I never tire of seeing an animal standing in the boot of Johns Cow Art Hay Car Feeder. 
Usually the small cows put their two front feet into the boot (trunk) when they are eating but for some reason Tia decided to climb right in.
Molly is back home from the West Barn.
To seperate her yesterday I ran the pigs through my heavy homemade draughting gate, that swings both ways, directing Molly into a side room, (and with a swing of my gate sending the other two back out to their field) in preparation for her being loaded into the stock trailer and transported back to the home farm. Once she was separated from the others, I secured the draughting gate shut then I chained the seldom used and somewhat dubious middle gate creating a small temporary pen where all the pigs wait quietly. I gave her some feed and went to visit the cows while we waited for the truck to arrive.
I was tapping Lady Astor’s belly, thinking was that movement? Did something just swim past my hand? Is there a calf growing in there? Am I tapping the right side? when Molly the sow trotted past the cows gate dragging a feed bag on her way out the open hay doors.
Excellent. I thought.
She had ripped the fasteners off the wall and pushed open the dubious gate and was on the loose in the big barn with the hay and the feed. The interior area of the big barn is not pig secure so while we waited for the truck, and after shutting and securing the outside doors, and putting all the feed up high, Molly and I wandered about together (like a mother following a badly behaved toddler in a doctors office) while she tried all the exterior doors, and tried to climb the hay bales, and I sprinkled small snacks to try and distract her, waiting for the truck to arrive and hitch up the trailer. When John was ready and at the last minute, when I had to open the barn door to join the open trailer door backing up, I locked her in one of the enormous barn cupboards so she did not escape to the road.
As you can imagine we had only seconds to create her loading corridor before she got bored and knocked down that door as well. She was not upset you understand just ready to move on. I worked swiftly and was ready just as she started knocking. She loaded beautifully.
Now that she is in the home barn I will watch her carefully for any changes in her body that will tell us when her piglets are due.
The little pig herd have moved out to live in their field fulltime. They cannot be in the barn – Molly needs peace and quiet now.
The little chicks began flying out of their nursery totes in the Cloak Room so yesterday they were moved a little early to the Turkey House with their two Table Mothers.
My favourite way to transport chicks through the garden to the Turkey House is in a tall washing basket. By holding both handles in one hand the basket closes nicely and it is deep so no chick can jump out by mistake.
They don’t have their big girl feathers yet so I added a heat lamp just to be sure they are all warm in the night.
When I did the rounds in the night before bed they were doing just fine out there and sleeping away from the lamp so not cold then.
Tima the little seal pig. I call her a seal on wheels.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
39 responses to “Calf in the Boot”
Funny pix worth seeing! Thanks!
You are welcome Peter. c
Tia is doing what we Southerners call “Tailgating” minus the booze. Best party in town was usually in the trunk of a car. x
That’s funny!
Maybe she has a secret stash somewhere – I would not put it past this little heifer.. c
Pigs sweat equity remains high 🙂 I bet all the animals wonder why you pack the best hay right in the back of the boot. You seem to indicate Molly might be due quite soon? Laura
I needed to get her back here and calmed down. Last night I was able to get a good look at her, I cannot feel any babys and she is still looking lean- so I don’t think she is that close. Her first date could have been the 17th but I don’t think so now.
Well, Molly is Hop-N-Pop Poppy’s daughter after all – she learned well from her mother. Love the pictures of the rest of the farmy. 50 degrees here with forecast of thunderstorms later in SE MN. Have a great day!
Similar to here – we have a high of 62 though but with that dense cloud and bits of showers here and there..
Toddler – perfect imagery. Sorry about poor Boo day before yesterday he is such a young boy to have this disability…. As usual give him an extra pat from me.
Yes – poor Boo – he will achy joints forever poor boy..
That Molly! Definitely a handful!!! 🙂
She is a sweet little sow.. c
Hilarious, she could be even worse than Poppy 🙂
She always looks so surprised when she breaks something though – Poppy does not!! c
Ha ha, bless them both!
Molly would be a great Disney character! I can just imagine her talking away to you as you trotted around the barn with her … looking for some more trouble.
she was having a lovely time that is for sure.. c
I just met a woman that has a similar farm like you in Pescadero and sells her chicken at the farmer’s market in San Francisco. http://www.rootdownfarm.org/. I hope I can visit her soon.
yes – it will be nice to have your own farmer!
as always I am smiling as I read your blog. Have a wonderful day and give Boo a special pat from me.
I will – I have – he is asleep on my feet.
It’s always wonderful to see the beginnings of spring and your place is full of beginning and spring!
Yes it is – though I am still being tentative about it after reading everyone elses weather.. c
Terrible winds…hope you stay safe!
aaaww – you know my soft spot – piggies!! XOXO – Bacon
Yes – dear wee Bacon. c
Molly Houdini, the talented porcine escapologist. A final fling for freedom before motherhood pins her down again for a while?
– or she is just a nosy parker – or possibly a thief!c
J > Full of interest and delights. You really must write to manufacturer of the old vehicle to say that their boot/trunk lid opens at too steep an angle. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the customer feedback. ;~)
Of course they really should make these cars more cow friendly.. c
I love Kate’s take on Molly. 🙂 Tia in the boot was a keeper. You have the best animals with the most personality I’ve ever seen. I bet they get that from you. 🙂 Love how you carry the chicks. Necessity is the mother of invention. You come up with some winning ideas. Good luck with Molly.
I don’t think she will be ready for a while – whis is good as I don’t quite trust the weather yet.