We got ducks! We picked up 20 beautiful baby Khaki Campbell ducklings from tractor supply today and 15 one year old white layer ducks we scoped off of craigslist from a farm in Maine. We were inspired by Ben Falk’s homestead — he raises a few different breeds of ducks and his experiences suggests that they are a very easy and profitable bird for him. We started dreaming up coop ideas that we will be able to build with the sawmill on the property and how perfect it would be situated close to the stream for the ducks to thrive. Previously before we decided on ducks rather than chickens we found an incredible article about how duck eggs are more nutritious than chicken eggs, here’s the link: http://www.localharvest.org/blog/16682/entry/duck_eggs_vs_chicken_eggs .
We bought all the supplies to raise the ducklings until they are mature enough to be moved outside. We placed the container with the ducklings into the summer kitchen so the oder wouldn’t penetrate into the house! They’ll need the heat lamp for a while now since it’s still winter here! I hope they will be okay out there. For the mature ducks we renovated the garden shed into a temporary shelter for them until we get a move on and finish the coop that we plan on making them with lumber harvested from the land. We’re so excited!
