Did you know that? She is a great old snorer. Though you will only hear the snoring if you creep very, very quietly into the barn with ears at the ready. Pigs have incredibly good hearing. And the moment they hear a sound out of the ordinary they jump sideways then freeze and listen. This is why I usually sing or softly talk as I enter the barn then they all know it is me. Poppy does not snore. And Poppy always puts herself between the wall and Sheila. Sheila is a natural draft stopper. Cheeky pig that Poppy.
Do you remember poor old Sheila sleeping all by herself last winter.. and it was so terribly cold. Now these two cuddle up all warm. They are looking robust and healthy aren’t they .. maybe a little TOO robust. They look like a hilly landscape.
This is the rooster that sleeps with pigs.
We got another three inches of snow yesterday so everyone stayed in the barn. Hmm, Godot still has a wonky tail feather. Godot’s tail feathers are not as strong as Kupa’s were so this week I hope to be able to get across to another organic grain mill a ways from here and buy a bag of kelp – it will be a good addition in all feeds at this time of year, when trace minerals are hard to find, but is particularly good for the legs and feathers of birds – especially the young birds that are growing fast. They already have diatomaceous earth added to their feed.
To compare the length of Godots tail – here is a shot from late December. So, it IS growing which is good. But slowly and kind of raggedly.
When Kupa got sick his tail stopped growing so now I am always subconsciously checking Godot’s tail for growth. I think it is an indicator of health. Actually I am going to go back and see if I can find a shot of Kupa in January. Wait there a minute..
OK. Kupa, two years older than Godot – here. Almost three. And his tail was very full due to his age really. He was such a beautiful bird.
This is Godot’s second winter, so he is still a juvenile, probably not fertile yet and anyway no self respecting hen will take any notice of him when his tail is not nice and full. So I am going to buy peacock eggs this year – I will incubate one clutch myself and the second clutch I will put under a sitting peahen up in peacock palace so any chicks will not be lost. Once my girls sit they sit solidly so I would like to try and let them hatch a few themselves. They usually sit on the same nest together. This is going to be an exciting summer!
Above is the POV from the pigs door.
Good morning. Poppy has her eyes open, can you see her ears? Perking. Nosy pig. I have a wonderful plan for her farrowing pen. All I need is a builder. And now that my friend the kiwi builder ran off to Phoenix those are few and far between.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
36 responses to “Sheila Snores”
I was noticing how large Poppy has gotten when I saw the picture with Boo and Ton in the same pen with her. Sheila has got to be as tall as a miniature pony! Very fine specimens of healthy piggies and always so cute…except maybe when biting. I have faith that Godot’s tail will fill out in the warmer months.
Oooh, I meant to add that one of our cats snores…the larger of the two. So funny.
Ton does too and he always sleeps on the floor on my side of the bed. sigh
And Thumbelina, my snorer, sleeps on the bed next to my leg. She and my husband seem to have snoring contests!
It looks Cold there…everyone fluffed and/or snuggled together.
Linda ❤⊱彡
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
Very cold -10 when i got up.. but the sun is out.. everything feels better with the sun out! morning linda
“This is the rooster that sleeps with pigs”… sounds delightfully repugnant!! I love the way you narrate your posts. I think the weather is supposed to improve over the next days – at least it will down here. I hope you get a whiff of warm!
I have a strong suspicion that the kittens have started sleeping with the kunes too.. No whiffs of warm here today but we are warming up to feezing tomorrow.. c
I miss Kupa, he was so breathtaking! I can’t wait to see what Godot’s tail looks like fully developed and open for the “gal’s” to see. 😉
Haha, wish I could send you Mr Grumpybuilder. That would be a holiday for both of us 😜
The barn looks so cosy, no wonder you say you could sleep out there.
Somehow I’m not surprised that Sheila snores 😉
I love Sheila!
It’s so fun to read about all your animals. It’s such a different life from mine, and I enjoy thinking that people lead so many different kinds of lives!
How cosy Poppy and Sheila look, snuggled up together.
I suspect there’s a story lurking regarding the kiwi builder and his flight to Phoenix…..
Beautiful rooster that. Good to see the pigs snuggled. It’s raining here in California. That is a very good thing and and an excuse to stay indoors.
Beautiful photos .. Hilly landscapes .. Love it! Diatomaceous earth is good for worms too .. It is on the menu at Frog Pond.