[gavin davies]

so i have finally come to the conclusion that the pigs have to go to the abboitior which is some i thought i would never do. as my wife i just gone 7 months pregnant is is really ill at the moment and the doctors have basically told her to near enough bed rest until the baby arrives as i already have i 4 year old to look after i wont be fair that i wont be able to spend the time i need with the pigs until a few weeks after the baby is born i have been planning on extending the run for them for a couple of weeks and i think the best way to do is to get the pigs out of there while the fencing is being done and let the ground recover and plant new grass seeds realy for some new arrivals i met with a fencing contractor today whose number i had off here and he is coming to refence everything to a professional standard in a couple of weeks with a new gate and proper posts which will look great and be perfect for new arrivals at the end of july time so today i feel really guilty as i have just booked them in for 2 weeks time just got to tell my boy later which wont be easy either but my family has to come first and atleast we will have a freezer full of meat and the new pigs when we get them will have a pen that will look like the ritz when it is finished i am dreading the day already but i am sure it will get better when i am eating the first piece of my own well raised pigs

[Berkshire Boy]

Gavin,  nobody likes taking their pigs to the abattoir but it is all part of the cycle.When you get the meat back it makes it all worth while.
Most importantly your wife and kids should be the main priority at the moment, new pigs can come later and you will enjoy them all the more.
Good luck and wish your wife well, look forward to seeing the pictures of both baby and piglets.

[Clarebelle]

yes, good luck with everything. It sounds like your doing the right thing.

[ferretkeeper]

First time is always the hardest! I bought 2 weaners from Mandy on here, and she advised to take 2 boys because by 6 months old I'd be fed up of their teenager antics and doing the deed would be less of a wrench. How true - the boys were lovely but by the end escaped everywhere, trashed my field then made for my neighbours field...time to go!

BUT I had the whole abattoir thing blown out of all proportion in my head, loading, the slap marking, the drive along the M4, so many things could go wrong. So I decided to have these two killed at home, which was fine as we ate the pork ourselves. It was the best thing I ever did, I stayed with them, saw them both killed, as a newly converted carnivore at the time it seemed strange to other people but it was very calm and totally stress free for all concerned. I'll admit it was a bloody mess, like Dexter or CSI but at least I didn't have to worry that I got back all of the pig!

Anyway I have since taken several pigs to the abattoir, none of my fears have materialised, I got organised, did the slap marking way before the day, got the trailer in place a few days prior etc etc. takes all the last minute stress out of it. I have also had to load the animals and drive myself as hubby's away and am too independent to ask for help but I have a system that works now.

And my reward? A freezer full of lovely pork and sausages and a trail of happy customers in my wake!     

Very best of luck to you and the family

Helen x

[Mammyshaz]

It sounds like you are going through an emotional time as it is with your wife being unwell and the strains of the animals and a youngster to look after. Your life sounds as chaotic as mine lately. Any relief of pressure will benefit all of you and the results will be fantastic.  they have had a good life with you  reap your  rewards with pride 

Good luck for both of you with the rest of the pregnancy and look forward to seeing piccies of the new arrival ( and piglets too, when they arrive )