Painted Acres Homestead

07/10/2026

07/10/2026

You guys we've been lied to!!

So we have had ducks for years for bug control and because they are pleasant individuals BUT did you know their eggs are delicious?!

Yeah we had no idea! We thought duck eggs would be gross and fishy tasting but it's just not true. Not even sure why people think that or where that belief was parroted from.

Likely due to factory farming in America chicken eggs are just what everyone is used to. People like consistency and don't like knew. Between marketing and habit were have been brainwashed by the system all the way down to what we eat and what we think we like to eat or not. How weird is that?!

Anywho we tried duck eggs this week for the first time and they are delicious!! Way better than chicken eggs. They are rich and smooth in texture and flavor.

If an egg could be fancy duck eggs are it!

I'm starting to think ducks are highly underrated simply because we aren't used to utilizing them.

So far we have used duck eggs for baking, Sunnyside up, sandwiches, and in French toast

Next I'll be trying out some recipes for duck meat and will compare to chicken.

07/05/2026

Baby rex chillaxin on ice tiles!

Life is good

06/30/2026

More poultry highlight of the morning!

The feather footed ladies pictured are more of our Just Dandy girls.

They come in two tone black/cream, chocolate/cream, blue/cream, black, blue, mauve, chocolate,etc

I'm 4 generations in on this project and think I'll always have Dandy's in the barn.

06/30/2026

Poultry highlight of the morning!

Ever wonder how to make s*x link orpingtons?

Here ya go. Chocolate rooster over buff hens gives chocolate based pullets and black based cockerels.

Example hen pictured. They have tremendous leakage but imo the pattern is stunning!

The leakage breeds true and will be passed down through the generations. Poultry purists don't come for me lol

06/30/2026

Juvenile great horned owl found his way into our tractor last night because one of the boys accidentally locked Annie (lgd) on the back pasture away from her birds.

Predators are opportunistic and never miss a chance if allowed. I released him because we believe in working along side God's design for nature and though he killed birds it's because of our mistake. He also keeps rodent numbers in check.

And there is the pesky issue of him being federally protected which puts a damper on my dream of being a lady falconer. A girls gotta dream though lol

06/19/2026

Another hutch almost finished and ooh it's pretty!

Made from mostly upcycled materials again which is always nice.

06/09/2026

This hoop tunnel was an experiment to maximize space and wage war on the pests.

We struggle with squash bugs badly and lost crops every year. The whole crop! My inner washingtonian was not cool without pumpkins. It's just a must.if you know you know.

I broke the cardinal rule and whipped out pesticide and blasted them last year. Hit full on crazy garden lady mode and hosed them which they laughed at and remained fully un affected. Some decided to breed while heavily condensed death spray dropped off them. Rude! So rude

At some point I decided to know the enemy and plan a strategy. Squash bugs like to hang out on the ground and underside of leaves. They are also more active in the morning and dusk. This is problematic because squash and melons get too bushy to reach the buggy fo's.

The strategy! Grow vertically and keep the base of the plants pruned up. Now the bugs do have flying capabilities but that also leaves them highly accessible!

Behold the squash tunnel in its beginning faze and our baby squashes!!!

06/09/2026

The zucchini approved of the rain

06/09/2026

Welp no fault of her own this little or not so little girl is back up for discussion!

"Baby" has been raised with poultry,pigs, and goats. Stellar lgd and family companion prospect.

Shows all the correct attributes sought after in a reliable lgd. She's already alerting to threats. Bonds well to stock including poultry and has shown zero play behavior to stock. She's respectful and submissive which is exactly what you want.

She's been raised right and has the genetics to back her.

Loves people and easy to handle seriously she's the sweetest fluff cloud!!

Serious inquiries only and no holds! No I won't drive 5 hrs to deliver. No I don't want to trade for your sick auction goat or lgd failure and pleasssse ask your cousins uncles brother permission first before contacting me if that's something you need to do.