Manu the Virgin Boar

– is a Virgin No More.

And understandably very proud of himself.

And he was a perfect gentleman and at no time did Poppy or I feel threatened.  Yesterday morning I saw that she was ready so I opened the gates. He just walked up, ignoring his breakfast, said Hullo (by nosing her in the side) and then mounted her. He did this three times.   After a while she ran away so I locked her back into her pen. All was easy. All was calm. I was alone (chickens and dogs and cows not withstanding) –  so, all was as it should be, slow, gentle, no drama.

In the evening I let her out and they did it again. No screaming, no biting, no fights or anything.  In fact while he was breeding her I was scratching Poppy on the head telling her she was a very patient girl and we must be kind to virgin boars.  She stood well, quite happy, eyes glazed and dreamy, he is shorter than her so she made accommodations for that and they did very well together.  So I left them together to enjoy their evening.

I have read many, many pieces about how the breeding of pigs by a boar ( horrors) is noisy and violent and dangerous. And Charlotte came home cut on the face and changed forever and we all remember Sheila getting into a terrible fight with a boar.

I think that the breeders who have the most success are patient. Just patient. And when the girl runs away they open the gate and let her out.  When they have read the signs rightly and she stands for the boar they let nature take its course.  Artificial Insemination is a good option but not sustainable for me, and my wee farm has to sustain itself without buying semen in a plastic bag from the outside. (Though keep in mind that we will sell or swap boars every few years). So I bought a boar.  Also I think I am lucky to have a gentle, well bred boar who was well treated right from the beginning – this has resulted in a confident, kind animal. 

Last night I drove over to the West Barn  in the dark.

With the dogs left on the back of the truck and with my Iphone light tucked into my jacket pocket, so I could walk without holding a torch, I softly crept into the big barn. The cows were sleeping. Poppy and Manu were sleeping, separately, but it is early days in their relationship, the chickens were sleeping.  All was peaceful.

Poppy and Manu will be together for the next three months now. To keep each other warm in the winter AND if she has not caught this month he should be able to breed her next month. Being a virgin he is only just working out HOW to do this.  But personally I think she is bred and more than happy.

So let’s count three months, three weeks and three days from yesterday (114 days). When will Poppy’s first due date be? I need to do the maths.

I am well pleased.

I hope you have a lovely day.

love celi