The Poultry Keeper

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

This thread is for Appleyard Ducks.

surrey bird · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 61 Location: SURREY

Nothing on here, sad!

My three say hello, two girls and a fella who is not for the pot! they are real personalities, no trouble at all. They came from smallholders show at ardingley so if you sent some this year i may have them, they are fine. They get on with the hens OK though they do have quite a lot of room.

Aussie Chick · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:10 am Post subject:

Surrey Bird, do you have any pictures?

poultry poofs · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:46 pm Post subject:

There are some pics here if thats any help

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Ducks/Apple/BRKApple.html

rich

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

I have one Appleyard Drake called Duckie - OK, it's not original, but it can be quite difficult not to have something gender specific! He was the only one to hatch out of 10 eggs and he is adorable. He now lives with the chickens, and I think he is a bit protective of them. He chatters all day long and makes a great pet, he even follows you round while you talk to him. I definitely want more this year - even to breed later on.

Dorset Poultry · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:02 pm Post subject:

Don't worry my drake is called MR Duck, a little less original than yours Embarassed

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

I don't think my 9 year old boy has much imagination for names - he wants to call everything 'fluffy'!

The hamster is fluffy, he wanted to call duckie - fluffy, we recently got two kittens that he also wanted to call fluffy, but we prefer hiss and spit!

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 970 Location: Cambridgeshire

We keep a few Appleyards we have a drake called Archie and three ducks. Very Happy

Me and my nan bought the eggs from down the road and my nan thought of putting them in the incubator aswell as some magpie duck eggs. Smile

Fortunely their was one drake from each set, we killed the magpie drake and ducks, and kept Appleyards. Smile

Josephine · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:05 am Post subject:

We have the miniature silver appleyard ducks, 2 drakes called Derek and Desmond and two girls called Deidrie and Deliah ! They shared with two Stryker Runners called Sue and Shirley until the fox got Sue. Crying or Very sad

Desmond is the smaller of the two drakes, but big on attitude! A bit of a bully!!

leghorn_guy · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

i don't like so much heavy breeds, but appleyards are cute...i saw in the book by michael roberts the original slver appleyards, and they were very different, they seemed like welsh harlequins...

allymickie · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 50

Where did you get them from? I have been trying to get some silver appleyards but haven't any luck so far, anyone got any ideas or know of a breeder?

Castle Farm · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

I have kept Appleyards for years and they are a good dual purpose breed.
The ducks lay very well for a large breed, laying a large pale cream egg.
The Drakes are take a while to get up to table weight dressing out at around 5/6lbs at around 30 weeks..but that's on free-range in 2 acres.They cover a lot of ground if allowed it and I run my flock in with the sheep.
They are a beautiful breed and when bred to british standard take a lot of beating as a show duck.
photos of some of my Appleyards can be seen on my web page.
www.castlefarmeggs.co.uk

Welsh Duck · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject:

Lovely website, Very Happy

ukmastiff · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 24

As allymickie knows I too am looking for some Razz

seems this is not going to be easy.

I would consider hatching eggs as I dont seem to be able to locate any adult birds but I dont have an incubator. Purchasing an incubator would rather add to the cost . I have alreayt spent 400 pounds electrifying their compound to keep mr 'sly' out and all it is protecting are two lucky Runners heehhe.

newby · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Dordogne

We got our starting birds from Folly farm in Gloucester. I suspect you'll have to order, enquire. They were expensive, but super strong birds.
Folly farm is an allbreeds go around farm, lots of breeds, but kept seperate, nice for a visit too.