Description
Silver Appleyard Duck
Breed History and Origin
The Silver Appleyard Duck was developed in the 1930s by Reginald Appleyard, a well-known poultry breeder in England who aimed to create a high-performing dual-purpose duck. The breed was later introduced to the United States in the late 1960s and gained popularity through the 1980s before being officially recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1998.
Today, the Silver Appleyard is listed on the Livestock Conservancy Watch Status as a sustainable heritage duck breed. Cackle Hatchery® has been developing its own bloodline or strain since 2015, focusing on productivity, temperament, and overall quality.
Appearance and Breed Characteristics
Silver Appleyard ducks are known for their beautiful and somewhat variable plumage. Females often resemble lighter-colored mallards, with silver-white tones on the face, neck, and breast, along with intricate stippling over tan feathers on the wings and shoulders. This variation makes it easy to distinguish individuals within a flock.
Males (drakes) are equally striking and tend to lighten in color as they age, while females typically darken over time. This natural color shift adds to their visual appeal as they mature.
They are considered a heavy-weight duck breed, with drakes averaging around 9 pounds and hens around 7 pounds.
Egg Production and Broodiness
The Silver Appleyard is a strong layer for a dual-purpose duck, typically producing 120–175 large to extra-large white eggs per year, with some reports of higher production under optimal conditions.
Hens will eventually go broody and are capable of hatching and raising 8–12 ducklings per clutch, making them a practical option for those interested in natural reproduction.
Temperament and Backyard Suitability
This breed is known for its calm, easy-going temperament, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced poultry keepers. They adapt well to both small backyard setups and larger flocks.
Silver Appleyards are easy to manage and do well in mixed flocks, including setups where ducks are kept alongside chickens (with proper management).
Production Positioning and Use
The Silver Appleyard is a true dual-purpose duck, valued for both egg production and meat quality. Their relatively fast growth rate and good feed conversion make them efficient for meat production, while their steady egg-laying makes them equally useful for home egg supply.
They are also suitable for exhibition in the Heavy Weight duck class and are appreciated by breeders working with heritage waterfowl.
Management Notes
- Best kept with access to water and space for foraging
- Roosting is not required (floor-based housing is typical)
- Recommended mating ratio is 6 females to 1 male
- Fertility rates typically range from 60–75%
- Not eligible for shipping to Hawaii
Related Resources
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FAQ
How many eggs do Silver Appleyard ducks lay?
They typically lay 120–175 eggs per year, with some exceeding that under ideal conditions.
Are Silver Appleyard ducks good for meat production?
Yes, they grow quickly and are considered an excellent dual-purpose breed.
Do Silver Appleyard ducks go broody?
Yes, hens will go broody and can raise 8–12 ducklings per clutch.
Are they good for beginners?
Yes, their calm temperament and easy management make them beginner-friendly.
Do Silver Appleyards need a pond?
A pond is not required, but access to water for bathing is important for their health and feather condition.
Availability
Available Low Availability Unavailable
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| 2026-05-18 |
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JohnMc –
Year Old Now
Ordered Appleyards last year. Except for 1 loss to a hawk all are doing fine. Wonderful white eggs that are just fantastic. We hatched a small clutch this year so we know the drake is doing his job. Excellent birds.
We have done business with cackle hatchery and have always had a positive experience. Will be ordering from them soon for chickens.
JohnMc –
Update
Barely 7 months now. Fully grown. Lost one female to a predator. Of the flock remaining we are consistently receiving 3 eggs a day, no less than 2 any other day. Great foragers when given the chance that definitely lessens the feed bill. Not particularly noisy when about their business. Fully intend to hatch more of these birds to increase the flock.
Zelda –
Not happy
I got my order and i seen lots of good reviews but i had a very bad experience, i ordered 6 hens and 3 drakes i got 6 drakes and 3 hens. I called to tell them and i was told it is not an exact science, then do not advertice you can sex them if it can not be done.
Renee –
Great ducks!
This was our first experience with Cackle Hatchery and Appleyards. We love both. The communication was great and the ducks are happy and healthy.
steve –
silver appleyards
they are a beautiful noise breed I love them.
Jenny –
Great Dual Purpose Ducks!
I ordered 5 females and 1 male from Cackle. They are very healthy.
They are entertaining and fun to watch. They rule the poultry yard –much to the dismay of my Guineas, the SAs don’t put up with the Guineas’ crap 🙂 They get along well with the chickens.
They are great egg layers. Most days I’m getting an egg from each of them, occasionally I’ll have a 4 egg day and rarely I’ll have a 3 egg day from my 5 girls.
And they are so big and fat!! 🙂 I intend to hatch some of their eggs throughout next year as meat birds.
You really can’t go wrong with Silver Appleyards.
Steve and Cindy –
Beautiful and Fun
We ordered 4 female and 1 male apple yards in Spring of 2019 and all arrived safe and sound. They are beautiful and have been a pleasure to watch grow, which did not take to long! Will likely be ordering more in the future.
Chris –
Apple Silveryard Ducks
We got 3 females in March and they are full grown and laying beautiful eggs, the 3 females are so beautiful and work really well with our chickens. Love them.
Alison –
Duck lover
We have 3 Silver Appleyard Ducks. They are beautiful and happy with our other ducks, chickens, and geese.
Runamuck Farm –
Beautiful Ducks
We ordered from Cackle after failed attempts at another hatchery. We’re very pleased with these girls. The babies arrived healthy and happy and packaged well. Our PostMaster was just as happy as we were that we had a successful delivery!
They have grown into big, sweet, calm loves with beautiful coloring that lay eggs now. They co-exist well with my chickens and almost sound like they’re laughing at us when they all get quacking. Our neighbors love them, too.
Derek –
Great ducks
We ordered 10 ducklings in January and received them in March. The ducklings were vigorous and docile. They grew very well and are beautiful as adults
Ryan –
Great fowl
Ordered 4 hens and 1 drake. They arrived with our Cinnamon Queens safe and sound. They grew fast and started laying between 4-5 months old. We are averaging 3 eggs a day. They have a great attitude and get along well with our flock of chickens in a large yard (1/8th acre). They are beautiful colors of browns/silvers. Thanks Cackle Hatchery!
Kevin –
Great ducks
Very curious ducks follow and watch us when doing any yard work
Nicole –
Love My Ducks
Absolutely love the ducks I got. Ordered a pair and both survived to adulthood. They are big bodied birds with beautiful plumage. Looking forward to ordering more next year and having duck eggs
JohnMc –
Hearty, Sturdy
Ordered 4F/1M for June delivery. Arrived at the PO perfectly. Now first week of August and all 5 are alive and well. Excellent growth rate. Calm demeanor as ducks go. Good forager.
This is my third order with Cackle and all have been error free. Thanks guys.
Annette –
Disappointing
Ordered 4 Appleyard hens and 1 drake for early June 2019. (Also Toulouse and African geese) The geese arrived- the ducks didn’t. They didn’t have any. Reimbursed of course, but wish I had known that quantities were so limited that getting my ducks would be a long shot at best. (of the 10 geese, 9 survived.)
Dana –
Love my Appleyards!
I love my Appleyards! They are so much fun to watch and they hang with my chickens. I will be ordering 6 more for the farm for spring 2018. Thank you Cackle Hatchery