

Blue Band

Green Band

 

[Wifezilla]

Ooohhh!! What a bunch of handsome fellows. Hard to pick!

Since I have to judge by looks alone, the green band looks really good. Only thing I can see is his neck band is not complete. Don't know if that will fill in with time though.

 

[1lpoock]

Green Band or Blue Band...all of them pretty much meet the exhibition standards...but those ones look the best....if i had to pic one...i'd say green

here is the exhibition standard for a saxony drake...
Head and Neck: Blue as far down to the white ring. Lower part of neck, shoulders and breast need to be a rust red colour, with slight silver lacing on the breast. Back and Rump: Blue-grey. Tail feathers and wings: Oatmeal with blue wing bars.
Bill is either plain yellow or with pale green shading.


but then here is somethimg about what wifezilla was referring too

Avoid: broken Neck ring in drake, Pale eyes, Upright Walk, Slipped Wings, Coloured Nostrils, Dark under feathering, Brown head on Drake, White Bib, Any Deformity

 

[Wifezilla]

That would leave the pink band if you want to avoid the broken neck ring. What is his personality like?

 

[sparkles2307]

Ohhhhhhh if only we were closer to you, I have been looking high and low to replace my saxony drake and would just keel over to have one of yours!

 

[HidingInTheHenHouse]

I have no idea what the personalities are like because I can never tell them apart, and they have only had the bands on since last week. I will pay better attention.

What personality should I be looking for? Is it better to have a dominant type one, or one that is not as bossy with the females? All of them are very people friendly and curious. They get along great with the chickens too.

 

[HidingInTheHenHouse]

So I think we've determined that the pink band is the only one of the drakes that has a unbroken neck ring.

My next question is, which is more important, the unbroken neck ring, or the chest coloration? I think he has the least reddish brown on his chest, with quite a bit more white than I would call "lacing".

I did see the pink band mate with the female, so at least he seems to be okay in that department. By the way, do the drakes ever drown the females? It seemed like he hardly let her up for air!

Pink Band - Chest

Blue Band - Chest

Green Band - Chest

Orange Band - Chest

 

[1lpoock]

Now I seriously think the orange is the best reasons:
1. Pretty nice white ring
2. Perfect colors
3. Not a lot of white in chest
4. Rustiness in the chest carries on over the wings.

I think him or blue band...they are both awesome...just goes to show how good holderread ducks really are!

 

[HidingInTheHenHouse]

What about the broken neck ring issue?

 

[Wifezilla]

A super aggressive drake can drown a female, but usually they just get a bit of a dunking. As for the traits you want with the girls...

I had a khaki drake who would call his girls to any treats and let them eat first, he was always watching the sky for predators, and he didn't seem to overmate any one duck. His only problem was the HATED any new younger ducks I tried to introduce to the flock. I ended up selling him after I hatched out one of his daughters. If it wasn't for his hatred for kids, I would have kept him.

As for the breast...doesn't that fill in over time? Same with the neck band but I am not really sure. If you are butchering tomorrow, you wont have time to see.