I have two appleyard ducks. When I got them, about three week ago, he said they where a pair and about fully grown. Is it starting to get to late in the year for laying.
We use a think layer of shavings or aubiose, then a layer of straw. Each week we fork the top layer of straw out turn the shavings and add another layer of straw. The straw is far better for the compost heap too.