Our Miniature Silver Appleyard Ducks
Following a fox attach, in January 2010, we no longer have our miniature Silver Appleyards. We do not intend to replace them as we are concentrating on breeds that are good egg layers. Princess, the little wild rescue duck, returned 24 hours after the attack. She occasionally stays with the Muscovys but usually flies off at dusk and is there waiting for breakfast when we let the other ducks out. We have never tried to tame her in case she wants to return to the wild, but it is nice to see her every day.
Apple is a little dark, there's not much of the silver about her, but she is a very pretty little duck, just a little bigger than a Mallard. We hatched her from an egg last year at the same time as Mr. and Mrs. Cay, our Cayugas.
We lost Apple one day and eventually found her, after hunting round all the fields, in the garden, We've got an old swimming pool full of goldfish and bulrushes. She got in easy enough, but couldn't get out again. I doubt if she had really tried though - she was having a great time. I reckon ducks have a good memory because we occasionally loose all the ducks now and always know where to find them. Apple has shown them the way to the pool.
It takes all the family to heard them up and fish them out.
November 8th 2003 - a husband for Apple
He was delivered to us at the CPC Autumn Show. His previous owners had entered him in the show and we were very pleased that he came third in the Call Duck & Bantam Class. I think he is a Silver Bantam rather than a true Appleyard as he doesn't have their eye markings. Never the less they make a very pretty pair.
Apple has been a very good layer and has her own aviary, with pond, that she shares with four grey cockatiels in the breeding season. Now she has a partner we are looking forward to some very pretty ducklings next year.
And here they are - Apple and her 10 ducklings, sunning themselves on their first morning out of the shell.
Two of Apple's ducklings almost fully grown