Silver (Appleyard) Bantams

[chickens really]

Ducklings I believe to be Call Silver Appleyard Bantam cross...Colour and everything leans toward the cross...

 

[ThreeWillows]

Yeah, I would say they're going too Call-like. This is what Holderread had as a nice breeding drake when they were working with them:

Much less round, longer, slenderer, longer neck and bill, head isn't as rounded going into the bill, etc. Maybe Duck Creek crossed Calls in for color improvement or something, and lost type because of it. But, maybe they're just going that way now. As far as I know, there isn't a real standard for them, although I would think the idea would be to get them to look as much like the large version as possible, just smaller.

Yes, not having a standard is not good for the breed. They aren't supposed to look like the large ones--different color pattern and all. But, what they are supposed to look like is more of a question.

This is what I have in mind, also from Holderread page

 

[ThreeWillows]

I'm going to try to keep things in line with this image.

 

[chickens really]

This is mine...Blossom is a Pure Silver Appleyard Bantam...

 

[chickens really]

She was rescued from a bad breeder at auction...

 

[Ravynscroft]

It is okay. I think Duck Creek is breeding to a rounder looking standard than folks are used to. The pics of "show quality" mini Appleyards on their site are very different from my BSC hens... I had to make a tough choice in rehoming a hen I paid top dollar for. But I think they're going too far toward a call look. I kept the male, but I'm putting him over the more slender BSC hens. I think it is the right decision. I hope so...

I look forward to seeing your progress! Sorry it didn't work out the way you wanted though, unfortunately when breeding for type/quality we have to make some tough choices...

You touched right on my concern about the look of those though, and every breeder makes different points their priority... there is a saying about 3 generations, that's all it takes to change a look in a breed completely, in any direction...

 

[ThreeWillows]

I look forward to seeing your progress! Sorry it didn't work out the way you wanted though, unfortunately when breeding for type/quality we have to make some tough choices...

You touched right on my concern about the look of those though, and every breeder makes different points their priority... there is a saying about 3 generations, that's all it takes to change a look in a breed completely, in any direction...

Thank you!

I hope I can improve color with the male, type with the females.... We shall see

 

[Minnesotahobby]

We

Thank you!

I hope I can improve color with the male, type with the females.... We shall see[/QUOTE
We are getting a show pair of silver heard Australian spotted ducks from duck creek farm this month! We're extremely excited about them. I have been so stumped on which ones to get though between the silverheads, blueheads and green heads. We figured we would just go with the silver heads because for one they're beautiful, love the lighter tone but also to add more variety to our flock since we have mallards and silver Appleyards. The green heads closely resemble the Appleyards. What do you think? What color would you go with. I know the blue heads can breed all 3 varieties so I almost went with that but getting a true show pair we didn't want to pass up on the silverheads.

 

[Minnesotahobby]

We are getting a show pair of silver heard Australian spotted ducks from duck creek farm this month! We're extremely excited about them. I have been so stumped on which ones to get though between the silverheads, blueheads and green heads. We figured we would just go with the silver heads because for one they're beautiful, love the lighter tone but also to add more variety to our flock since we have mallards and silver Appleyards. The green heads closely resemble the Appleyards. What do you think? What color would you go with. I know the blue heads can breed all 3 varieties so I almost went with that but getting a true show pair we didn't want to pass up on the silverheads.

 

[ThreeWillows]

Sounds great. I love the Australian Spotteds, but I don't know as much about them as the Mini Appleyards. There is a breeder here who keeps them, or did, @Duck Drover.

I'm partial to the blueheads, partly because of the variety they throw.