Reading back on my last few posts I realise I have been a little tardy with the news.
Sausage has indeed has her litter and dropped thirteen piglets. Unfortunately four of these did not survive the first day, either stillbirth or else accidentally squashed by a nervous sow. This is the way of things with pigs. The remaining nine piglets have powered on however and are growing by the day.
Our pig pens were never designed to keep really young pigs in and so the piglets squeeze under the yard gate every day and go for a roam.
Seen here on a muddy day raiding the chooks food. They are enchanting little things, full of life and curiosity. It is endless fun watching them play and explore. The chooks are not very impressed with the state of affairs and must move smartly to avoid having their tail feathers tasted by a curious piglet.
At the time of writing the piglets are due to be weaned and I think their mum is pretty sick of them by now anyway. At this age they develop some rather sharp teeth and bad table manners which helps the sow decide to wean them.
So we have found a new home for Sausage where she shall free range as a breeder sow for a family of self sufficiency types. We are very happy. This Saturday we will load her onto a trailer and she shall go to her new home. Likewise most of the piglets will be sold off as weaners and we shall keep three or four for our own needs.
