Early in the morning as the dawn is dawning I take the tractor out into the sweetcorn field and pick two big bucket loads for the animals.
I cut the stalk at the base with my sharp spade and throw the sweetcorn, with its stalk still attached, over the fences. They eat the whole thing. This is a good portion of everyone’s diets at the moment. Cows, pigs, chickens and sheep.
The protein level in heirloom sweetcorn stalks and leaves is not bad.
Both Big Dog and Boo spend time in the fields tearing out ears to eat. Ton has no interest in them thankfully.
Sheila and I have encountered a sobering problem. Charlotte still won’t let us into her field. I let Sheila in there yesterday afternoon. I do not have the room to keep them in separate fields and just thought they would be able to go back together after the weaning. Charlotte attacked again. For some time they were slammed together, jostling. Chomping their frothing jaws together making a clacking sound. Their whole bodies joined at the side, whirling round and round, backs arched, heads twisting, high stepping, trying to knock the other off balance so they could get their heads in to bite. It was another very nasty fight with Sheila’s ears bleeding again and torn skin on her shoulder.
At one point while jostling for position they both slammed as a 1000 pound unit into the fence and did some damage there too. If they fight like this in the barn they will take a wall out.
I stood at the gate, calling to Sheila and the moment Charlotte began to lag she bolted away, Charlotte biting at her tail, and ran for the gate, she panted through and I slammed the gate shut on Charlotte who then tried to take it off its hinges to try again.
I put iodine on Sheila’s cuts, while she cried and whimpered (she really does cry it is such a sad little sound) and drunk water, then she went into the barn to hide and sleep. After a while I was able to lead a barking agitated Charlotte across the field into the summer pig run so we can regroup.
This is not something I had anticipated. My friends who raise hogs are mystified at her turning mean as well. They have recommended the pigs stay apart in case Charlotte turns Sheila mean with repeated attacks. No worries there. Sheila is terrified of her.
The piglets on the other hand are very laid back now that their nervous mother is gone.
They are thrilled to be able to run from trough to trough scoffing happily and jostling for food with someone their own size.
Good morning. This was the pig’s dinner last night. When the local store clears out their vege fridges the pigs do very well.
It is misty and warmer this morning. Absolutely still with only the sounds of a rooster calling down the back. But there is a thick pall of skunk smell coming in through the windows. I wonder where it is. So far Ton has managed to avoid them which is a bonus. You remember him last summer!!
Have a lovely day.
your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
62 responses to “An Angry Sow is not to be trifled with”
Hi Cecilia,
You may find this to be an odd comment but I think the assumption that animals do not pick and choose their friends just as humans do may be erroneous. Charlotte may have a physiological reason for her behavior or not. The vet may offer some insight into the cause of here personality change. Perhaps she simply doesn’t want to be kept with Sheila. Perhaps the bottom line here is to do just as I did with horses. I respected the choices they made and kept those who didn’t get along well together separately.
Re: Piglets and herding with boards is the only way to go. We had 1/2 sized plywood sheets with hand grips attached to them and used them judiciously.
Mad raging hormones? I know this is a bonkers suggestion, but maybe it’s something Sheila said? 🙂
Hormones suck. But those little mottled piggy faces are so cute! 🙂
Something to lighten your day: Saturday night I was at a pizza place where you are supposed to throw the peanut shells on the floor. But I saw a huge man–maybe 400 lbs–sitting in the booth across the way, eat each peanut — shell and all. (Your critters eating the whole corn stalk reminded me.)
That is hilarious, i read this out loud to john as he was wondering what was making me laugh!! have a lovely evening honey. c
We enjoy your writings every day & were sad to read about the “girls” fighting. Poor Sheila, her ears must have hurt for her to cry. Good luck with them, hopefully your vet can help.
I’m sorry to read your post today and to learn of Charlotte’s behavior. I would hesitate to keep her around for another farrowing even if her behavior does abate as she could be just as dangerous if not more so next time. I’m sad to say it may be time for her to go to Iceland.
How sad for Charlotte and Sheila! I certainly hope she doesn’t get designated to freezer camp. There must be some way to fix what’s wrong. And Ton! I hope he stays out of her way. Thinking o you. Running a farm certainly has its ups and downs and sad moments. ~ April
Was still sleepily up last night when your post arrived: so this is my second ‘go’! Look I am not a vet, but studied medicine for the two-leggeds as you know – Its’ up to you whether you feel the expense warranted to explore, but methinks there may be a physical reason here – either a strong hormonal imbalance or a post birth uterine problem leading to pain which is ‘driving her crazy’ > sadly, if so, both could be repetetive: even if fixable, yes, can you trust her with another litter . . . ? . . . sad & frustrating . . .
Coming in at the end, as I usually do from NZ, I am so impressed at the wealth of knowledge that people are sharing in the comments. It must be so comforting for you to have all this input. I know nothing about pigs, but I can recognise danger when I see it and Charlotte sounds dangerous right now.
I agree with Eha. It seems like there may be something that is causing Charlotte physical distress and causing her to lash out… there are so many postpartum issues in human mamas…I’m sure equally so with sows. Good luck, Celi and stay safe!
You always write such interesting posts Celi.
Must be pretty scary watching the pigs fight.
Poor Sheila – I hope it’s just post natal depression with Charlotte and her hormones get better soon 🙂
I hope she sorts out too, she was quiet today and is eating well, we will see what happens next! c
Celi, do you ever use Bach Flowers? I have a feeling Charlotte needs Rescue Remedy – lots for a big pig… thirty drops three times a day for three weeks…
Could be worth trying… I’ve used them on other animals…
If you haven’t come across Bach Flowers, I’m sure you could Google them….
Goodness! I have never heard of this. But like Valerie I too used Bach Flower Essence for lots of animals and for humans also.
Linda
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