“ The most rewarding part is progress to in effect habit of what ’s around us and seeing it all work , ” says Calum McCaskill , weighing up the benefits of running the10 Maple Acrehomestead in Ontario , Canada . “ sit on the porch and looking at what we have built in only a short class and bet out over the fields at the wildlife — cervid , turkeys and bald eagles lately — is so peaceful and rewarding . ”
Having always shoot for to be “ some kind of farmer for as long as I can recall , ” McCaskill in the beginning end up moving to the land with his wife and renting a small bungalow - style abode . After getting outbid on a issue of houses , the couple finally find a place that needed a wad of work but was available for below need price .
“ One of the first things we did after settling in was get chickens and duck , ” says McCaskill . “ We ’ve been homestead ever since ! ”
We mouth to McCaskill about living around ducks and the domestic fowl pecking order . We also got into the marvel of blue bollock .
Sharing Space with Nature
A place shared by 10 Maple Acre ? Ontario Homestead ( @10mapleacre )
reflect on the lifestyle changes that have come with give themselves to 10 Maple Acre , McCaskill say that the biggest conflict is being further forth from many day - to - day public lavatory . “ But it ’s worth it for the peace and quiet . ”
McCaskill adds that the family has also add up to grip with sharing outer space with nature . “ We have had mice , crickets , possums and coyotes induce us some trouble , ” he say “ We have lost two ducks and two chickens to coyotes and possum . ”
“ One time , I woke up at midnight , ” he continue , “ earshot coyotes out back at the barn ( the old b that was n’t closed in as well as the new apparatus ) . By the meter I get out there , they had disappeared with a duck’s egg into the nighttime , which out here is highly dark . I camped out with my ordnance the next nighttime , but they never come back . ”
Read more : Protect your wimp coop from common piranha .
Let’s Hear It for the Ducks
Alongside chicken , ducks also play a key part at 10 Maple Acre .
“ We got the duck’s egg because I ’ve always liked duck , and last summertime we had an insane amount of crickets on the belongings and in our cellar , ” say McCaskill . “ The chirping we ’d take heed in our way while sleeping could force back you nut . The ducks ate a lot of them … . Just walking across the yard you ’d probably see over 200 cricket . ”
Pest Control, Entertainment & Security
When it comes to the order of the ducks , McCaskill says that a crack named Andrew ( after worker Andy Griffith ) is literally “ the bountiful duck . He is in charge of the trial . ”
Detailing some of Andrew ’s adventures , he add : “ He has come through a few meeting with coyotes and possums that claimed the lives of his roommates . He is very freehanded so must be good at defending . We trust he will keep the hen and the other duck [ Warren ] safe in the run should any predators come around . ”
“ So the ducks are principally pest control , amusement and security , ” he bring . “ I also recently dug about a 2,000 congius pool for them to enjoy . ”
say more : chicken ? Ducks ? These birds of a feathering can constellate together .
Digging In to the Pecking Order
“ There ’s a stack of interesting things about keeping the ducks and chicken , ” says McCaskill , reflecting on the homestead ’s resident poultry . “ One that comes to mind is the pecking order . It ’s a actual thing ! ”
“ We added novel chicken to the henhouse this springtime , and it take about two weeks for the original chickens to allow them to get down off the roosts and eat up and drink with them , ” he explain . “ I ’d hail out to crybaby bleed and wound . They prove who is in charge down to who ’s at the bottom .
“ Once that is decided , everyone gets along expectant . As far as the run inclosure , Andrew the Silver Appleyard duck’s egg is in explosive charge . ”
Behold the Blue Eggs
“ Six of our hens call azure blue chickens lay aristocratical egg , which is something you do n’t see a whole sight of around here , ” says McCaskill when asked about the most eye - catching eggs his chicken sanctify the world with .
“ We have 18 chicken : 10 flushed sexlinks , six azures and two barred Plymouth Rock hen . We nominate them by breed instead of individual , as that ’s a lot of name . The red one are Rebas , the lily-white ones are Sheilas and the barred rocks are Thelmas . ”
