We've been debating adding birds to the mix since we bought our little farm in Maine in 2012, and during that time, we've found lots of good information here. Might this be the year to take the plunge? At the very least, we think it's time to join BYC and get in on the conversation.
Who we are: We're a mid-40s couple living on several acres in Midcoast Maine not far from town. The farm began in the 1870s, but not a lot of farming has been done in recent memory. We'd like to change that. We both work from home (she's a scientific illustrator and I'm a writer/photographer), and we are somewhat handy/innovative DIYers when it comes to most things. We like a challenge, and we're not afraid to take a risk.
We're thinking about a small flock of maybe six ducks, and we have a lead on some Silver Appleyards that should be hatched and ready to go by the end of May (we'd hatch them ourselves, but we have some extended family issues, which means we may have to be away far more than we (or the farm) would like over the next month or so).
If we take the plunge, the ducks will be housed in a duck-house on the southeast side of our great old barn and adjacent to the vegetable garden. We have an eye toward developing a permaculture duck system that ties in our garden and compost, but I'm getting ahead of myself....
Anyway, thanks for all the advice over the past few years, and we're looking forward to learning a lot more.
Cheers!
Who we are: We're a mid-40s couple living on several acres in Midcoast Maine not far from town. The farm began in the 1870s, but not a lot of farming has been done in recent memory. We'd like to change that. We both work from home (she's a scientific illustrator and I'm a writer/photographer), and we are somewhat handy/innovative DIYers when it comes to most things. We like a challenge, and we're not afraid to take a risk.
We're thinking about a small flock of maybe six ducks, and we have a lead on some Silver Appleyards that should be hatched and ready to go by the end of May (we'd hatch them ourselves, but we have some extended family issues, which means we may have to be away far more than we (or the farm) would like over the next month or so).
If we take the plunge, the ducks will be housed in a duck-house on the southeast side of our great old barn and adjacent to the vegetable garden. We have an eye toward developing a permaculture duck system that ties in our garden and compost, but I'm getting ahead of myself....
Anyway, thanks for all the advice over the past few years, and we're looking forward to learning a lot more.
Cheers!