[6] It was bred in the first half of the twentieth century by Reginald Appleyard, with the aim of creating a dual-purpose breed that would provide both a good quantity of meat and plenty of eggs.

By the time the pamphlet was issued, his birds had won prizes at the Dairy Show in London and at Bethnal Green.

A Miniature Silver Appleyard, created by Tom Bartlett of Folly Farm, was recognised in 1997; it is about a third of the size of the large bird, and so is not small enough to be termed a bantam.

[5][13] The Silver Appleyard is a "large, sturdily built duck" with a "blocky" physique and a prominent breast.

Birds for the table may reach a weight of 3 kg at nine weeks;[11] ducks are good layers of white eggs, and may lay some 200–270 per year.