Silver Appleyard
Reginald Appleyard's elegant silver-and-chestnut breed.
Overview
The Silver Appleyard is a duck breed developed in the mid-20th century in Suffolk, England. Its creator sought to establish a large, multi-purpose duck that excelled in both egg and meat production, while also possessing an appealing aesthetic. The breeding program involved a combination of several existing duck breeds to achieve the desired size, conformation, and distinctive plumage patterns.
From its inception, the Silver Appleyard gained recognition for its productivity and attractive appearance. While not as widespread as some commercial breeds, it continues to be valued by enthusiasts and small-scale farmers. Efforts to maintain the breed's standards and genetic diversity are ongoing.
Origins
Tracing back to Suffolk, England, the Silver Appleyard earned its place in the lineage of ducks through generations of selection — a slow conversation between climate, husbandry, and human eye. Reginald Appleyard's elegant silver-and-chestnut breed.
Temperament
Custodians describe the Silver Appleyard as calm and docile, they are generally easy to manage..
Conservation
Current status: Watch · rarity tier Uncommon. Working populations remain in the hands of a small global network — 0+ of them keep programmes on Best of Breed alone.
Silver Appleyard, in photographs.
A living plate — community submissions and high-resolution photographs from Wikimedia Commons, sorted by clarity.