Our pig is pregnant? Isn’t that exciting. Poppy the Hereford gilt (a gilt is a female pig who has not had piglets yet) wishes to announce (though she would prefer NOT to discuss her insides) that she has missed her first heat since being bred. We have had such a long run of missed breedings, both bovine and porcine, that I am still hedging my bets and in fact my Mentor of all things Pig said she would NOT have bet on it. But the signs are there. No returning heat and extreme laziness and gentleness. She has not bashed at the gate once! She is a very laid back pig all of a sudden.
So .. we may yet get piglets. YAY. (a very little Yay not wanting to jinx it). Touch wood – Dance around three times on one leg in a westerly direction, throw salt over my shoulder and all that. What’s your favourite superstition to avert bad luck? – ok do that one!
Sorry there is no picture of Poppy making her announcement but things were busy, busy today. No doubt she will be in front of Camera House today.
The incubator eggs have finished being turned and are safely shut into the Snug. Door shut – no visiting dogs. The table heater is on and in the brooder box warming and waiting. The eggs are due to hatch on Monday (though as we know from the incident of the Accident chickens sometimes they hatch early). My International visitors are hoping that they hatch early!
I am thoroughly enjoying having young people staying again. The girls worked hard all day. Happy to pitch in anywhere. Being from three different countries (Hong Kong, Korea and Japan) they all speak English to each other and are endlessly comparing words and foods from their homes. And yes tomorrow they are cooking!
They are fascinated by the animals. And will drop anything they are doing to ride around to the West barn in the truck. They love being on the back of the truck, even in yesterdays cold blustery weather. There am I all alone in the front sat in solitary splendour as two dogs and three girls ride on the back. And being a Mother I drive slowly, slowly, afraid that someone will fall off. Mothers! No fun!
They are even a wee bit disappointed that today should be warmer and we will be Walking to the barn instead. But they will catch that magic too. There is a kind of magic here. I just let it happen. You can see the farm on the prairies moving across their faces like a bright cloud with a string. Slowly, slowly the visitors drift upwards their tethers dropping like ropes from a hot air balloon. Then they laugh. Working on a real farm is the most natural work in the world. It is my favourite gift.
The sheep have finally been sold. It is sad to see off the three sheep and sad that I am no longer a sheep farmer. This New Zealander loves sheep you see. But the end came. We had a lovely run and as you know when Mama the big sheep died the heart of my sheep enterprise died with her. Sad but true. And we really do not have the room for three big sheep pets. Life keeps renewing itself, just like our voices. We have been in a wee slump for a while now but I have a feeling the farmy and I are climbing back up out of it.
Whitney that shot of the big rock is for you!
I hope you have a lovely day,
Your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
60 responses to “How to tell if your pig is pregnant”
Fingers still crossed here. Your visitors look so happy – I’m sure it’s the farmy magic in the air 😉
What beautiful girls, and so happy. It Quite cheered me up to see their smiling faces after a miserable morning trying unsuccessfully to make the computer boot up. This is the old, corrupted laptop which is slower and grumpier than a tortoise with a broken leg, and from which Word has disappeared and the anti-virus is out of date. Quiet congratulations to Poppy – your news hardly surprised me, given the number of hints that have been flying around!
Have a lovely Easter,
love,
ViV xox
All the best to the expectant mother. Lucky visitors.
I tweeted your post with a quote (for the first time).
Those girls are in their element, out in the air, working and having fun. Sharing is what life is all about. Fingers still crossed as I whisper my delight at Poppy’s news. So we may have Easter chicks after all. How exciting. Happy Easter to one and all as you enjoy an international meal together today!
What lovely smiley faces the three girls have. They all look like they are having a great time. Fantastic news about poppy. Touch wood is my anti jinx! So touching wood for poppy x
Long may the extreme laziness and gentleness last. I am still shocked how quickly and how mean Charlotte turned once her piglets arrived. Your visitors certainly seem to be bathed in Farmy Magic. Lucky Girls. Laura
P.S Please give each of the sheepy noses a goodbye kiss from me if they haven’t already left. sigh. Laura
We don’t often get to see faces here. How lovely the ladies are. What a grand adventure for them and us…and all mankind.
Nice! I’m so happy for the farmy. And I’m crossing my fingers as I type this, (not an easy thing to do…lol). The girls look lovely and very happy and Boo is loving every minute, isn’t he, the big suck. I frequently have international students living with me for a semester, and, while they need to focus on their studies, they love the “Canadian” lifestyle, and are incredibly grateful when I take them to the wilds at the cabin, so I can see and understand how happy your three girls are right now! Wait till you have a lovely cooked meal prepared by them. That’s something I always love. 😀
Boo and Ton look mesmerized by the new guests. More people to throw the stick! Silent cheering for Poppy. The girls looks like they are having a lot of fun. What a gift to them to them and to you, everyone wins. Have a wonderful, pfoductive day, C.
Good morning, c! Exciting news about Poppy. This will bring lots of busy days this summer. xx
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It sounds like the farm is bustling. The girls look like they are having a great time and boo looks like he is the king of the castle.
Shall we say Poppy is in an Interesting Condition, which hedges bets? She is in a state of hope and expectation, as are we all. I love the sunshiny happy faces of your girls! Did they come sensibly prepared, and did they bring their own gumboots, or does the Farmy have an endless supply? I can only imagine the joy of working outside in the fresh air and wide spaces after life at close quarters in a city.
Ha, I had exactly the same thought about the gumboots.
Me too!
I do have a collection of boots, but I think I need more and gloves too, and overalls for that matter – these girls could do with overalls.. c
Me too! They’re indispensible.
My superstition is not recognizing it and not talking about it in case I jinx it, so Poppy who is what?
No idea! there is a Poppy?
check out Walter’s theory on pig pregnancy, he get straight to the point as it were.
http://sugarmtnfarm.com/2011/08/28/pregnancy-indicator/
Yes I read that too and Poppys has always pointed up, same with Sheila. So that does not seem to work with Herefords.. which is a shame.. c
All sounds well on the farm,having the girls there must be a delite,want to hear all about the good meal that’s coming up ,cong. To poppy
Way to go, Poppy! So glad to hear it and will also cross all my digits as i can. How exciting! And what lovely visitors.