the Silver Appleyard and the Silver Appleyard Miniature

We have sold out of birds hatched last year so are now taking expressions of interest for the 2007 season. We have a limited number of birds we can rear in any one year so please book early for collection in the autumn. If you want eggs for hatching or day old ducklings please ask - limited supplies should be available between late spring to mid summer.
Silver Appleyard Miniature

The Silver Appleyard (sometimes known as the Large Appleyard) was originally produced in Great Britain

It is a good layer, an excellent table bird and attractive to look at.
ORIGIN : Great Britain in the 1930's and 40's by a gentleman by the name of Reginald Appleyard. He was a well known writer and breeder of domestic waterfowl.
BREEDING : His aim was to produce the perfect all-round utility duck.
EGGS: a good layer
SIZE : heavy; drakes- 8-9 lbs (3.6-4.1 kg)
ducks - 7 -8lbs (3.2-3.6kg)
MEAT: excellent table bird
TEMPERAMENT : Both the male and female have a lively carriage, slightly erect with their back sloping gently from shoulder to tail. Broad is a description of many of their features - body; tail; bill. They are well rounded and alert; with their orange legs set slightly back. They have tight plumage and have dark hazel eyes.
THE MALE : Dark green head has silvery markings and a white/silver line separates the claret feathers at the base of the neck and the shoulders. The claret feathers of the breast have white beneath and the bib fades into silver under the body. Over the back the claret merges into dark grey feathers and the rump is solid dark green, as are the feathers under the tail. The tail itself is grey with broad white edging.
Their wings have chestnut, grey and white with a iridescent blue flash. The drakes bill should be yellow - green.
The drakes are quick to mature and make fine table fowl - about 8-9 pound in weight

THE FEMALE: The ducks head and neck are silver white with a band of brown flecked fawn over the crown and back of their neck. This band merges into the heavily fawn flecked feathering of her back without a break. A fine fawn line marks through the eye. most of the body from breast to flank is creamy white. The tail is darker fawn as are the wings. Her bill is yellow with a brown saddle.
A good duck can lay over 150 (maybe 180) large white eggs a year - she weighs in at around 7-8 pounds.