Appearance
Silver Appleyard Ducks are large ducks with colorful, distinct patterns that differ greatly between the male and female ducks. Male ducks have a yellow or greenish bill and a vibrant green neck and head. The rest of their body is a beautiful blend of cream, gray, and red chesnut. The females have mostly brown, fawn, and gray markings on their body, with facial stripes. Males can weigh up to 9 lbs, while females are a bit smaller, weighing up to 8 lbs.
Meat and Eggs
Silver Appleyard Ducks are prized for their high quality meat, which is tender, lean, and flavorful. It is often considered to be the most delicious of all duck meat, and a great option for gourmet roasting. Appleyards are not only valuable for their meat, but these ducks are also great egg-layers, laying up to 265 eggs annually. With their smooth, bright-white shells and rich yolk-to-white ratio, these eggs are prized for both hatching and table use.
Temperament
Like Muscovies, these ducks are also known for their quiet, docile nature, and are relatively easy to handle. Male Appleyards are especially calm and can sometimes even be affectionate and cuddly. These ducks thrive well in flocks and get along quite well with other ducks. Though they are pretty active, Silver Appleyard Ducks are generally not overly flighty or nervous. These ducks can be noisy at times. Females can tend to have a louder quack, while the males tend to have a softer, raspier quack.
Silver Appleyard Duck FAQs
Why Choose Shirlock Acres?
NPIP-Certified Hatchery
From the moment a duckling hatches at Shirlock Acres, its health is our top priority. Because we’re an NPIP-certified hatchery, every bird is carefully monitored and tested to ensure its illness-free. When your ducklings arrive, they’ll be bright-eyed, energetic, and ready to thrive in your flock.
Nearly 20 Years of Experience
In 2007, a few ducks in the Shirk family’s backyard sparked a passion that soon grew beyond our fence line. Today, Shirlock Acres ships ducklings across the country, but our heart is still rooted in family care. Roger and Derek Shirk continue to raise every bird with the same honesty and attention they’ve always given their own. Curious how it all began? You’ll find the full story on our About Us page.
State-of-the-Art Hatchery
From the moment they hatch, our ducklings are raised in a safe, well-kept environment where every detail is watched over with care. That attention ensures the birds you receive are healthy, thriving, and eager to settle into their new home.
Our Delivery Process
At Shirlock Acres, we take duckling delivery seriously. Before shipping, we hand-check every Silver Appleyard Duck and only send the strongest, freshest birds. You’ll get a tracking number and a heads-up when your ducklings ship, plus you’ll need to pick them up from the post office as soon as they arrive. We tweak our shipping process for the weather, and if anything goes wrong within the first 24 hours, we’ll make it right.
- Shipments go out Mondays (every Monday for Muscovy, every other Monday for Pekin & Silver Appleyard)
- Ducklings are shipped 0-2 days old, hand-checked for health
- Boxes include soft bedding, ventilation, dividers, GroGel, and heat packs in winter
- Tracking number and pickup notification provided
- Immediate care: preheat brooder (85-90°F), provide warm water with electrolytes, starter feed, and monitor activity
- Live arrival guarantee: refund or replacement if ducklings don’t survive the first 24 hours (photo required)
We offer shipping to all the lower 48 states, Alaska, and the US Virgin Islands using USPS Priority Mail.