My camera that is – at last. Elle saw it – waiting for me on top of the fuse box attached to the power pole in the yard. I was standing not even three feet away.
The good news is that we found it before the rain started. And now this morning the wind is blowing hard. It is overcast and not warm.
We opened up Stage Two of the barn for Molly and her babies. She and the piglets will have both sides until this afternoon then I will shut them out of the farrowing side, clean that side and settle Poppy in there.
Last night when I checked them they were all sleeping in the straw on the new side, after a big feed. They will have a different outside area and a new creep area with a new warm light to lure them in there. I am alays nervous of piglets in straw but they are old enough now to stay out of trouble – I hope.
There is a video version of this on my instagram account. One of these little guys is still way too small but I am watching him. Usually I shift babies into their Stage Two area then wean them from their Mum after a bit but I am leaving Molly with them for a few more weeks to get more weight on the little ones.
Poppy is waiting. All the big sows (including Sheila) have this hair loss. Last summer they all lost all their hair. They are all on a perfectly balanced vegetarian pig feed called Sow and Pig, which delivers the ideal amount of zinc and iron. So I simply cannot account for it. Most of the pig people suggest oil so I will get some flax seed oil and add that – we will see.
Other than tufty hair Poppy seems happy, wide and settled. I look forward to getting her in the farrowing pen.
This is the first time Ellie has ever touched a cow. Who better to begin with than our Lady Astor.
Well it is an overcast blustery stormy looking day. Just the day for cleaning out the farrowing pen and getting it ready for the next farrowing.
We will get just a few more plants in the ground and some seeds too if the ground in not already too wet, we have four days of showers and heavy rain, severe weather and storms ahead of us at this point. At least it is running through the weekend so the workers (including John) can all stay out of the weather. I will get out my Aussie Oilskin which my Dad gave to me as a present years ago and has been keeping me dry ever since. He even found me a matching hat. It is second hand and enormous, coming to just above my ankles, so I move across the landscape like a small dark tent but I am dry as a bone under there. It is for horse riding so it has straps that you can attach to your legs. the best coat in the world for wet weather farming.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
Thursday 04/27 20% / 0 in
Chance of a morning shower. Overcast. High 58F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph.
Thursday Night 04/27 20% / 0 in
Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph
The Kitchen's Garden 
34 responses to “Found IT”
Phew!
Poppy manages to look naughty, even when she’s being good 🙂
would love to see a photo of you in your coat
Me too! With the legs strapped. I’ve never heard of such a thing, but it is an ingenious solution to a problem I never considered until you described that coat.
What cute little piglets ! I did not get any emails from your new posts the last two weeks. I will try to sign up again.
Oh good. Don’t think I have ever touched a pig, come to think of it. Laura
Oh, what a great relief that must be… I was worried about no photos but your worry must have been even greater. Great news that CameraHouse has been found! And the little curly tails on those piggies are just precious… made me smile. Also your description of the the wonderful hat your Dad found you: “He even found me a matching hat. It is second hand and enormous, coming to just above my ankles,” I had to read that twice before I realized what you meant but it sure sounded like you were elfin or gnome-like wearing a ginormous hat in the rain. lol….. Hope you have a great day! ~ Mame 🙂
I’m so glad you found the camera. I knew you would, but the question was whether or not it would be before the rain.
Good!
You have a Drizabone! They are the most extraordinarily hard-wearing, versatile and useful coats. Mine is 15 years old and still going strong, it just needs re-proofing with oil every so often. For those who’ve never seen them, the straps are to go around your legs when you’re on horseback, to stop the coat blowing off your legs and letting them get wet. The shoulder cape is extra run-off protection – you’re meant to be wearing an Akubra hat with it, also waterproof and almost as good as an umbrella! But an oilskin hat will do in a pinch 🙂
I think if you do a little poking about on the internet (type in kunekune and hair loss) you’ll find that for your particular breed it is common and to be expected. 😊
So glad you found your camera. 🙂 Good day wishes to you. Raining up here as well.
Lady is so enjoying having her hollow spot rubbed… (Takes me back: )
Is this hair-falling out in your pregnant sow’s a “new” thing C? I’ve noticed it in the wild mothers around here (bunnies & squirrels with tatty coats) was just wondering if it’s part of nesting?
Ah, and you have an oilskin coat (and hat too? How lovely!) Was reading your words and (although it’s been decades since) instantly recalled the first time I ever saw one and wishing I could afford it. Still wish I had one (and the horse to go with it; )
Be careful with flax seed oil. It is incredibly sensitive to light and heat and can go rancid very easily once separated from the seed… However, it keeps almost indefinitely when left whole and ground as you need it (plus a LOT less expensive and a really good feed supplement; )
I’m so glad you found it. The idea of a camera being rained on just hurts. Those piglets do look small. Lets hope they fatten up soon. We are getting our last day of rain today and then just cloudy with a hit and miss shower. Fairer weather will be coming your way soon. Saw last night we’ve had 146 days of rain since Oct 1 yielding 47 inches of moisture. 😦 No wonder we are all a little grumpy. I bet you are solar powered too. Come on a bit of sunshine! Of course you have to post of photo of your rain gear now. I don’t have Instagram so all I can see is this. Always wanted to pet a cow myself. Deep envy here. 🙂 Don’t let the wind blow you away. Have a wonderfilled day. Marlene
You don’t need to have Instagram Marlene, I don’t but can visit to see Farmy videos amd pics here https://www.instagram.com/p/BTXUQH2hF1z/?taken-by=cecilia_thekitchensgarden
Thank you so much, NettyG!!! I have no idea what you do with Instagram but avoided it because I hate having my phone pinging at me all day. 🙂 Thank you again.
You’re welcome…..we can’t have Fellowshippers missing out on cute videos 🙂
Just click directly on picture right at end of this page, videos also work 🙂 However you will only see current picture and/or video. You will have to register to see previous photos and videos. Laura
Actually if you click on the instagram pic at the very bottom of this (or any day’s) post you can get to all the pictures. When you click on the once at the bottom and it opens up in instagram, then click on the line at the top of all the comments that says Miss C’s name. It will open up and you can go forwards and backwards with the arrows to see all the new and old ones.
I only know that because my granddaughter showed me, good thing I have her!
Chris S in Canada
Even better thanks 🙂 I too wish I had a baby computer wizard in residence. Laura
Thank you, Laura. Always like to learn something new.
We need to see this great coat and also close ups of the leg straps. How ingenious. And what about protection for the horse?
That first photo is amazing. It took me a few seconds to figure out what it was. On a sad note, just read a news article about 44 piglets being killed in a barn fire (from a heating lamp). It was a family farm. So sad for all. Knowing your piglets as I do through the photos and comments, it just made it even more sad.