Milk Maid Ranch

Milk Maid Ranch Breeding mini dairy & beef cattle for homesteaders, Jumbo Pekin ducks for eggs & meat.

In 2026 Silver Appleyard ducks were added for meat, eggs & to be crossed with the Jumbo Pekin hens for larger meat birds.

The young Silver Appleyard ducks are maturing nicely & like following me around the garden. They are managing the bugs &...
05/26/2026

The young Silver Appleyard ducks are maturing nicely & like following me around the garden. They are managing the bugs & weeds already. The February drakes are showing some interest in the hens but the girls won’t start laying till Aug-Sept.

It’s processing time. Doing 2 every morning before the heat hits. It’s Texas so we heat up faster. This morning had a bi...
04/26/2026

It’s processing time. Doing 2 every morning before the heat hits. It’s Texas so we heat up faster.
This morning had a bird that was heavier than the others.
I skin my birds to have a leaner meal. Bought a Sealer & I don’t know why I’ve gone this long without one. Did 2 yesterday as well. Had 30 Cornish crosses, 26 to go.

These are only 3 of the Silver Appleyard hens. There are 10 of them but most are only a month old & still fuzzy. When th...
04/23/2026

These are only 3 of the Silver Appleyard hens. There are 10 of them but most are only a month old & still fuzzy. When their feathers come in I will get pics of them. By the looks of some, they will be dark.

The 1st Silver Appleyard ducks are 8 weeks old now, sure went fast. There are 2 hens from the 4 I bought as straight run...
04/15/2026

The 1st Silver Appleyard ducks are 8 weeks old now, sure went fast. There are 2 hens from the 4 I bought as straight run(not sexed). Impressed with their growth & muscle. It will be around mid August before they start to lay eggs. Color wise, Hazel is more correct but Henrietta has my heart.

03/25/2026

Just went outside to check on things. Heard a beeping noise from behind the pump house. I know that sound all too well. Went to the house to get the good flashlight. YUP, 4 goslings walking around a nest. Their flock all excited squawking up a storm. The 1st goslings of the season, Sebastopol babies, the geese with curly feathers. Will get pics tomorrow in daylight.

Updats: The rest of the Silver Appleyard ducklings will be here on Thursday. The 4 Silver Appleyard hatchlings(hens) cam...
03/19/2026

Updats: The rest of the Silver Appleyard ducklings will be here on Thursday.

The 4 Silver Appleyard hatchlings(hens) came yesterday. This gives us 6 hens & 2 drakes till next week when 3 more drakes & 4 hens come. I bought from different hatcheries to get different bloodlines. 2 drakes will go in with the Jumbo Pekin hens for crossbreds. They are supposed to be very fast growing & able to be processed at 8-10 weeks. Also some of the best tasting. The SA’s that came in February are 5 weeks now.

Silver Appleyard ducklings with 3 Jumbo Pekin hens. Next week 4 Silver Appleyard hens will join the flock. I will be hav...
03/09/2026

Silver Appleyard ducklings with 3 Jumbo Pekin hens. Next week 4 Silver Appleyard hens will join the flock.
I will be having these JP hens be bred to a SA drake for cross bred ducks for processing. This cross produces wonderful meat birds in a short time. Some of the tastiest ducks. Reaching processing size at 8-12 weeks of age.
These ducklings are the breeding stock & will not be butchered. It will be fall before production starts.

When it comes the the mini cattle some breeders try to get the smallest they can breed for. They are known as micro mini...
03/07/2026

When it comes the the mini cattle some breeders try to get the smallest they can breed for. They are known as micro mini cattle. This means as full grown adults they do not grow taller than 36” tall. But there can be an issue with them being so short. Most are Chondro positive. Both Heidi & Hickok are Chondro Negative for the fact that both their parents are negative. They are from my 4 best bloodlines & not related at all. The two would be a good breeding pair. Will be weaned in May.
Stephenville, TX.
Look at the photo of Ava & Hickok in the lower right. Ava is only 8 weeks older than he is & she is a mini herself.

In March we will be adding Silver Appleyard ducks to the farm. They are a heavy meat bird that is on the Watch List for ...
02/04/2026

In March we will be adding Silver Appleyard ducks to the farm. They are a heavy meat bird that is on the Watch List for endangered species. I will be collecting eggs when the time comes to put in the incubators, plus some for processing. One drake will be with a few of the Jumbo Pekins hens for crosses. This cross is good as the JP’s grow fast, it’s a very good meat cross. When the SA’s get here there will be 3 JP’s the same age(a few days old) so they will be raised together.
The pictures of the Silver Appleyards are not mine but the picture of the Jumbo Pekins drakes(white ducks) are mine.

Last calf of the Fall season. Angie has a bull calf. It was so nice to have all the 1st calf heifers deliver their calve...
12/25/2025

Last calf of the Fall season. Angie has a bull calf. It was so nice to have all the 1st calf heifers deliver their calves without an issue.

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Stephenville, TX
76401

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