The day was toddling along like it does. 
The new lambs saw their first sun.
Though it was still a wee bit chilly.
Look at this cheeky baby, lambs just hit the ground running.
Whereas kittens hit the ground sleeping. 
Then we received the call that Charlotte had completed.. um.. relations with the boar (witnessed – like royalty) and was ready to come home. So we hitched up the trailer and raced over in high excitement to escort Her Royal Pregnantness home but she was Doing a Daisy and making sure we all knew that she was in a brilliantly bad mood.
She barked all the way home and once she was released she immediately yelled at Sheila for letting the house get all messy, kicked her out into the yard and proceeded to do the housekeeping. Then she ate everything in sight, drunk half a bucket of water and went to bed.
When I went out to do the first of the night feeds she had let Sheila back in and they were both fast asleep in the deep straw. 
I had a cool discussion with the swine herd when he asked me if I had a farrowing crate. No I said, I have a lovely big pen with plenty of room for everyone. She will kill the piglets he said, lying on them. You have to keep her in the cage for at least a week, there is room for her to lie down and the piglets come and go, he said.
If she kills her piglets she is a bad mother and won’t be bred again. I said. I will give them plenty of space. We will do it the natural way. We have room.
You can bring a crate into the barn, he said. They are so heavy the pig cannot move them though, he said. They are made of iron.
I gave him two big jars of honey. He would not accept money for the stud fee. He is a kind man really, but different, with other ideas. I am sure he meant well. And I am also sure that he thinks I am bonkers, but he thinks it kindly. We are different that is all.
Ah well, I said, not wishing to continue the conversation. We climbed back into the red truck with our honking pig in the trailer and looked at each other. What did the old farmers do, John said. I am pretty sure they did not bring farrowing crates across on their wagons.
The pig builds itself a nest of straw and sticks, I said.
Make sure we save her a couple of bales. Said John, putting the truck into gear. This pig is going to need a pretty big nest.
Good morning. Everyone was in bed early yesterday, the day had been coated in white stars and sunshine, and the full moon turned the night into a paradise of gently snoring softness. I was full of contentment as I crunched over the ice with my bottles of warm milk doing my rounds. TonTon carrying the torch beside me.
Put a circle around June 17 for Charlotte. This will be her time, give or take two or three days either side. A pig is pregnant for three months, three weeks and three days. About.
Have a lovely day. We have another gorgeous sunny day in store, I might let the lambs out for a gallop in the fields. But first the milking.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
62 responses to “Charlotte came home and she is in a right mood!”
I looked at the photos of the farrowing crates. They look like torture to me! I read the comments, and building a board “buffer” sounds like a good option. Of course, I know absolutely nothing about any of this, but I find it fascinating! Glad Charlotte is home safely. If only she could talk! : )
It’s good to see Charlotte 😉
Those crates don’t look very nice at all.
Gosh, I had no idea there was so much to think about with pigs and birthing..it’s all news to me and so interesting. You’ve done so well with your animals, I know you’ll make the right decision for Charlotte. Good to see her home again and the kittens are so big! Not so kittenish anymore.
Do pigs have cravings during pregnancy?
What excitement .. piglets in the making… and the worries of the youngsters being crushed etc… you’ll figure it all out ..of that I’m sure.. but around June this blog is going to get really exciting…
Glad you’re going for a natural “home birth”. Do you think she is love sick and missing her new boyfriend, or is she thinking..”well stuff that, I’d rather stay in with an episode of Downton Abbey and a bottle of wine”?!
Oh, I love this: “(witness – like royalty)”. Humor and respect is important on a farm
Don’t remember seeing any farrowing crates – that sounds pretty grim. like caged chickens – used in large pig production to make sure the profits survive? I do remember the neighboring farmer had a pen with a wide board across so the little pigs could creep in and out – maybe that’s what other comments are mentioning?
guess there’s a new awareness among us bloggers now: crate free pigs are happy pigs!
Every one has suggested the birth’ n board, which is what we used for the first four years of raising piglets. When I was a child our sow, Sally, had a horrible time, trying not to land on her little pigs, so my Dad always used a birth’n board after the first go round. We did too. It doesn’t take little ones long to figure out how to get out from under Momma, but right at first they do have a hard time.
Enough of that…I’m sure you have the picture 🙂
Linda
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Glad to hear that the girl is home! I have not bred pigs, but I have seen photos of farrowing areas which have a small space with an overhang that the piglets can get under, but still be right near the mama, but one she cannot get under (sometimes a lighted area). A rail sounds like a good plan as well.
Do you read the Sugar Mountain pig farm blog? Lots of great ideas and ways of doing things with pigs, totally au natural!
http://sugarmtnfarm.com/
How wonderful! I am so glad you are not going to use the hideous crate. We have had a couple of litters of piglets born and the mama did great. We did lose a couple, but not because she killed them or squished them.
I know nothing at all about pigs,but find this all fascinating. I’m sure the bumper bars will work beautifully. On a completely different tack – doesn’t the Coupe look as though it has been there forever?! 🙂
Morning, Totally agree re letting Charlotte get on and do it her way. Lets hope the romance took!
I really, really want pigs, but I’m not allowed them. Maybe when i grow up I might be allowed some.
Love Leanne NZ
Cannot wait to see pics of the piglets – the lambs are so dang cute:) Happy Monday on the Farmy!
Spring is my favorite time of year to follow you around, Celi. I think the baby lambs are a little “early” by the calendar, but they make me think of spring. I love the photo of them catching their first rays of sunshine. I’d fall asleep early, too, with your schedule, but the satisfaction at the end of the day must be sublime!
if only sweet charlotte could write about her experience!