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Barnyard Buddies:  Pigs!  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 05 2011 : 3:10:18 PM
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Ok, I am getting 2 little pigs Saturday. I am not all that excited about doing this but do want some good pork chops soon. My friends up the road are getting one so we will split the cost of feed. But they will be here. So I will be doing most of the work. I want this to go as fast as possible so am thinking about just keeping them in a stall the whole time. I have already called the butcher to set up a time for their demise. They are close to 2 months old. So I figured at least 2 1/2 months to get them big enough to go. I have an appointment for March 28th. And another appt. for April 11th if I think they need a few more weeks.
I have 2 possible places to put them and am leaning more towards the back barn. It will be dryer there plus already has plenty of hay on the ground. So they will be warmer there. But that's where the goats stay. And the turkeys are in the other stall that has a door. I have heard that pigs are not good to be put with goats. Some diseases the pigs have are not good for a goat. And my 2 does are pregnant. I don't want to compromise their health. And I am also afraid if a chicken gets in the stall that the pigs will eat it. I know they do that.
The other place is up front and away from the other animals. But it gets wetter since it's lower down there. I don't want them to get sick and I can't run electric out that far. I'd have to get more straw for that one. And it's not as big as the other place either.
I have a half a freezer full of frozen goat milk I will give them. Plus scraps and pig feed. I went ahead and got 100 pounds of feed. I just want them big and fat fast! And I don't want any escapes either. I have been through that too many times with pigs.
Anyway, so here goes. Wish me luck. I'll need it for sure. I have raised 6 pigs so far and really haven't gotten pig amnesia. So I remember everything about both times. Not a good thing. But it has been 2 years since the last 4.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2011 : 3:18:46 PM
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Gosh, it sure sounds like you know what you are doing! But, I hope it goes fast for you cuz it sounds like you are gonna hate every minute. Good luck.
I don't know if I would like having all those issues to worry about, either. Fingers crossed for no escapes!
marianne |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2011 : 3:33:22 PM
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I didn't mean to sound like I hated doing this. It's just that I have done this before that's got me worried. I know what pigs can do. I'm not really worried, just aprehensive I guess. And my friends don't live too far away. They can come help when I need help. I really do love those cute little pig babies. It's just when they get to be 300 pounds that scares me!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2011 : 5:43:55 PM
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oh kris yipee for you. really i love pigs. ours are trained to follow me around the yard. as long as they are hungry they stay with me and the milk bucket. i just love how happy they are.we have 3 boys here for growing to butcher. we use hog panels. i also have electric wire. your right when they get big they can push a fence for sure. what breed are yours. we grow ours to 6 months. we hope for a hanging weight of 200 pounds. we have 3 pigs at lisa for butcher also. we just bought a boar we are feeding milk and apples to. we will butcher him soon. in a few weeks. then we have 4 sows. 2 bred back 2 open for another month. its a real learn as we go venture for us. lisa let the girls out. jojo and sammy yesterday to run around. they weigh about 600 pounds now and prego. they went out and ran right over to the froze pond and walked on. she was able to get them off with a herding stick as the ice cracked. gads crazy girls. i am so excited to have you have pigs while i have pigs kris. maybe there are others with pigs that will come on too. i just added molasses to our pigs diet. they love it just like my cow belle.i wish you could post pics i know i cant darn lol happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2011 : 5:51:42 PM
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Sherrye, the sows are all the white pigs. ANd all the piglets are white except 2 that have the black band around the middle. I am getting those 2. They are all on pasture and not penned at all. So I don't know how well they will do penned up. I would love to have them on pasture but I think that will take longer to get them to butcher weight. I will probably let them out for the first month though. I just want this to be as quick and painless as possible, if ya know what I mean.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 06:58:21 AM
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The pigs should be here in about an hour. The guy who's getting the other pig is going to get them. And picking up some hay for me too, on the way. I am down to just 2 bales and don't feel very good right now. We are supposed to have a blizzard here in a few days with up to 6" of snow. School's already called off for Mon. and Tues. Anyway, I think I am ready for the pigs. There is plenty of room and plenty of nice warm hay to burrow down in. It's just trying to keep water in there for them without them spilling it now. I don't want to have to haul water every few hours.
SO here I go on my pig adventures. I hope they're good little guys.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 09:34:48 AM
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oh kris, i bet you are unloading pigs right now. how fun. i know you are going to have so many adventures to share. sorry you are sick. so did you decide your ok? hows your owie? we use a low metal stock tank. if you have no power there. i remember one bad mama wolf saying put a floating log in the waterer. they learn to bang it with their nose. so on not tooo bad a day they break the ice and drink. just a thought. we are hauling water across road to calves every day and to calves in barn. so i feel for you. what fun though. i have to shop today. then i hope to let the pigs out to run. lisa and i trained the boys and girls to come to a coffee can with milk in it. we use a stick dip the stick in milk then touch pig nose. they smell it and follow. soon they learn the drill of in and out the pen. so cute. happy days for you my farmgirl friend. get better sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 10:34:36 AM
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Hey Sherrye. I am a whole lot better right now. I had to load just 6 bales of hay. Not too bad. But the 2 pigs are so small. I thought they'd be bigger. So I might have to call and change their appt. I have it at the end of March. ANd another a few weeks later in April. I don't know. We'll see soon. They are so cute though. I can't tell if they are male or female yet. They are mostly red with a little white spots. SO cute. They have plenty of loose hay to burrow down in when they get cold. The sun is shining in the pen right now and they were on a pile of hay when I checked on them just now. I guess they might just be about 20 pounds is all. But they should be bigger soon. I am going to take them some warm milk tonight.
Sounds like you have to do what I do, with hauling water. I hate that part more than anything. It's beautiful today but chilly. Not looking forward to the snow at all. Do you have any there? And that's a good idea about the wood. Never thought of that.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 09:46:13 AM
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i am so glad you are better kris. thats little piggies, how sweet. i had the 3 boys out today running lickety split through the propety. they would rather be out than drink milk today. sun is out VERY cold air. everything is froze. milk machine worked so it is done. all is is easy after a good milking. the other day it was all froze. big hard day. anyway. so happy your pigs are there. fun adventures to be had. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 5:08:26 PM
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So far so good. They were all snuggled up together in the hay this morning. Could hardly see them. The grands came over today and I took them out to see them. They had a ball in there playing with them. I think they are both girls. I hope they will be warm enough tonight. It's supposed to be 25. Then just 35 tomorrow. I'll keep their water nice and warm and give them warm milk. They like that already. I hope they grow fast!
My friend has a Jersey that was just about ready to have her calf. I hope she has had it already or waits a few more days now. I need to call her and see. She has to drag all thatmilking machine stuff around. I would just milk by hand. Much easier and less stuff to haul around. I hope yours stays thawed out.
So how big are your pigs?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 06:57:19 AM
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top of the morning to you, our piggers are about 70 pounds i would guess now. they are so fun. always happy and glad to see me. i am the walking food bin.lol mine are in deep hay also. we have had some 6 degree temps. they did fine with their hay bed. it is so cute when you bring food and milk they act just like little pigs. has your friend had her calf yet? i looked out the window and the heat lamp on my surge pump is out. SO that could be a problem this am. i agree the machine is a lot of work. but my fingers dont work. so i need the machine to be able to milk. my cow belle hates when i try to milk by hand. i cant get a rhythm. she kicks me. now someone who can actually milk by hand she would be fine. i sure hope the surge works this am. its chilly but not super cold. i think we are at 17 degrees. hoping everyone has a fine farmgirl day happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 07:50:37 AM
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Snow started falling last night and is still falling today. I measured several places this morning while I was out. The highest was 7". So far. We could get more. It doesn't FEEL cold because no wind. But it is about 30 right now. Everywhere is shut down. I have not seen a single vehicle go down my road.
But the animals are all warm and dry. The pigs are doing great so far. They seem to be fine out there. They are not shivering. I put warm water in their pan. And some more feed. Fed the turkeys. They are fine too. Milked the goats. I left them in the milk room while I did all the pig, chicken and turkey chores. Goats can sure get in the way. It's all about the goats around here. The haifers had a layer of snow on their backs though. Poor cow girls. I am so glad I didn't breed Mazie to calve in Jan or Feb. I heard a poor cow across the road last night bellowing. I hope she wasn't giving birth. The seem to do that on the worst nights around here.
I hope you got your surger working. I guess it does help you to have it. I am going to call my friend now and check on her cow.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 09:04:35 AM
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we got the surge started that day i really cannot milk with out it. lol so thats a lotta snow girl. sounds so beautiful though. the cascade mountains out my window are white with snow. blue sky and cold. waiting for papa today to check fuse box. it will work i know it will. we do have a back up generater for lost power. happy days to all sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 10:07:11 AM
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It's still coming down out there. I don't want to go back out. I'm glad you got it started again. And I talked to my friend about her cow. She had a bull calf Sat. and is just fine so far. Just ornery is all.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2011 : 07:28:43 AM
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oh kris how exciting for her MILK and you MILK yipee. i posted on kitchen about my buttermilk and sour cream. they are so good i could drink it. i want to learn about clabber??? so have you seen the calf yet. i forgot what kind, thinking jersey? hows maizie moocow doing? they get so big and wide. wow maddie looks like a train coming. when are you butchering? we see this week if ida the reg. dexter is bred back or not. if not i am making burger. we figure if she does not taste good we will gring for dog and pig food. she is 6 and a weird cow. we call her crooked horn. at first we thought she was a free martin. but no she had one calf. now if she is not bred back this time i quit. anyway i hope you have a fine day. i know there is an empty place right now. sending hugs sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Barnyard Buddies: Pigs! |
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Pigs!
