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ukmastiff
Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 24
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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I now have reserved 3 appleyards and some more runners so things are looking up. Quite a trip to collect them later in the week but if I dont swallow a silly long ( and expensive) journey then I'm never going to get a decent flock started  |
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ukmastiff
Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 24
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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Weve had the Appleyards for 9 days now and I cant believe how much they are growing. These are not going to be small , very bold too . |
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newby
Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 147 Location: Dordogne
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| They grow like crazy, when we had them, the surplus i.e most of the babies used to go for meat at about 12 weeks, any older and they were a devil to pluck clean. My OH wouldn't eat them, so I never got a chance, but over here, next year, Oh Boy will I enjoy. |
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ukmastiff
Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 24
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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My trio of Silver Appleyards are huge and aged only 10 weeks.
One question , although I am assured I have a male a two females I dont have an appleyard with the dark head , they all have a similar colour head ( female type).
I realise I may just have one with far from perfect marking but EVERY picture I have seen of a drake he has had a completely different colour head to the females.
Is the Drake head colour something that comes with maturity ?
Cheers Mas |
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newby
Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 147 Location: Dordogne
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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| The best way to tell is the tail feather. On the drakes the top feathr curls, its very distinctive. I was also told that the ducks don't quack. Only the drakes quack. I did try it and it seemed to work, the ducks made a sort of squark. Not guaranteed, but the feather is a dead giveaway. The head colour will come as they feather. |
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ukmastiff
Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 24
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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I would have to be even more green than I am to not know re the quack difference as well as the tail curl , its posted everywhere and I have severa loud ducks
The thing is they are strill very young and also always yacking together so I havnt positively seperated the quack yet on those 3. Daphney the fawn is a total fog horn though theres no doubt where she's concerned.
To be honest as I mentioned b4 the breeder is very very experienced and its not that i dont trust the drake is a drake its more a case of wondering if the head colour does change so drastically or if mineis just way off correct.
I'd love to see some pics of ' young' drakes TBH if anyone has any.
Cheers Mas |
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