The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: MiriMaran on April 24, 2009, 09:12:13 pm

Title: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: MiriMaran on April 24, 2009, 09:12:13 pm
Here are my new boys.  They were the least attractive ones (breeding rejects) of the litter - a saddleback without a saddle?  His beautiful pink socks make up for it though!
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/MiriamVernon/Pigs/DSCN3022-1.jpg)
Having a drink after setteling down.  We hadn't anticipated having the runt so needed to give him a step to reach the water!
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/MiriamVernon/Pigs/DSCN3018-1.jpg)
Oliver and Harry trying to make friends with the pigs - Harry has already said that when the sausages are bagged up he only wants to eat his pig!
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/MiriamVernon/Pigs/DSCN3034-1.jpg)
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: sandy on April 24, 2009, 10:10:33 pm
I pigs are pretty, they are!!!!
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: Hilarysmum on April 25, 2009, 08:09:33 am
They are really lovely.  For slap marking you can buy green ink.  The slap mark will show through when the pig is butchered; in my experience the black pigs still have white skins when butchered.
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: MrsJ on April 25, 2009, 04:59:17 pm
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e21/MrsJ1/pigssummer2009004a.jpg)

These are some of our 14 new boys! 
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: sabrina on April 25, 2009, 05:13:41 pm
Love your pictures, our pigs arrive the middle of next month and I can hardly wait.  :pig:
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: doganjo on April 25, 2009, 05:24:00 pm
When you see these pictures you wonder how anyone can eat them..............................
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: sandy on April 25, 2009, 07:13:04 pm
I've always loved pigs, I remember a holiday at a B&B in the Lake District that was also a pig farm, I was happy sitting watching the animals :pig:
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: Hilarysmum on April 25, 2009, 07:40:10 pm
Mrs J they are gorgeous. 

Doganjo, live with Hilary for a week I can guarantee you will never look at a pork chop in the same way. 
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: MiriMaran on April 26, 2009, 07:02:15 pm
What a beautiful photo Mrs J!  They look so cozy!
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: pigsatlesrues on April 26, 2009, 10:35:58 pm
They are beatiful - least attractive - breeding rejects - how very dare they????????

Kate  :pig: :love:
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: sausagesandcash on April 26, 2009, 10:37:20 pm
I think the 'all-black' is exquisite!

Morgan
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: MiriMaran on April 28, 2009, 07:52:54 pm
The pigs have got so friendly so quickly.  When I go into the field and shout piggly wigglies they come belting out of their bed to see what's goiong on!

At the moment they don't have the full run of the field, but we are thinking of letting them out into the whole field at the weekend.  Do you think that is OK after one week or do you think we should contain them for a little longer?
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: Hilarysmum on April 29, 2009, 06:52:37 am
If you feel confident, why not.  As long as they come to the bucket or your voice no problems. They look wonderful. 
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: MiriMaran on May 02, 2009, 08:41:26 pm
Well, on Thursday afternoon, we let them out into the field and they romped around the perimetre at a hundred miles an hour, snuffled for a bit and then flopped onto the grass for a nap.

Yesterday when we got home from school the children went to feed the pigs - they shouted, rattled the buckets - No pigs!  The children checked all round the field and then out of the corner of my eye I saw a little floppy eared face poking out of the chicken shed's pophole!! ;D  Needless to say they were too full of layers pellets to eat their tea and then had a runny tummy!

We have now put barbed wire along the fencing so they can't get to the chickens again - I new we would be playing catch up with these hooligans!
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: Hilarysmum on May 03, 2009, 08:59:34 am
One of our pigs (boar) actually took up residence in the duck house.  When he got too big to get out of the pop hole he walked through the side of it.  Took OH ages to repair it!!!  Glad yours were found safe and sound.  Once they grow a bit they do respect the fencing, it seems to be just while they are young in most cases, that they are prepared to take a run at the fence and suffer the consequences.
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: MiriMaran on May 03, 2009, 07:18:23 pm
They have now taken up residence under the shed!  Because of the slope of the hill there is quite a big gap under the shed which the chickens love to use as a dust bath.  We fenced it off leaving a small gap for the chickens to get through - we hadn't anticipated the pigs squeezing their way in!
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: Hilarysmum on May 04, 2009, 06:47:14 am
Pigs and children, never know what they will do next, its what makes them such fun. ;D
Title: Re: MY NEW BOYS!!!
Post by: MiriMaran on May 04, 2009, 05:51:27 pm
We needed the pigs out from under the shed yesterday and the only person small enough to do the job was Harry who gladly squeezed through the hole and gave the pigs a prod!  He emerged looking like a chicken after a dust bath, gave himself a shake and walked away as the dust cloud dispersed!!!  Its amazing what you can make a 5 year old do!