Saxony

Saxony
Origin	Category	Egg Colour	Sitter
Germany	Heavy Breed Duck	White	Yes

Bantam Saxony Duck

Bantam Saxony Drake

Photo showing head colours of the Saxony Drake and Duck - from Wikipedia by PigeonIP

The Saxony is a German breed of domestic duck. It was bred in Saxony in the 1930s, but because of the Second World War was recognised only in 1957. It is a dual-purpose breed, reared both for its eggs and for the table. Ducks lay around 80 to 100 eggs per year. The eggs are white and weigh some 80g.

The Saxony was bred in the 1930s by Albert Franz of Chemnitz, in the Free State of Saxony, by cross-breeding German Pekin, Blue Pomeranian and Rouen birds, and was first shown at Chemnitz-Altendorf in 1934. Almost all of the original stock was lost during World War II. After the War, Franz started breeding again from the remaining stock.

The Saxony was officially recognised in East Germany in 1957, in West Germany in 1958. Birds were taken to Switzerland in 1965 and to France in 1968. The Saxony was recognised in the United Kingdom in 1982. Some were imported to the United States by David Holderread in 1984. The Saxony was admitted to the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 2000.

In 2013 the total number in Germany was 1173. In North America, the breed is listed as "threatened" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and in Australia the Rare Breeds Trust classifies them as 'At Risk'.

The Saxony forages well and is straightforward to rear.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Saxony is a heavy duck: drakes weigh about 3.5 kg, ducks about 3.0 kg. It is muscular and close-feathered.

Head: oval-shaped and moderately large.

Breast deep and full with plenty of width that is carried across the back of the bird and extends towards the tail.

Abdomen: broad and full, free of keel development as seen in exhibition-type Rouen ducks.

Carriage: The body is held at about 25° to the horizontal.

Body: compact, long, broad across the shoulders, prominent chest that is smoothly rounded.

COLOUR

The Saxony has only one colour variety, buff-blue mallard. While drakes display the typical mallard pattern, their colours are distinct from any other breed.

The drake's head, back, and wing markings are blue-gray. THe neck ring is white. The breast is a rich chestnut-burgundy and the underbody and flanks are cream.

The duck is a rich, light buff colour with two white stripes on each side of the face, one over the eye and the other from the eye towards the beak. She has a creamy white neck ring and underbody.

Both drakes and ducks have a yellowish to orange bill and orange legs and feet.