Operation Weaning

So the final five. Five about to become three. Actually if a friend hadn't bought them this would have happened long ago. But I being a softie and not a hard nosed business woman I agreed to keep them until she organised herself.

Operation Weaning had to commence. Mamma was still full of milk but starting to get narky with the babies. A Croatian who rented a property belong to my ex. had left a very solid, well-built dog house behind. I had mentally ear marked it. My pig house builder agreed that it could be converted for the purpose. He had done so months ago so it was just a question of getting it moved by a tractor with forks.

It was moved on Saturday last and the fencing was extended. The piglets were tempted in with food and were secured. Or so I thought. So far it's been a pantomime. One or two keep risking getting zapped and with blood curdling squeals make the mad dash under the fence. The first morning after the move, they had all made the dash of death and I found them back in with mamma. Last night before I went to bed I could hear lots of commotion but just ignored it. Then when I went down this morning, found one poor soul who hadn't been brave enough and was alone all night in the dog box.

There is a pig behind that snout in the straw

This photo was taken earlier after they had breakfast and went back to bed (in the dog box) for a snooze. I thought to myself, success at last. But only five minutes later three of them skipped back into mamma upon waking.

Now I have mamma in their run but she's too big for the dog box. But at least they are separated from her for most of the day.

However, I wonder should I just give up and let nature take it's course. Especially as just now when I was dropping the fence to tempt the babies back in with food, momma skipped over to freedom and I had a hell of a job to tempt her back even with a bucket. The grass really is greener on the other side of the fence.

I used think horses were a lot of work. They are a walk in the park in comparison to free range pigs who while they hate the electric fence are always willing to take a chance. 

First Sale

Sandwiched between mammy and daddy

So six weeks have literally flown by and today four of the babies left for their new home in Bettystown. I had been dreading this moment. Not because I was sad to see them go, I actually was delighted. Their poor mother is a shadow of her former self and I am pumping feed into her. But I was dreading catching them and risking getting eaten by an angry sow. 

As with everything you worry about, it all went off relatively smoothly in the end. Oh but by golly there was a lot of ear piercing squealing. My son reckoned if a health and safety officer was about, we'd all have had ear muffs on. Add to this the first one caught and put into the back of the straw-filled jeep attempted to jump back out. Thankfully the new owner was deft and caught her mid-air getting zapped by the electric fence in the process.

The second was thrown in and the new owner by now ready and waiting almost decapitated me slamming the door shut.  My son who has the gentle, patient hands of my grandfather caught the next two and slowly (with me screaming move, move, MOVE.....I tend to get a wee bit stressed on these occasions) added them to the boot.

Momma was concerned at her babies' squeals but her love of her grub was a stronger lure. So she left her trough, grunted a bit and acted agitated but then remembered her food. Daddy was just wondering why he had been fenced off again and was unable to rob his misses' grub. The babies by now buried in deep straw murmered a few times and then there was silence.

Paperwork completed, money exchanged and a bit of a chat about feeding and they were off.  Immediately the talk turned to - will we do it again?  I being a bit more cautious said wait until we get the rest sold. I'm keeping three for myself, family members and some friends. And Lady Lavinia needs a bit of a rest now, lolling about in the sun and gaining some weight. But I would be very tempted to buy a Gloucester Old Spot sow and breed her with Laertes. 

Watch this space.

Having fun in the snow

Snow pigs