Thanks to Jan from the Fellowship of the Farmy I can now watch Poppy’s activity in her own bedroom, from my own kitchen. 
This wireless monitor on the kitchen bench connected to a camera in the barn is a game changer. I am so excited about it. Instead of getting up and getting dressed and creeping out through the cold, dark rain then tiptoeing through the barn trying to sneak up on a pig (which is almost impossible), I just walk into the kitchen and there she is. On the tele. 
She is due to farrow today, maybe tonight. I can see, as I write this morning that she is awake and lying on her belly quietly listening. The feed even has sound though all I hear is roosters crowing. And is not tied to my inclement and terribly slow wifi – another bonus.
This is a major change to the way I manage my farrowing and calving. Much, much, much calmer which is better for everyone.
Thank you, Jan. Thank you, so much.
Lady Astor’s udder is slowly tightening up and filling out but still not as full as I would expect by now with one week to go.
Almost time to put on her milking collar.
Below is a shot of one of the plonkers down the back watching us pick asparagus. The harvest is not large. Too cold and too many weeds. And with two more days of heavy rain and wind ahead of us I am not weeding it any time soon.
Yesterday was so calm – we all felt comforted by it. But today is a day for inside farm jobs. Wet and windy.
I would bring the cows back up out of the fields when it rained like this but I have no more hay now. And no cutting date in sight now either. I just have to let them graze in the sodden fields.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
Weather Forecast:
Thursday 05/04 100% / 0.57 in
Windy with rain likely. High 48F. Winds NNE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Thursday Night 05/04 50% / 0.12 in
Mostly cloudy and windy with showers developing late. Low 42F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
The Kitchen's Garden 
40 responses to “Pig TV”
Pig tv is brilliant! But, the part about not having any more hay–is that a supply issue or a financial one, please? If a financial issue, I’m sure the farmy would contribute.
Oh, I love the comments today… Patrecia Upton’s about technology finally reaching the pig pen; Paul’s about how PigTV beats most broadcast tv and, lastly….Aspenhills’ PIG TV = Providing Instantaneous Gratification – Technologically Verified. Instant gratification for the piggie in all of us… lol Aside from all the wonderful comments, your cctv does seem to be the perfect answer. I guess this is the time of year you really feel the pressure of the extra cows… and no hay. Hope they don’t ruin your fields with their mucking about in the rain back there. keep dry! ~ Mame 🙂
So great about the TV to monitor the barn! The piglets are just SO cute!!!!! My son adores pigs (he’s 11 and on the Autism Spectrum so he’s a bit obsessed at the moment). He enjoys your pictures every day. Also wanted to tell you I’m going to a memorial service in San Fransisco this weekend for Gayle, my friend who was a long time friend of your blog. Will email you pics if I get anything decent. She loved your blog and your farm so much.
I actually meant to say FAN of your blog!
Many of us in the Farmy Fellowship remember Gayle and her lovely comments. I for one will be thinking of her – please say a little prayer for her in my name at the memorial service.
Chris S in Canada
I most certainly will!
Remembered – may she be in peace!
Thank you.
Kudos and hurrahs for Jan!
The tv is great, I wouldn’t get anything done, would just want to watch piggie antics all day. On the subject of cows in the wet and mud, in the recent floods we had here, one farmer lost a number of his prize jerseys, but had a few missing and didn’t know if they’d survived the flood or not. This week, a month later, they staggered home……they had been washed away in the 6+metre flood water, but had ended up on in a cane field that was only under water a few feet, then lived on cane while they wandered around hungry and traumatised, until they ended up in a neighbour’s paddock, thin and covered in mud up to their bellies. All to say, I think your cows will be ok grazing in their sodden field 🙂
Goodness, what a story. Amazing that those poor cows found their way home again, and glad to hear they did. They “ended up in a cane field”… sugar cane? What part of the world are you in? Prize jerseys… they’re really valuable animals, I think, aren’t they?
Yes, mame19 sugar cane. I’m in northern rivers of NSW, Australia. There were lots of amazing animal rescue stories from the floods, a lady who ‘caught’ a 2 day old calf as it floated past her verandah, a horse that found it’s way to someone’s house, banged at the door, then collapsed…..but was ok, it stayed with them for 3 days until the water went down and they could trace it’s owner. Lots of sad ones too, though 😦
Sounds like an awful disaster. It’s the good stories that keep us going though, isn’t it, and I suppose that’s why we focus in on them. Thank you for telling these! 🙂
Very cool. Game changer indeed.
What a wonderful gift that Jan gave you! I sure wish that weather would give y’all a break.
I’m so glad you have this!! I put in my first barncam when I had a very private doe who did not want to be checked on when she was due to kid. I told so many people that it was the best equipment investment of the year – absolutely changed my life. And it SAVED a life during that kidding season! When I built another little barn, I put in another camera. I paid well under a hundred bucks for each camera, and they have paid their way over and over and over.
Farming in the 21st century!
Thank you Jan! Hooray for you Celi💕
Oh this is just incredible. What a lifesaver Jan is. I honestly don’t understand how it works but THAT it does is great. Warms the old cockles when someone generously offers such life-changing help. This is truly special–hats off to Jan!
During the past few months when so much has ‘gone wrong’ in my own abilities to partake of the ‘social media’ I have so remembered the ‘simpler days’ when there was but radio. newspapers and a phone in a booth ‘up the road’!! These kind of stories do put an entirely different slant on things! Enjoy not having to get out of bed 🙂 !
How wonderful for you, no more night time sorties! The picture of the plonker watching looks just like my dogs. If allowed in they would eat every last bit of asparagus in the patch!
thank you jan for making celi’s life a bit easier, hugs all
Celi I’m so pleased that Jan has made life easier! Fabulous .. pig telly 😃