Silver Appleyard
The Silver Appleyard is a large English domestic duck developed by Reginald Appleyard in the first half of the twentieth century as both a good-looking table bird and a useful layer. It carries a silvered, mallard-derived pattern: drakes have green heads, pale flanks, chestnut breast color, and a light underbody, while ducks are cream to silvery white with fawn and gray markings. It should not be confused with the much smaller Miniature Appleyard.
Smallholders keep Silver Appleyards for eggs, meat, and exhibition, and many appreciate their ability to forage on pasture. They do best with secure night housing, clean bathing water, and feed matched to age and production; fast-growing ducklings need room and good footing to avoid leg strain. Breeders select not only color but also size, deep body, fertility, and calm temperament, because hatchery stock can vary. Their weight and broad bodies should be considered when planning ponds, ramps, and fencing.
