Silver Appleyard facts for kids
Silver Appleyard drakes
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| Conservation status | FAO (2007): critically endangered |
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| Other names | Appleyard |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Use | dual-purpose |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Skin colour | white |
| Egg colour | white |
| Classification | |
| APA | heavy duck |
| EE | no |
| PCGB | heavy |
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The Silver Appleyard is a type of domestic duck from the United Kingdom. It was created in the early 1900s by Reginald Appleyard. He wanted to create a duck that could provide both tasty meat and lots of eggs. These ducks are also known for being beautiful to look at.
Contents
History of the Silver Appleyard
The Silver Appleyard duck was first bred in the 1930s. This happened at Priory Waterfowl Farm in Suffolk, England. Reginald Appleyard, a skilled chicken and duck breeder, developed them. He also created the Ixworth chicken breed.
Why the Breed Was Created
Reginald Appleyard had a clear goal for his new duck. He wanted a duck with white skin and a wide, deep chest. It also had to be beautiful and lay many white eggs. His ducks quickly became famous. They won prizes at big shows in London, like the Dairy Show.
Official Recognition
In 1947, a famous animal painter named Ernest George Wippell painted two Silver Appleyard ducks. Reginald Appleyard continued to work on the breed until he passed away in 1964. He never wrote down official rules for the breed. However, in 1982, official rules for the Silver Appleyard were made. These rules were based on Wippell's painting.
Some Silver Appleyard ducks were brought to the United States in the 1960s. In 2000, the breed was officially added to the American Poultry Association's list of recognized breeds. Today, the Livestock Conservancy lists them as "threatened." This means there are not many of them left.
Smaller Versions of the Breed
There are also two smaller versions of the Silver Appleyard.
- The Silver Appleyard Bantam was created by Reginald Appleyard in the 1940s. He crossed Khaki Campbell ducks with Call duck drakes. This means it has different ancestors than the larger Silver Appleyard. This bantam version is now called the Silver Bantam.
- A Miniature Silver Appleyard was created later by Tom Bartlett. It was recognized in 1997. This miniature duck is about one-third the size of the large Silver Appleyard. It is still too big to be called a true bantam.
What Silver Appleyards Look Like
The Silver Appleyard is a "large, sturdily built duck." It has a strong, "blocky" body and a noticeable chest. When fully grown, these ducks usually weigh between 6 and 8 pounds (about 2.7 to 3.6 kilograms).
Male Ducks (Drakes)
Male Silver Appleyard ducks, called drakes, have a yellow or greenish bill. Sometimes, as they get older, their bills can look striped. Their chest, sides, and shoulders are a chestnut red color. These areas often have white "frosting" or lacing. Their belly is usually creamy or silvery white. The drakes' wings are grey and white. They also have a bright blue stripe across their wings. Their tail feathers are a dark bronze color. Their feet and legs are orange.
Female Ducks (Hens)
Female Silver Appleyard ducks, called hens, have a yellow or orange bill. They have a black "bean" at the tip of their bill. Their feathers are mostly whitish with markings in different shades of brown and grey. Their legs are yellow or orange, and their toenails are dark. Like the drakes, the hens also have a blue stripe on their wings.
Ideal Appearance
The British Waterfowl Standards book describes what an ideal Silver Appleyard should look like. Some of these features include:
- A well-rounded head with shiny green-black feathers.
- A slightly upright, alert, and active way of standing.
- A brown-black rump (the back part of the body) that is shiny and edged with white.
- Legs that are set slightly back and wide apart.
- A bill that is not wedge-shaped and curves gently up towards the head.
- Dark brown eyes.
What Silver Appleyards Are Used For
The Silver Appleyard was bred to be a "dual-purpose" duck. This means it is good for two main things: meat and eggs.
Meat Production
Ducks raised for meat can reach a weight of about 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) in just nine weeks. This makes them a good choice for farmers.
Egg Laying
Silver Appleyard hens are also excellent egg layers. They can lay between 200 and 270 white eggs each year. This is a lot of eggs!
Showing
Besides meat and eggs, these ducks are also popular for showing. People enjoy showing off their beautiful Silver Appleyards at competitions.
