Three and a half months ago there was a big bad storm that blew in the big door at the West Barn. When I got to the barn the following morning Manu (Hereford Boar) was in with Molly and Tahiti(Hereford gilts) . Do you remember? As soon as I could I separated them back out and I am positive I saw Tahiti in heat three weeks later – though I never did see Molly in heat. Not ever.
But the fates collided and now I THINK I have two very pregnant too young gilts. Tahiti is ballooning and I actually felt piglets in Mollys belly. And so did Amanda so I have corroboration. This has all become apparent in the last few days leading me to believe we have only a few weeks up our sleeves to prepare an extra pen for Molly. 
Because, the problem is, I have only one birthing chamber where the mothers and babies live for the first few weeks. One. I had planned for these two to farrow (in late August) in the field but last week they began taking the rat house apart, piece by piece so they are back in the barn. Now, there’s a problem! A very surmountable problem though.
The little beef herd (plus one heifer who is too young to be near a bull) are happy in the Chicory Fields over at the White Barn. No signs of bloat or scours. So the pasture mix is balanced which is good. It has lots of flowers it is a pity my dairy girls cannot get to it.
And here at the home farm are the breeding herd. Carlos the Tiny has Naomi, and Alex (with her baby Txiki) in tow and everyone is very happy. 
Carlos is taking his work very seriously, but is being very gentle with his girls.
My two milking girls are in the heavier dairy fields by themselves. And baby (Talia) is still laying about in the big pen in the barn. My plan is to sell her when she is weaned so I will be advertising her soon.
This week we ramp up another gear.. Our first farm to table dinner party (Jake and I are collaborating on this as he is a chef as well as a market gardener) is at the Farmhouse.
It is a family dinner for The Matriarch so we have even more people coming to stay at this house and in the cottage. So as well as farming and feeding even bigger groups, (entire families are coming), we will be cooking for the dinner party this weekend. PLUS possible piglets and the man knocking a hole in the kitchen wall.
The hole in the kitchen wall is the long awaited walk-through from the kitchen to my big store room. So from now on we should be able to walk through the pantry and right out the other side into the dry store room basically extending the kitchen. So ALL the dry store room goods and their shelves have been relocated into the lounge while he works in the store room. I have made sure that everything is stacked tidily so we can still function efficiently. However it is not pretty and it will get worse. Hopefully the building job only takes the two days we have set aside for it because everyone starts arriving on Friday. I have NEVER had a building job go according to plan and there are many variables in this one.
And I will be building in the barn sorting the extended maternity ward.
But short term stress is OK. This is just a couple of weeks where I will have to be in top form.
Oh! AND. Congratulations to you – the blog with its Fellowship of the Farmy has just passed its FIFTH year anniversary.
Have a great day. My crew come back this evening and will hit the ground running so this is my last hard day and I had better get up and at it!
Much love
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
49 responses to “Here’s a problem!”
Happy Anniversary. Lots of exciting plans! Best of luck. I have just finished tearing apart my laundry/storage room and now have things that are throughout the condo to return to some retreivable order. Feels good to be done a project. I hope your table overflows with milk and honey and good will and conversation. Cheers!
Love reading your blog…must be a farmgirl at heart. Keep up the good work. Busy two weeks, you are going to need all the help you can get.
Happy fifth anniversary, Miss C. Take time in your busy and stressful schedule to celebrate.
your planned activities have my head spinning! Happy 5th and happy remodeling!
You do have your hands full, what are you cooking for the farm to table dinner?
Wow! You have your hands full—your head, your heart, and your hands, in fact—but you seem to thrive under pressure. So I’ll wish you well in all of this and may everything go even more smoothly than you can imagine! Happiness abounds.
Love,
K
Fruition is such a lovely concept
TWO litters of piglets! Would the girls raise them together?
Cheers and onward. Farmy rocks
Happy Fifth Anniversary!!! A dinner party and remodeling and piglets. I had that going on over a Thanksgiving and Christmas one year. The dining room was totally redone, 1/4 inch drywall on ceiling and walls because there was no point trying to fix all the cracks or deal with the huge amount of plaster dust the fixing would have made, plus a ceramic tile floor installed, new ceiling fixture, fresh paint and all. Looked wonderful once it was all done, but it made both holidays a bit more difficult. Fortunately adding a door isn’t too bad as far as mess and time are concerned.
Piglets coming too. At least you’re forwarned, those two have been keeping the secret. I’m sure you’ll have it all in hand.
Happy days!
Happy anniversary – 5 years of life and adventures. The farm is burgeoning, with so many animals and an atmosphere of great fertility. How wonderful!
Five years – wonderful! I have a room that sorely needs gutting but neither John or I really want to do it. My plan is to start dismantling tomorrow as soon as he leaves for a short fishing trip in the hopes that the momentum will carry us to finish it when he returns. I hope. Best of luck with the piglets and remember, be like a duck – sailing serenely along with a smile whilst paddling like hell below the surface.
A duck! That works! c
At least you know now that Manu can get the job done! What sort of problems are likely if the gilts are too young – birthing problems, or raising problems? Hopefully neither, and everything goes well!
More in the way of birthing problems i think – hopefully if that happens i can get help here in time.. but they are big strong girls already esp Tahiti so maybe it will be alright.. c
Five years! I am so blessed to be a part of your stories. As a result of your stories, I am a little bit more country girl and a little bit less city girl. Thanks, Celi. A little balance is in order. Lots of love and smoochies for the five years, Your Gayle