They arrived late evening and are already happily unzipping the overgrown lawn/There was the usual squeeling blue murder when carrying the little hogs from vehicle to paddock. All weaners seem display this vocal trait the moment their little trotters leave the ground. This caused some neighbours passing on a leisurely evening stroll to promptly come to our rescue. They thought one of the family was mortally wounded!
One hour in situ, so far remaining on the inner periphery of the fence!
Seconded on the trotters/squealing. For his fortieth birthday, my father-in-law received a pig (Vietnamese pot-bellied). Who naturally got let loose during the party, and I wish I'd had a video camera. He was a tiny little thing (had literally been taken from his mother, crated, driven a couple hours to the party, uncrated) but every time someone tried to pick him up, it sounded like the slaughter of a full-sized hog. The party was full of people picking up this poor little piggy, and letting go in a hurry.
"Piglet" is now ten, and only squeals like that when a dog threatens his precious barn cats. He's been known to toss sixty-pound dogs in the air when they went after "his" cats. (I half suspect "he" is "she" - there's none of the odor they say you get with potbelly boars, and Piglet is very maternal.)
Posted by: Karen in Wichita | September 08, 2007 at 09:34 PM
They are so cute! For food I mean. Really great to see the full circle since the last pigs you started out with.
Posted by: winonaqueen | September 08, 2007 at 09:47 PM
Pigs is somewhere we haven't gone yet....but you have just given me a great idea. I want to convert a big section our scrubby weedy back lawn into an extended veggie patch. If I can use my sheep as edible strimmers, then I can use a couple of weaners as edible rotavators.....now just need to convince the neighbours.
I love the idea of gradually converting your lawn to a wild hay meadow through pig rotation...top draw!
Posted by: Not A Proper Farmer | September 09, 2007 at 01:39 PM
A pig at a party who loves cats, thats hilarious.
NaPF - you could well do that with your lambs and then get pigs. Pigs will eat the grass too so its not essential to have the lambs on there first ... but since you have them anyway.
One of the characteristics of a wildflower meadow is that it is low in nutrients. Luckily pigs are quite clean creatures and choose a spot for their toilet so it will be easy enough to scoop into the compost. I just hope the spot they choose is not under our kitchen window!
Posted by: Rebecca (author of Sallygardens) | September 09, 2007 at 02:11 PM
Can't wait to hear about the adventures of your piglets over the coming year.
Posted by: melanie | September 09, 2007 at 07:09 PM
lovely ferkel! (german for piglet/s)
are they from the midlands?
Posted by: Péitseoga | September 09, 2007 at 10:09 PM
Lol how delightful, as much as I love the movie Babe, I think I like sausages more.
Posted by: Maddy | September 10, 2007 at 03:25 AM
Oh it's good to see that you've got pigs again - such a nice addition to the family (and the larder!). It's great to have spent the last half hour catching up on your summer and seeing all the wonderful things you've grown. The kitten video is wonderful and I loved reading about your honey production (has it all gone yet?!). What a rich a wonderful life you have - I'm so glad you find the time to share it with us.
Posted by: julie | September 10, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Ach, the wee things are beautiful!
I must say with one month left with my 6 piglings I am undergoing piglet envy, wondering if I will get more in the spring. Not sure yet, but the place will seem empty without them. The chickens will be happier though, with all the extra veg scraps coming their way. . . .
Keep us updated on their progress. I still remember the stories of your early days with your first ones.
Posted by: Podchef | September 11, 2007 at 12:33 AM
Was sitting here after visiting my own hogs. My 113kg buddy had been rubbing up against my thigh in what seemed an apparent attempt to break it, instead of just itching his neck. I have them in a park at the moment that used to house a lot of old farm equipment. Every day I find some sort of old bits of iron or broken glass that they dig up.
Same goes true for my chicken yard which used to be part of an old sawmill up until the 60's and was a giant horse stable back in the 1900's--I am always finding some sort of relics from a bygone era the animals have dug up.
In thinking of all this I thought of your lawn to wildflower meadow project and wondered what sort of builders rubbish would be there for you to look out for. It's one thing when the piggies are biggies--they can weather the odd scrape, cut or poke. But when they're wee oinkers these things set them back tremendously.
So do look out for wires, nails, glass, glue spills, etc in your lawn and by your house. Normally pigs won't eat this stuff but they can get tangled up in or trip over it once they've unearthed it. Funnily enough they never seem to cut their snouts, which makes me think they should make automobile tires out of pig noses to help us avoid punctures.
Keeping your eyes and ears peeled each time you visit them helps you train your senses for when things are out of the ordinary. Besides who can pass up spending 15 minutes to an hour watching pigs root around, devour their meal and grunt around being pigs?
All the best.
Posted by: Podchef | September 11, 2007 at 10:33 PM
I'd love to have some weaners at some point and have considered using pigs, fenced with electric tape, to clear a lawned area with apple trees as a new veg garden, problem is I have no idea how much space 2 piglets kept till meat weight will need? a nieghbour suggested a 20 to 30 foot square area to start with, (which would be the veg patch sorted) but how long would that realistically last them before needing another 20 to 30 foot square area?
For example If I got 30 day old weaners (or thereabouts?), I'd have them for a futher 5 -6 months (I think), then my best guess is I'd need 5 areas? But really I just don't know, any help would be great, also would the apple trees survive pigs providing they were moved on in time?
Posted by: Kate | September 12, 2007 at 09:41 AM
Love the pigs - have they escaped yet? Mind you, I guess they are busy rooting around in the ground and enjoying the grass at the moment, so no need to try!
Posted by: Hannah | September 12, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Oh how wonderful!
Posted by: Amanda | September 14, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Oh how wonderful!
Posted by: Amanda | September 14, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Oh how wonderful!
Posted by: Amanda | September 14, 2007 at 10:08 AM
whooooops sorry didn't mean to post that three times *blush*
Posted by: Amanda | September 14, 2007 at 10:08 AM