Both passed the pregnancy test! Not only were they perfectly behaved for the vet but he pronounced them both pregnant – no need for blood tests to confirm. 
He was very impressed with Tia. He thought she was a lovely animal and she was not phased at all by having the bar closed on her neck or by meeting the vet.
Look at that. Even cows blink for their photographs sometimes. There are so many beautiful shots of Aunty Del that I did not think you would mind this amusing little snap.
The little bull calf was banded with very little problems and recovered fast. Now that I know we can haul our cows over to a good fertile and gentle bull I am happy with my decision not to keep him as a bull. He is a nice calf, a good size too.
Tia looking coy. I am so proud of her. My gestation table tells me that, all going well, she and Del should be due to calve in mid to late May. Maybe around the 22nd for Del and slightly later for Tia, but both are about 5 or 6 weeks pregnant according to the vet which matches the possible dates I had from the owner of the bull.
Molly.
And below is the header shot of Molly and her babies again. It is so sweet it bears another look. In the absence of a big mud wallow (that would be dangerous for the piglets) I cover her concrete pad in water. They look like tiny aquatic fairy pigs dancing around a whale. Can you find number eight?
AND I collected FIVE duck eggs yesterday. The ducks are free range and eat so little grain and produce eggs that are higher in fats, proteins and Omega3. As I don’t have quite enough to sell yet I will start baking with them soon and maybe make some pasta. But mostly they will be excellent pig food. I know that sounds crazy but, compared to the chickens, the eggs are so much cheaper to produce and will be good fattening food for the Plonkers. (I have a very lovely Vietnamese friend who is looking forward to a dozen so she can make Salted Eggs).
I hope you have a lovely day!
Love celi
WEATHER: It has dawned very clear and sticky humid. A little rain would not go amiss.
Wednesday 09/05 40% / 0.05 in
Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High 91F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Wednesday Night 09/05 80% / 0.45 in
Scattered thunderstorms early, overcast overnight with occasional rain likely. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Sun
6:23 AM 7:18 PM
Moon
Waning Crescent, 24% visible 1:26 AM 4:34 PM
The Kitchen's Garden 
48 responses to “AUNTY DEL AND TIA”
Hooray!!!! They are both pregnant! Wonderful news!!! Congratulations!!! And the duck eggs coming on strong is great news too! They are fabulous for baking! 🙂 The piglets still look so small. Are they growing slow and steady?
I have never cooked with them so I look forward to experimenting! The piglets are still small but definitely fattening up. I will leave them with Molly longer than usual to get them a good start.
# 8 hiding under the plants? No water play for that one I guess.
Yes! Sleepyhead took a minute to notice!
I saw that little one there too. 🙂
I had to look very closely 🙂
Mum always used duck eggs for baking too 🙂
It always astonishes me how large the Mumma’s are compared to their piglets! Is that number 8 under the shrubs?
Yes that is number 8. A nice fat little bottom.
Up at top left, under the leaves, or is No. 8 behind No. 2, second from right? Congratulations on both your lovely girls being in the family way and on your ducks starting to do the business!
Only two eggs again this morning / but they are revving up I think.
No.8 hiding under the leaves? Great news that both cows are in calf and I love your pictures, Celi. Thank you. xX
You are welcome Jane! It is my pleasure to share the farm with you all. c
Good news!
Indeed
Congratulations on the pregnancies & beautifully behaved expectant mamas. I think that must be Little Piggy #8 under the weeds, as any self respecting puss would catnap on higher ground. Although there are a lot of legs under Molly’s chin. Salted eggs sound interesting. What wonderful things will be created with the duck eggs bounty!
It will be interesting seeing how they go and how many I end up collecting daily.
What a happy post with happy photos to boot! Made my day!!
That is great!
Such good news to read first thing in the morning. Much happier than turning on the TV. Hope your day is wonderfilled as well.
I haven’t watched Television in over ten years – so much more fun on the farm in my own little world
To each their own: I watch political and economic panel shows, design/art and decoration, a great deal of food, especially British and Australian, travel, medical and psychological discussions . . . . and naturally my beloved road cycling and Formula One racing around the world . . . . . a break from work and a multitude of lessons . . . . gives one a few conversational gambits on the dinner and drinks gathering circuit also . . . . great you have two preggers gals . . .
Lovely.
Sleep well . . . . 🙂 !! . . . . . love’ya . . . . .
When I read that you had the calf banded, I misread and thought you had decided to keep him as a bull. First though: “Well, Celi, banding will kind of have the opposite effect that you are looking for.” Second thought: “Oh. I might need more coffee.”
I am glad that for the cows, “passing” the pregnancy test means positive. In my house, that would be a giant FAIL. NO BEBES HERE, please!
Oh dear! Your babies are almost grown up now! And No more bulls here!
Yippee more calves! Yippee for duck eggs and a third yippee for the darling piggy photo….I think I see #8 off in the bushes! Have a lovely day!
Thank you and yes indeed I did have a lovely day!
Babies! Love seeing them.
Makes it all worth it aye!
All great news and the photos are especially heart warming today. The piglets looks soooo small next to Molly. BTW, I made your zucchini thingy (patties? cakes?) over the weekend. Huge hit with my husband and me, too!
I call them the zucchini thingies too!!
Great news about Aunty Del and Tia and such cute babie pigs! 😀
They are so tiny this time around – I am going to leave them with mum until she can’t bear them anymore.
Great news about the ladies. I had to look up ‘banding’ … interesting. Hope you get lots more duck eggs soon.
Amazing how fast they are over it too- poor wee fellas- better that than a bull though!