Charlotte makes a run for it – ungrateful pig.

So yesterday on my rounds I took the piggies out into pats paddock to have a munch on the grass. They love good long grass and there was a little out there.

Then with no warning, Charlotte, aka Miss Naughty, went for a walk outside the fences.  I had opened the gate to fix the latch, she was behind me and out that gap before I knew it.  Everyone was shocked. 

If you do not recognise that eye, it is Hairy MacLairy, he has to stand close to the camera every single time. Sheila ran up and down the fence line screeching how come she gets to go out. I never get to go out. She gets everything. I hate her, -raising her voice, –  I hate you Charlotte, you are ruining my life. 

Charlotte was on an accelerated taste tour. Around she ran, with Ton and I in hot pursuit. When she left the field she ran straight for the ditch and as she began to totter down the bank I shouted (puffily as I caught up), that she was  a VERY NAUGHTY PIG and if she went down to the creek I would get quite cranky. And she did the strangest thing. She stopped, turned her head to try and see me, but her double chins got in the way, and then reversed back up the bank. Walked backwards all the way.

Then galloped back into the field again. Shocking behaviour. Queenie was shocked too, but  on the inside. 

Then Charlotte the ungrateful pig trotted back to the gate and was let back in. Once she got back to her own wee paddock she threw herself face down and lay quietly for quite some time.  Sheila continued the tour of the animals with me, all huffily and vocally, leaving Charlotte behind to recuperate.

The Daily View. 

Temps are about the same.

Good morning. We are a bit worried about Daisy as her milk production is steadily dropping over the last week or so. I am only getting a gallon, each milking, now.  Even less last night. There is no fields of grass left but she is eating piles of very good alfalfa hay. Plus beet-shreds, and alfalfa cubes, soaked in water and molasses and oats at every milking. She should milk well for months yet. What am I going to do if she dries herself up?

I will see what she does this morning then consult with the breeder.

It would be one less worry while I am away but if everything goes to plan, which does not always happen,  I hoped she would calve and milk again in the spring of 2014. This is an awfully long time to go without good milk.  I shall begin to seriously look for a  little Jersey cow for this spring. Or, maybe, she will get used to her dry feed and start giving more milk again.

Ah well. Thats OK. We will work it out. At least if she is not milking I can cut down on her feed a bit and the hay supply will last a wee bit longer.

Have a lovely day.

celi

Oh and look what I found.. a piece of writing from last November that we should not ignore, because it is right.  This little essay explains some of why we live like we do.