I have shifted Molly out of the back field. Poppy just would not let Molly settle in the field down the back. Molly often had scratch marks and bloody noses from getting into battles with Poppy. These are two big sows so when Poppy goes for Molly it is terrifying. 
Usually this all settles down after a few days but here we are weeks after Molly went in with Poppy and Sheila and these huge animals will not be friends. I am afraid they are getting used to fighting which is not a good pattern to get into. I don’t want Poppy to get used to being mean.
Then I saw that Sheila had taken over Molly’s house and Poppy would not let Molly in the root cellar. So Molly was sleeping outside.
It has been a long time since they all lived together these three big girls and I finally called it. Most of the time they are fine but every day there was at least one or two altercations. Molly never fights back just runs. Often bleeding. I got sick of it.
I opened the gate and the first one to come out was Molly so that made my decision.
Molly is my best mother and so I brought her across and settled her in the milking room for this week. She set about making herself an enormous bed and the whole farm sighed with relief. I will do some reshuffling on the West Side and take her over there after her next heat.
The boar, Manu, lives on the West Side and he is an enormous animal. Gentle and biddable but if he has a sow in heat through the wall he only needs to lean on that barn to break it down. So there is always a risk that the boar will break through and breed a sow too early. This is why I keep the the wives on the house side.
January is OK. So we have a few weeks to go. It will be really inconvenient for everyone having Molly in the middle of the barn. I have to lock down the three Grumpy Old Pigs so I can bring Molly out for a toilet break and a walk in the sun twice a day but there you are – we will manage.
And you should see Molly’s bed. She has carried every stray piece of straw into one corner and has a lovely bed.
This does change my rotation, Molly going in with Manu first, but this way she can establish ownership of Manu’s territory. Then when I put Poppy in there 6 weeks later the odds will be a bit more even. And hopefully they settle together over there for the cold months.
In fact speaking of breeding I need to take 73 and 84 the Angus Mamas across to the bull next month, for fall calves next year. I had better set that up.
I hope you have a good day.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
29 responses to “HOG FIGHTS”
Hello, Miss Peacekeeper! You sure do have a lot of fuzzy, feathered, and furry children – or it must seem that way at times. So many and varied temperaments and personalities! Sounds like you found a doable solution, until the next round of shuffling. My hat is off to you! Have a happy day tomorrow!
The picture of the the dog, the big pig, and the white chickens is so peaceful, and your entry for today is so controlled– who would guess that farmers are not always stoic or resigned, as two of my one-time favorite rural writers, Robert Frost and Wendell Berry, seem to make them out to be. Even in the midst of all this frustration you find a bit of humor in Molly’s attention to her “enormous bed” and “the three Grumpy Old Pigs” having to be secured so she can relieve herself. I felt (poor pun alert!) relieved when I read that. It is proof that you will manage, as you said. I’m not sure that I could muster that light tone in similar circumstances. Sitting here by the fire on a cold night, reading, it is easy to smile about the pigs. Out there in the barn or yard in the cold or wet, that’s hard. In keeping with our holiday today, I’m thankful that you manage, and manage to post memorable stories and pictures.
Who knew these pugs could be so catty!
Of all your posts I appreciate the pigs the most. I find them fascinating. I didn’t know they got cross with each other.
They were fascinating creatures. I have two cats who also have taken offense and suddenly are fighting every other minute. Maybe there is something in the water!