Every week I try and set an objective for the week. This coming week it is to get the pigs walking again. Somehow over the last few weeks Sheila’s walks have been forgotton. But the last two evenings we have gone on excursions, accompanied by Poppy of course. Sheila is deeply out of shape. It is one thing to cut down on portions to reach a sensible weight, but we must add Miles to maintain the sensible weight.
Tima, who will have a genetic tendency to run to fat, needs to have a good long walk every day as well. And of course the dogs are happy to oblige. The dogs frolic as they walk. Tima is stoic and just keeps on keeping on. She is not deterred by their antics. She bites her thumb at them.
It was lovely and warm yesterday so the cows and calves went into the shade. Daisy is still up on the concrete pad. She is on a mission to drop her milk output so I can take her down to once day milking.
The cornish cross are out in the field now. In the ark.
I left four red runners in there too, they were not up to par.. and can you see Black? – the little heirloom gift chick that came with this flock.. soon I will take him out and begin the long process of introducing him to the baby layer flock. I actually think it might be a Her. But for the moment she/he is warm and cosy with his/her Cornish cousins.
Daisy is still puddling along, the wound in her teat is healing and her milk production is dropping. And she is complaining loudly about the state of the hay. Soon we will be at stage Two which is once a day milking and an udder bra to prevent any more tears/tears. First we need healing though.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
35 responses to “Walkies”
It’s almost as if these chicks want to save someone the bother of plucking them! Enjoy your walkies with the various Piggies. Laura
Oh that’s good news about Daisy! 😀 We are having a bit of a problem with Morgan’s digestion (cat in Vancouver) and C called a friend of ours, who just finished vet school, and he declared her “fat”!!! Now Morgan and Sheila are both going to get the run-around, see if they don’t. This always happens when I’m in England. 😦
You’ll have to turn Sheila’s food bowl into a Frisbee and get her to chase it 😉
… or play fetch with cucumbers and celery stalks 🙂 Laura
Laugh!! Morning Mad.. c
How could you have forgotten the walkies? It’s not like you’ve been busy with other things. I do hope you can find the time to start the walkies again. Sure, Sheila would like them but I bet you’d benefit from a break in the day to take a walk. 🙂
Gonna be a hot one today, Celi. Stay cool.
Some of us also have Sheila-like tendencies and can run to porkiness if not regularly exercised… I enjoyed your description of Tima chugging along stoicly, not enjoying it, but not complaining either. The dogs looked like adolescents, sniggering away in the background. All that was missing was Sheila, swaying majestically along at her own pace, like a ship in full sail. And is Poppy still hurling herself at your feet every few paces? That must cramp your walking style a bit…
I will take my camera on Sheila’s walk this afternoon. Tima and Sheila are walked separately., Tima is very sensibly afraid of Sheila. c
Funny. I started walking again this week myself. Three miles in the heat/humidity of central Texas does wonders! Sheila might like a cool hose off afterwards, I know I do! 🙂 Cute picture of Tima chugging along on her little legs, squealing and grunting all the way, I’m sure.
She is such a noisy baby that one!! Morning darling.. c
Hmmm…sounds like a treadmill may be in order for the barn. 😉
But of course they make an udder bra! The things I learn from reading blogs!
Once her wound is dry and well on the way to recovery, i will put one on her. Then we really can all have a good giggle..c
I’d no idea my suggestion (yesterday) was a real practical proposition! I look forward to the pictures. I must go walkies too this evening, when it cools down a bit. Vxxx
Another very busy day at the farm. Guess what I am pitting on my elbows as I am reading this post? Yep you guessed, bag balm. Do you use this on Daisy Teats? Miss you and hope your doing well. Take care, BAM
An udder bra…oh, my! Great to see everyone out walking and such a pretty shot of your mowed walking area there. Does Poppy walk with Sheila? I’m surprised that Tima wouldn’t be afraid of Poppy, too.
I need a crash course on your chickens. Confessing I pay more attention to the larger individual critters. I know you have layers and cookers? But I can’t tell who is who. I love the little black one though. And I missed what happened to the ducks, even though I read this blog every day.
The ducks did not survive past their first week outside, poor old boo boo scared them to death.. these white ones are the second batch of roasters, they are coming along nicely too!.. c
The walk should help Shelia. (Of course you know that). When we had 4-H pigs and they would start to get too heavy before the Fair…we always, always had the kids walk the pigs. They could lose 3 pounds a walk. Of course, the trick is then to NOT over feed…or to feed the same level as before the walk. But You know all this already!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
she gets so little grain it would be hard to cut it down any further. yes . they are great grazers these pigs, how long was the walk that took off 3 oounds? c
Let’s see, just down the lane…hum…1/2 mile down and 1/2 mile back. We had the kids walk them in the morning early (because of being too hot.)
I don’t think I would cut back on the food, just the walks to keep her from turning lazy. The fact she is a full-grown sow. And if I remember correctly she will still keep growing as long as she lives.
This is just me, Cecilia…I’m just thinking out loud, not trying to but in.
Linda
Oh no that is fine, she has whole fields of food. I just don’t feed her lots of grain in the summer, she still has all that milk! Interesting (and terrifying) that they continue to grow all their lives) ..
Really? They grow till they die? That is going to be one BIG pig in a few years. How old can pigs live to be?
I hope Daisy’s recovery goes smoothly and that she quits standing on her own teats.
OK..so now you are a swineherd? I think I remember that term from years ago. Glad Daisy is healing nicely….poor thing. She doesn’t understand why she is getting 2nd class hay.
An udder bra…yes, I was wondering about that. Think I might have a black lacy one in the drawer. Daisy and her little boy look so much alike. That photo is beautiful.