“When my father took over from my grandfather, he grew considerably. He built sheds and increased the stock. He had Mandalus and Montelimar, which were fantastic horses.

Harry and his father continued to breed mares and standing stallions for years, with Paddy winning eight Dublin Horse Show Championships., as well as to judge horses all over the country.

“Dad always said he lived on immoral income,” Harry jokes. “He took good care of the horses and enjoyed the lifestyle that came with running the farm like a stud.

Harry, who has a degree in equine and agricultural sciences, says things were going well and the family had built a new horse yard, which was to be run by his brother Patrick. However, that all changed in 2008.

“The crash happened and the whole horse market collapsed. We ended up with all these horses, a lot of service charges, high meal bills and no money, ”he says. “There is no real market for horses until the economy is booming. “

Harry started working in the business of a friend, Slaney Eggs, while Patrick left the farm to take a position with the international equestrian operation Godolphin.

“I couldn’t really leave the farm as we still had all the horses to deal with, so working nearby in the egg business was fine for me. Patrick rose through the ranks to the position of General Manager of Godolphin, keeping the equine tradition alive, ”explains Harry.

While working in the egg industry, Harry realized there was a gap in the duck egg market and realized that this could be the farm’s saving grace.

“While I was on the road, a lot of butchers and businesses asked me if I knew where they could get free-range duck eggs,” he says.

“At that time, there weren’t many free-range duck egg farms in the country, and after doing my market research, I knew there was a market waiting for me.

A decision had to be made regarding the future of the farm, and Harry and his father eventually agreed that free-range duck egg farming would be their way forward. Meadow Park Duck Eggs was born.

“We knew it would be a big change. The love of horses runs in our blood. Last year was the first time Dad had missed the Dublin Horse Show since he was four years old, ”Harry says. “But we were optimistic that this change would benefit us in the long run.”

Harry received advice from someone leaving the industry after many years.

“We spoke to a lady called Christina who has been raising duck eggs in the open for quite some time. Even though she was doing well, she was very knowledgeable about the industry and was able to tell us what we needed to do to get off to a good start and she helped us get the birds.

Harry converted the existing barns into houses for the ducks, with the family doing all the work themselves. They started with 1,000 laying ducks and have grown their numbers over the years to over 4,000 while operating as a wholesaler.

“We first started working with Slaney Eggs and then we grew. Dad approached a lot of stores and retailers to get our name out there and it worked well, ”Harry said.

The Ducks pose every day.

“They enter their homes at dusk and then we close the door just after dark in order to keep them safe and to make sure they are resting inside the houses, which we have access to. easy with eggs, ”says Harry.

“They usually start to lay around 4 am and then we let them out at 9 am when we come in to collect the eggs. “

Each shed is then filled with food and bedding. The eggs are cleaned, left to dry and then packed by hand in the evening, before being collected or delivered to the distributor.

“It’s extremely laboriousHarry said. “My dad is still working seven days a week here and we also have a fantastic man, Noel, who also works day and night. My wife Lynne takes care of the books. I would be lost without them.

Harry says the business has both pros and cons.

“It’s quite different from horse breeding where you depend on every sale to make your income. Now I know at the end of each day how much profit I made, ”he says.

“It’s a demanding lifestyle, however. You are more connected to the farm than any dairy farmer would be. Someone needs to be present at all times, mainly because ducks are not good layers and if something goes wrong like a burst pipe or a blocked feeder it really does impact their performance.

Harry says new regulations have made breeding ducks in the open almost impossible for many.

“The regulations concerning this type of breeding were not so strict until recent years. Along with increased health and safety measures, this has put many duck egg producers out of production, ”he says.

“Unfortunately, salmonella can be a problem with duck eggs, especially outdoors. For this reason, you need to do constant testing on duck litter.

“We try to meet the highest standards in this department, so we regularly disinfect and reduce lime. The water is always fresh and clean, and the ducks have constant access to unlimited food.

Another issue facing most farmers is rising feed costs.

“The cost of straw and feed has skyrocketed, while the wetter summer months can lead to decreased egg production.

“Ducks tend not to lay well in humid conditions, so you end up with fewer eggs and high feed costs, making it difficult to balance.

“Ducks are not generally good layers, so you have to keep large numbers of birds to make a profit.”

Despite the challenges, Harry and his father are glad they made the right choice.

Q&A: “The initial start-up cost is not a problem, it’s the ongoing costs that make it difficult”

What level of start-up costs did you incur?

The initial cost was not that high, but the costs have increased significantly over the years since. At first we just had to buy the birds and convert the shed, which cost us around € 10,000.

You only get two to three seasons for each bird, so you have to constantly replace the stock. Feed costs are constant and high, currently at € 325 per tonne.

The initial start-up cost is not a problem in this branch of agriculture, it is the ongoing costs that make it difficult.

How long did it take to launch the business?

From the day I got the idea until the day our ducks started to lay, it lasted about a year.

Was insurance compulsory?

Yes, we have agricultural insurance and product liability. Because I have so many aspects of the farm insured, such as machinery, FBD is getting me a good deal.

Did you find any organizations or agencies particularly useful at the beginning?

There weren’t and still aren’t many free-range duck egg farmers in Ireland, so getting good advice has always been difficult.

The best source of information and advice I have found has been speaking to other people in the industry, which can be hard to find.

Are you required to obtain licenses or register with relevant organizations?

Yes, we are registered and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture for all aspects of our farm and business.

What has been your biggest challenge since starting your farming business?

The hours and time required. I have had to sacrifice free time and family time to run this business, and it is extremely labor intensive.

Everything here is done by hand and there are only three of us working on the farm, so it’s a big workload.

The fact that you are so attached to this type of farming is also a challenge. There must be someone here at all times and through all seasons.

www.meadowparkduckeggs.com