An old fashioned saying of my grandfathers.
In other words – settle down. No ripping the wig off your head and trampling on it in frustration. Do you remember that saying? I told Jude this morning – keep your hair on – as he tried to rip the gate off its hinges. Again.
Jude is being very tough on the infrastructure.
So Jude and FreeBee have been separated. This morning. Maybe just for a few days. It appears to me that FreeBee is getting more miserable and Jude is getting more aggressive. Lately he is running FreeBee off when FreeBee is only trying to get through the barn door and no food in sight to squabble over. Meal times are a horror. Jude chases him, nipping at him (though there are no wounds) and FreeBee cries and runs to a corner and stand with his head down.
It is horrible to hear. And is getting worse.
So I have closed two gates between them.
FreeBee has the field – he is almost always sleeping in the field in the daytimes. Jude is in the barn with the outside run. Jude spends most of his days sleeping in the back room in the barn. So I simply shut the gate.
Once I had them separate I went in and filled the calf hut in the field with a bale of straw. (Can you see FreeBee sitting in there?) He was hiding from Jude. (It was at his point that I decided to intervene.) Later today I will roll the tin pig house in under the tree and fill that with straw too -so he has a choice.
The tin hut is bigger.
Initially FreeBee stood at the connecting gate wondering why it was closed then came across and had a huge second breakfast of corn and eggs. It will be a confusing day for them – I will see how they go. I might separate them for a number of days or even weeks. I am even considering putting Tima in with FreeBee. And letting Jude have the barn as a permanent solution.
I hope the coldest days are over. But Jude needs to be on a diet and FreeBee needs feeding up. Honestly there is nothing sadder than a sad pig.
I will be watching closely and let you know how they are going.
I said to Jude – nobody likes a bully. Settle down.
Good morning!
It’s Friday! One more TKG Take Ten this evening then I settle in to write your Sustainable Sunday newsletter for the weekend. Join here for the weekly newsletter and Ugrade to join The Tenners in leaning on the gate for TKG Take Ten 5 days a week.
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Have a great day!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
11 responses to “Keep Your Hair on”
I admit I know nothing about pig psychology but those two lived together well (at least I thought they did) for so many years. Is it just a food thing with Jude or do some pigs (like humans) experience aging cantankerous and nasty behavior? It’s hard to think of Jude as a bully given where he started so long ago.
We do have to be careful not to cloak an animal in human mannerisms. It is hard not to use human words though. I think it has evolved as FreeBee has become more timid. Jude is getting bigger and bigger on the food he steals from FreeBee. FreeBee whines and cries. FreeBee had a cold a while back. was weakened. The less safe he feels the less he fights for his rights.
There is always an alpha. Of course.
And in a natural setting these two would not be hanging out together at all.
Oh perhaps that has been my misunderstanding all along then, that these two did not share space when they were off the farm? I remember Jude going to…wherever that was, and that we would get updates at times. I think I need to go back and search out the story again 🙂
They have lived together for years. But today FreeBee is enjoying a much needed break and a few good meals. And sleeping safely in his house without Jude booting him out. It is like a little holiday for him.
Another version of the same thing is “Keep your shirt on!”
And I’ve always hated Bullies:/
We had two black cats, sisters, litter mates. One was big and bossy. The other small and timid. When big and bossy died, small and timid filled out (because now she could get at her food bowl) and became much more assertive. Animals are funny that way, although I have met human sisters that were similar.
Easier said than done – my hair has gone for a Burton (another old fashioned saying). FreeBee looks happier, enjoying his breakfast!
l’m sure that separating those two pigs is a good thing. You have said on many occasions that Jude is somewhat a bully and well a bit of a pig!! Sounds good for Tima and Freebee to hang out together. Hope this new arrangement goes well. I remember a while back Freebee being out of sorts maybe that was down to old bully boy?
Some years back we had to cut a second door in the cement block wall of the run in because one witchy mare would not let the poor old gelding in.
Another is keep your pants/britches on.
It was always “keep your fur on” in our house, mostly because the ones fussing were the dogs but said it with the kids too.
Free Bee sure does look a lot happier without Jude there.