New Grass in November!
The Tweens have had their electric fences taken down and once they got over their electric fence conditioning they moved across the line, where the wire was and began to chow down on the thick grass and clover. To be able to get onto fresh new grass in November is such a bonus.
They really as good looking pigs. I am proud of them. I LOVE seeing pigs eating grass, they twirl the stalks of grass around with their noses, getting a good big knot of feed then snap the whole lot off with their teeth and chew a big mouthful. Pigs like long grass, when it gets short they root it up.
Tima and Tane went for a walk in the gardens. Tane did not venture out into the field but moved about the flower beds OK and did some weeding. He generally gets to where he is going then sits down to eat.
The vet comes to see him this afternoon. This will be expensive which is a worry but he needs to see Tane walking this time.
This morning I take my electric fence gear across to the other side and create a new field for Manu (the Hereford boar) and Molly (the Hereford sow) . Molly is still locked in the big cows pen of the West barn where Manu cannot break in, to be sure that her heat is finished then she and Manu will be together until March. If the plan works she will be bred by him in about three weeks and farrow in late-March. However I want their winter field ready before they go together. They will still shelter in the barn.
Poppy (the older Hereford sow and in fact Molly’s mother) will go in with Manu 6 weeks after Molly – if my plan works. But you and I know all about all the plans of mice and men and women and pigs.
Daylight saving has begun here but it does not affect the animals and I as I start feeding at dawn and milk at dusk. Finishing up in the dark. Dawn is 6.32 am and last light is 5.09 pm. Today will be cloudy but still in the 60’s (mid teens in Celsius). Warm.
As i was fencing yesterday I was making a list in my head of the things I have learned this year and top of the list was the electric fences. I am much faster at taking down and putting up fences this year. Much more confident.
The next fence will be for Poppy’s piglets most of whom will be wintering over here as planned. The stakes all need to be in the ground before it starts to freeze solid so these fences all need to be finished within the next week. There is talk of another Polar Vortex this winter. Not good talk in my opinion. But maybe our winter will be shorter? Every season is different – we just have to live it.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
26 Comments on “New Grass in November!”
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thekitchensgarden 
Manu is quite a playboy – I bet he has his own bar fridge and hot tub down there 😉
And perhaps a mirror in the ceiling of the barn.
ROFL 🙂
Some of those piggies sure have Manu’s eyes, don’t they!
I noticed that too. Quite The Look!
Yes you are right -so they do!
Chilly … but I suppose 13C is warmer than -45C 🙂 I really hope that Polar Vortex misses you, I still remember the last one. I thought that large drifts of snow would nullify the electric fence? We have been promised rain everyday this week, we will see. Laura
The Tweens are the picture of health, piglets to be proud of. You have a real talent for pigs, as well as the courage to face the sad and difficult bits about raising them…
“We just have to live it”… yes, and that is every one of us as we journey through life. Your story is unique and we all learn from your experience. For me, I have an appreciation to learn from you what I do not know and will probably never experience (raising pigs and cows). It’s also lovely to get a glimpse of the lives of many in the Fellowship too. No matter what time of day or night I sit down to read, I find I am among a tremendous group of people who are kind and understanding… and compassionate.
Everyone down south is talking about the forecast for winter. Not that we have near the trouble with ice and snow that you do… but like true farmers, we all grumble about that threat of the ugly stuff that makes life difficult. We haven’t had warm temps like this in November in the twenty-six years I’ve lived here. I am really enjoying a long, lovely autumn. Maybe winter will be easy on us this year!
Sure hope the vet can help out Tane. Our boar, Jethro, has had a limp on and off for…maybe two years. Sometimes it’s almost like he doesn’t have it, and then there it is again and he is moving super slowly and painfully. He is about 650 lbs or so, so he is definitely moving a lot of weight around. He and Eliie Mae will winter over together as well and hopefully we’ll have piglets in the spring. 🙂
hard to stop isn’t it!
I can’t remember which piggie it was that was so mean to her babies. Will you try again?
That was Tahiti and she has been sold -Two sows are enough i think anyway. c
Oh good! I missed that she was gone I guess.
Good luck little buddy Tane. I’ll be keeping my hooves crossed for you. XOXO – Bacon
I always hear that Daylight Saving time came about because it benefits the farmer….bull rubbish! Farming does NOT work by a clock, farming works by the sun….first light to last light. Daylight Savings Time is for those who want to play golf longer after work…just my thought, but I think it’s a good one.
Linda
From what I read it was created so farmers children could attend school – and then have time to work on chores after school. Otherwise the farmers were not allowing their children to attend school after a certain age during the busy spring and summer months. It is also why we have ‘spring’ break – it was a break in school so the farmer and his family could sew the fields for the growing season.
☺☺ Hope you have a lovely day too ♥
I worked for an activator Chiropractor for four years and I saw both humans and critters healing. A wiener dog was brought in. He was dragging his hind legs behind him. After several adjustments he was back to normal. If you go to http://www.activator.com you can enter your zip code to find an activator Chiropractor. Advanced Proficiency Chiropractor is best and s/he will tell you when healing is over, putting to rest the statement some say that Chiropractors keep you coming back for financial gain. This is important. I meant to post this yesterday but life got in the way. Much love, Your Gayle
Our sows must be spending time together without our knowledge as Willow is on the same cycle as your Molly. 🙂 Which brings me to a pig question, if you don’t mind. Our boar, Vincent, will be visiting Willow this week and I’m a bit nervous to reintroduce them. Do you have any secrets for reintroduction of the adult pigs? I’m remembering Sheila’s woes and subsequent injuries from a boar. I would very much like there to be no drama or bodily pig injuries. Thank you for your advise. (There are no pig farmers close by whose brain I can pick- let alone a lady farmer!)
Oh very good question. Three rules – One- Take the sow TO the boar into the boar’s territory – not the other way around. He has to be dominant. Two: Take her in when she is definitely in heat. They will both be rattling the gates trying to get to each other. Three: I always feed the boar, and put down a bowl for the sow then release her into his pen. For some reason eating together gives them a breathing space and they get together more peacefully. I make sure they have a large space to fool around in. When they are first together stand behind the gate and wait – if he starts to chase her and she RUNS AWAY or fights, wait for the right moment and call her back out, shut the gate fast before he gets out with her and try again in 4 or 5 hours. She will want to leave so it is fairly easy to call her out – of course don’t go in there – just wait for the moment. If she is fully in heat they will both want to be together. Once in and settled I leave them together for a few months to be sure. Hope some of that helps. Also if she has been with him before she will remember him – this helps.
Very good advise. I will let you know how things progress. Thanks!
I love how you are so observant –or instance, exactly how the pigs eat grass, twirling the long grass then biting it off. I was just saying to my husband as we drove thru the neighborhood how I wish I could gather up all those pumpkins for your pigs and cows. And I was telling him that cows produce heavier cream/milk when they eat pumpkins as opposed to lemons. Where else would I get to learn such fascinating facts.
Fingers crossed for vet’s visit tomorrow.
Learn by doing. It sounds like things are churning along at a reasonable pace. I hope the vet can recommend some good medicine or therapy for Tane. I plan to run away from the cold so I hope your polar vortex isn’t too severe. Brrr. Keep warm and safe.
It’s good to appreciate what we’ve learned and become better at doing, otherwise it’s too easy for everyday life to slip by without that sort recognition ♡ For me, I’ve become better at overcoming my tendency to feel daunted about trying new-to-me things like bread baking, preserving etc and and just have a go. This is because I think I have found myself in a wonderful online community who provide me with inspiration ♡