Waterfowl - Raising Poultry - page 194

tends to have a buttery gold appearance and the dressed specimens are eye-catching. The
carcass content of these birds seems to have a higher meat-to-fat ratio. They dress out in
the 4- to 6-pound (1.8-2.7 kg) range and produce tasty meat.
Cayugas come in two colors, black and blue, and both are beautiful in the winter
against the white snow background. The Black Cayuga, when first starting to lay for
the season, will lay violet-black eggs that are most attractive and unusual. Dressed spe-
cimens are very tasty and somewhat leaner than most. People accustomed to a bright
yellow-skinned Pekin will be caught off guard by the dark skin beneath the Cayuga's
dark feathers; they look starkly different from a white-feathered duck with a yellow or
creamy white carcass. But I say close your eyes and let your taste buds be the judge;
most folks find the Cayuga to be excellent eating.
The Saxony is a larger German breed that perhaps should be classed as a meat type
specifically, but my experience over the past 15 years finds them to be fine layers of
large white eggs. The hens are a buffy fawn color; the males are similar, with reddish
chests and gray heads. Gentle and easy to maintain, these ducks are perfect for the back-
yarder who wants an attractive and functional bird that's easy to handle.
Silver Appleyards, hailing from 1940s Britain, have only been popular in this coun-
try since the 1980s. They are large, colorful ducks that make good foragers. Dressed
specimens range between 4 and 6 pounds (1.8-2.7 kg) and the carcass has visual appeal.
Indian Runner