Hi!
We bought a pair of miniature Silver Appleyards this summer at 5 weeks of age from a local farm. I think they are the perfect size for our small yard in a neighborhood.
They forage (supervised) twice a day for an hour or two each time. They trample stuff, but being so light-weight, don't do much damage to hardier plants. Just watch them around sedums and other fragile plants. I harvest slugs for them at night. Between that and the bugs they catch during their walks in the yard, they get a fair amount of protein, but I'd like to start raising minnows or shrimp eventually for them to catch in their pool. We supplement them with some organic feed I make and their veggies, usually a mix of finely diced cucumber, green or red cabbage, and celery. They love radicchio, lettuce, kale, spinach, and they'll graze on the dandelions, amaranth, tall grasses and other weeds growing in the yard. I have a list of duck toxic plants to share if wanted.
They love their kiddie pool, especially the hen. I know they don't need it, but to see how much fun they have, I just think it would be cruel to deny them the splashing good times they have. They can be left unsupervised in the afternoon if they're in their pool, and they don't freak out. I've also read that they mate better in water, deep enough for her to sink down for him. They have been courting each other in swimming circles and he has tried to mount her only when they're in the pool. She's playing hard-to-get though.
They are NOISY! Wow, I was not expecting how loud she can get. He is fine, but when he calls for us unanswered enough times, she starts up and is really loud, but brief. They are very, very attached to us and follow us around- have to be careful not to step on them. I can't go out of sight for more than 30 seconds before they notice and get alarmed. They are getting better though in the past months. It used to be only 10 seconds, ha. When they see you, they come running as fast as they can. It is both hilarious and endearing. They don't like to be handled, but can be. They are easily herded into their pen as well, solo or with a partner. Bribery works best though. Toss anything in there and they'll go in to see what it was.
I absolutely love them, as time consuming as they are, more so than other types that can be left alone. Get them if you want pets, and to spend more time outside, or add them to an existing flock of other birds. They love company.
I hope it's okay to post a link. It's to a youtube video of the ducks when we got them.
