The Silver Appleyard was bred in the 1930s by Reginald Appleyard, a well-known poultry writer and breeder in England at that time. He desired to develop a breed “with a combination of beauty, size, lots of big white eggs, and deep, long, wide breast.” Appleyards were brought to the United States in the late 1960s, though they did not see wide availability until the 1980s. They were accepted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 2000. Silver Appleyard Ducks are raised for exhibition, as pets, and as "gourmet roasting ducks". They are also raised for their eggs as this breed is one of the best egg-layers among the larger ducks and produces, on average, roughly 250 white-shelled eggs yearly. Their meat is "lean and flavorful". This breed has a calm temperament and tends to stay close to home if well-fed.