Who are we?

Owners Matt and Nicole Brochu were both raised in Rural Central British Columbia. After living in the city of Prince George, we agreed it was time to get back to the countryside. It took about 10 years to find the perfect property, where we could move to the country, and do it right the first time. We purchased 55 acres of Rugged, barely developed land on the North side of PG. The privacy and potential were unrivaled compared to anything else we had seen. We knew instantly, that it would be better even then what we dreamed possible, if we could somehow manage to do the immense amount of work to homestead from nothing, while still holding down day jobs. It took 2 years to get the property to the point where we had a driveway, a warm, dry, serviced house, and a back patio, and a garden. Our goal was to create a homestead that was as self sufficient as modern society allowed. Where we could create as much of what we ate as was reasonably possible, at home. We planned out how the property should be laid out. Where barns, and corrals, and coops, and runs, and sheds, and pens, and cellars, and workshops, and extra gardens needed to be. We quickly realized that homesteading was extremely fulfilling, but also, as much work, or more, then people claimed. Our issue wasn’t that we couldn’t handle the work, but rather that, if we only were able to work, after our day jobs had taken away our week, it would take 20 years to get where we wanted. So, the natural solution, is to start our own business, where we could work from home, and create ourselves even more work!

We had already spent the first few years on the property in the farming world. Our kids joined 4H, we went to fairs and talked to everyone we could about the agriculture industry in Western Canada. We raised some animals on the homestead, and spent a great deal of time on other farms in the area. We got to see what we, and our family bonded with, as well as what the industry seemed to be lacking in availability. The one animal, that universally brought the most Joy into everyone's life, was without contest, the Duck. There was also, no hatcheries serving Western Canada at all. Everyone was only able to buy from various back yard enthusiasts. Most carried only a mix breed, as they weren't set up to have separate pens for each pure breed, and there was always the limitation of volume purchases. Not many people can manage large order sizes from their back yards.

 Enter in, Spruce Valley Homestead.

We already some ducks at this point. We had a background that involved some poultry knowledge. Through 4H we already had contacts for small amounts of Various pure breeds. We had the space, we had a budget, and Nicole had just been a victim of Canada wide layoffs at her day job, so now we even had some time to devote to the endeavor. We built some very permanent coops, many temporary coops, we tried a variety of runs with a variety of materials. We purchased in small amounts the pure breeds we enjoyed the most, as we were able to find them. We learned all about the Standards of Perfection, and how to judge the quality of a bird. We learned a great deal as well about how healthy birds appear, and how to identify an unhealthy one. We sold our eggs as table eggs, to offset the feed costs somewhat. That first year, we got a basic understanding of everything involved from a farming and a breeder standpoint.

In year 2, we purchased a bunch of backyard Incubators. We got some inexpensive ones, some very expensive ones, and a few in between.  That season we just learned incubation, learning duck care, learning sanitation, figuring out Vet care, and the proper care and attention involved in growing ducklings into happy loving adults. We made arrangements to supply many classrooms in the area with hatching eggs, so the children can learn about Eggs and Ducklings. We hatched about 2000 birds in that year, but we still needed to learn a ton about the hatchery world. We contacted a few Large scale Hatcheries and spoke to them about the industry, including Biosecurity, marketing, efficiency, and staffing. We toured poultry hatcheries, and saw how they operate, and how much is involved in ensuring you are able to turn a profit. We ended year 2, by sourcing, purchasing, and acquiring our first large volume Incubators. We had a large shed, small barn, we converted into a hatchery building. It required power, running water, heated floors, fresh air intakes with filtration, Biosecure entryway, drainage, and some refrigeration space.

Starting the Hatching season, in 2025, We are at the point where are able to offer our hatchlings to our Market area. We have a delivery vehicle we have modified to essentially have a brooder in the back, so we are able to safely deliver our Hatchlings across Western Canada. We developed a website, and are updating and adding to it daily. We have expanded our social media presence and have more plans to expand that greatly with information and videos on all aspects of owning, raising and caring for ducks. We frequent as many regional Poultry chat groups as possible, where we share our knowledge, and also constantly try to learn more.

Our goal is to provide Healthy, loving waterfowl to Western Canada. We are open to expanding as needed to meet the wants and needs of the market. We are currently looking for sales opportunities within BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.