The Terrible Three

Look daddy, same as you!

So my first effort at pig breeding is going swimmingly. The piglets are now 12 weeks old and enjoying a lovely outdoor free range existance being fed naturally with barley, organic pig nuts and lots of fruit and vegetables. As well as having access to a large area to run and root and graze.

I am down to the terrible three and believe me they really are terrible. We have Brutus who is a bully and a brute. Literally heaves his brothers out of his way at the trough. He is also a supreme escape artist. He darts between two strands of electric fencing to escape. He has in turn taught Jockser (neck like a jockey's - well you know,) seen here in the picture mounting Redser. If you are not careful at feeding time they will trip you up dashing in front of you and between your legs. Plus they love to slobber you with muck particularly if you run down to feed them before leaving for work. They seem to have the ability to detect clean clothes.

They are still sneaking in to have a quick feed with mum and she, the silly ass allows them. The three of them are almost the same size as she is. She is totally fed up of them.

Redser, Jockser and Brutus

Brutus, Lady Lavinia and Jockser

They loved the warm weather we had recently and spent most of it stretched out. So far they have not taken to wallowing but it won't be long.

I was taken aback at how quickly their daddy Laertes and his brother grew (well gone at this stage) so I decided it was time to cut down to feeding once a day. I want them to reach weight slowly and not pile on the fat. They are understandably not a bit pleased about this and complain loudly every time they see me. Recently though I have been getting sacks of fruit and vegetables and the other day they made short work of figs, avocados, grapes as well as all the other more common stuff. Lots of very satisfied slurping.

Love Redser's "eye makeup"

I am waiting for them to grow a little bit before letting them into a new field as the fencing is slightly higher in it. Not keen on them ducking under it and out onto a busy road. But hopefully in a couple of weeks they will be on a full acre of lush green grass.

Can you imagine how good they will taste?