If pigs have the materials available they will build a birthing nest for their piglets. Even pigs farrowing in confinement show signs of attempting to gather materials. Chewing at bars and trying to rip away the sides of their pens. It is all very ancient but although Charlotte is in the barn, and not outside in the wild, I am hoping that Charlotte will make a nest for us to see.
Here is one from Sugar Mountain. This is my go to site for all things pig. I would love for Charlotte to farrow outside but I do not have the acreage. They walk into the grass for a munch every day but sleep in the barn at night so hopefully Charlotte will build her nest in a corner of the barn. The nest building usually happens within 24 hours of the birth. And I am going to let her choose where in the barn to farrow. She is very comfortable and calm in there. Until then Author is minding the nest building materials.
I remember in the last week or so of pregnancy with each of my own five children, I would embark on spring cleaning and rearranging of furniture which almost always involved shifting a piano. And always by myself. But Charlotte is really not in the mood for building nests yet. Rearranging the furniture is certainly not on her mind. Sleep is.
Mostly she just shuffles heavily about the three big barn pens that are open to her, trying out this one and that one. Often sleeping in the corridor in the breeze. All are clean (she always goes outside to her toilet). Sheila has taken herself to live in the pig palace in the Middle Field which is full of lovely mud at the moment. But Charlotte is back in the barn now sleeping with small cats. I frequently see her move into a barn room and gently relocate the cats with her nose so she can lie down safely. I have high hopes of her being a good mother. Ten days to go to her date.
As well as Charlotte the potatoes are loving this extended cool spring.
Everything looks much larger in a photograph. I am hoping that the men will be finished on The Little House by the end of this month. I am starting to get a wee bit frazzled by having workmen in the house every day. I need my home back. But they are doing a beautiful careful job and are justifiably proud of their achievement.
Good morning.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
51 responses to “Pigs build Nests just like Birds but not in a Tree”
I hope she’s not thinking of nesting in the trees, but pigs might fly 😉
I should get you to write my headlines!! c
One of the best comments I have read since I came on line 🙂 !
Oh the flowers, the flowers, the flowers. Beautiful.
Interesting! I have never seen a pig nest.
And they say pigs can’t fly 🙂
The excitement builds! I love your yard the colors are marvelous together.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
My heart goes out to Chalotte. What an incredible shot of her. The eyes! OMG, Lovely flowers and Author so cute! And the house looks grand…I can imagine being pretty fed up with strangers tramping through the house for god knows how many months…seems like years.
That’s so sweet that Charlotte is so thoughtful with the cats! I’m sure she’ll be a wonderful mother. I really liked this post, it was very educational and I hope to live on a farm someday and have animals too. 🙂
I hope you get your dream sugarplum until then you can visit mine! c
I definitely will, your blog is always fun to visit 🙂
The flowers are lovely. Isn’t it funny to watch piggy and kitty interaction? They seem to have it all sorted out.
Coop’s looking good – but know it is tiring to have construction lingering on
Enjoy the sun!
Charlotte is resting up knowing she probably won;t get much sleep after her little piggies arrive – what a clever girl she is. Love Leanne
Your flowers are lovely. I wish I could grow the purple spikey ones so easily.
love Charlotte, the newness of pigs’ nesting knowledge, the flowers – so beautiful; just think if there was a piano in the barn, you’d know the important hours of birth pending, because i’m sure our gal Charlotte, (sorry I’ve adopted her too), would soon be ushering new piglets into Earth School – hugs
Oh, Charlotte! My heart goes out to her. Those eyes tell it all. Author looks so cute and the coope is really coming alive. I can imagine being fed up with men tramping through your house for months, more like years it seems!
6 months .. almost time! c
The house is looking so pretty. Soon it will be all yours again. Author is such a good helper.
I could read your blog all day long, but the local inhabitants would complain that I would get nothing else done. House is looking lovely… ours is earth with corrugated roof. XX
Celi, the little house looks great! As, indeed, does that lovely pig of yours 🙂