Yesterday Molly took offense to me cleaning her floor. I have done this every day for all her confinement’s but it is never good to be complacent around a newly farrowed sow. I ended up with stitches from a pretty bad bite to the left hand.
So my record since a doctors visit – thirty one years – has been ruined. I went to the doctors to get a tetanus shot after Molly drew blood. ( I refused to go to the ER – luckily the local tiny doctors office was happy to rummage about in their seldom used supplies and look after me). They cleaned the wound which was incredibly painful and began to stitch it up then I ended up passed out and shifted in a fog to a gurney with BP and heart rate dropping fast.
It was a most peculiar feeling.
I was so embarrassed – here’s me thinking I was such a tough guy.
Molly and her eight piglets are going to be getting a little less attention in the meantime. The piglets are small and not as vigorous as normal and this may have made her more protective. After farrowing is a very dangerous time with any mother animal. I know this well. Just lucky human animals don’t bare their teeth and bite their nurses!
It was totally my fault. I have been working around sows and piglets for years and was over confident because I have never had an incident. I gave her a fright. Now I know better. 
It could have been a lot worse. I am bandaged up, my hand is smarting and not as mobile and I am a bit bruised from the fall. But there you are. I have learnt my lesson. And no real harm done. I will have a good scar for my troubles though. And there is blood in a trail from the barn to the house. I would take a photo but it is kind of ghoulish!!
And the show must go on.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
94 responses to “AN ALTERCATION”
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry to hear this. What a shock for you. Take care x
ouch!
Sorry to hear that you got bitten Celi …