Here at Grace Acres Farm we really enjoy our ducks. In addition to the laughs, they provide us with an abundance of eggs and meat. We chose two Heritage Breeds, the Buff and the Runner. Read on to find out why we chose those breeds. Traditional livestock breeds that are an essential part
of our American agricultural inheritance.

Buff
The buff is a good dual purpose bird for meat and eggs. They are 7-8lbs and dress out nicely. They are on the threatened list of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC). They do not like to set eggs, so this is where the Runner duck comes in handy. To our surprise, it was a Buff duck who hatched out ducklings in 2008. If you would like to read more about Buffs from the ALBC Web site please click here. Fewer than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States,
with seven or fewer primary breeding flocks, and
globally endangered. URL: http://albc-usa.org/cpl/waterfowl/buffduck.html
*Link opens in a new window.

Runner
Runners lay well and love to set. They almost stand upright when walking which is where their name comes from. The Runner is on the watch list of the ALBC. If you would like to read more about Runners from the ALBC Web site please click here. Fewer than 5,000 breeding birds in the United States,
with ten or fewer primary breeding flocks, and
globally endangered. Also included are breeds
with genetic or numerical concerns or limited
geographic distribution. URL: http://albc-usa.org/cpl/waterfowl/runner.html
*Link opens in a new window.

Both breeds are great foragers and will keep our property clear of slugs! They get daily walks through our garden to get rid of those pesky bugs and slugs. Duck eggs are slightly larger than chicken eggs and have a deeper flavor. They are excellent in baking. Let us know if you are interested in purchasing duck eggs.

Would you like to visit the ALBC Web site? Click here. URL: http://albc-usa.org/
*Link opens in a new window.