Ducks have arrived!

The first matriarch ducks of Tapestry Farm have arrived. And they are so cute! But, let's be honest, have you ever really seen any "ugly ducklings"?

These two little ladies are Buff Orpington ducks. And if that sounds familiar, it is. When most people hear Buff Orpington they think of chickens. Well these ducks stem from the same Orpington, Kent that the chickens came from. They were introduced to the US in 1908. They are average layers of 150 - 220 eggs per year. Duck eggs are larger in size and have larger yolks than chicken eggs. This difference is what makes duck eggs better for baking, giving the baked item a richer texture, rise better and stay moist. I have read that the eggs blend well in gluten-free mixes because they are great at holding the ingredients together.

The main reason the ducks have been added to the farm is for slug patrol. I think the chickens are doing ok with keeping the slugs down, getting them while they're still young. But if any of the slugs survive to full adult size, I'm not sure if the chickens would go after them. With the ducks, there won't be any question of the slugs demise. So it's pretty much a win-win for the farm. Great eggs, no slugs.

And I'm planning to add a drake next year so we'll also see some ducklings from these gals.

Up and running in Oregon

It's been a slow process moving from Colorado to Oregon. After selling the farm in Colorado and packing up the alpacas and llamas, I searched for a new farm for nine months and finally decided to purchase the alpaca farm where I was boarding my alpacas and renting living space. It was certainly easier on the alpacas and llamas that didn't have to make another move.

But the summer of 2012 brought many challenges – the birth of a 30 day early premature cria who is still with us, the loss of my best cria of the season who was the offspring of a young male I lost the previous winter. And then the phone call that put my life into somewhat of a tail spin – “you’ve been laid off”. And while I landed on my feet getting a job with another division within the same company, I have to admit, it changed my life. Unfortunately, not for the better. I’m a single person with a new mortgage and an alpaca/llama farm I run on my own. Should I stay on the same path? Should I restructure my plans? Was I was having a mid-life crisis in addition to determining my future or was it created by that fateful call. I still struggle with the aftermath but the dust and cobwebs are breaking away to the warm sunshine days of spring. Maybe all of this and my first Oregon winter in my new home wasn’t a great combination!

So what will 2013 usher in? The alpacas and llamas had a great winter and they're loving the new spring pasture. The website is being updated and our Facebook page will be rolling out in the next few days. The alpaca and llama farm is moving into a full sustainable agriculture environment. And the farm will be adding chickens and ducks to the program. I'm hoping to build enough product to join the Oregon City Farmers Market this fall.

Lots to do on the farm in the next few weeks. I'll be moving last year's cria to the weaning pasture for about 3 weeks. And the first cria of the season is due the first part of May. And the ducklings arrive this week!

Stay tuned...