The thought of "taking it easy" and not doing any farm work seems to be appealing during holidays. In the past, we would do extra work the day before so we wouldn't need to do anything but the standard feeding and watering for Easter, Christmas or other holidays. But in reality, when we wake up to a gorgeous day, the farm is exactly where we want to be. It's where we are reminded of our blessings. We are also reminded of the hardships, which is okay....it makes our blessings that much greater.
We have had more litters of piglets since the three-part piglet story and we're still waiting for more litters to arrive. I have taken videos but I am still learning how to post them on the computer. Lots of piglets means lots of castrating. Sometimes it is nearly impossible to get the piglets away from mom. Our delightful sow, #2, is one who you really need to watch your back. I always feel it takes a two day, world summit meeting to orchestrate how we get the piglets away from her. We usually put a chain link dog kennel in the paddock and feed them inside so they will feel comfortable. The day we plan to castrate, we feed them, lure mom out of the kennel and close the door so the piglets can't get out. The piglets are then placed in a large dog crate and put on the tractor to head down to the shop. Simple. Most of my sows will grunt and be "concerned" but not #2. We're convinced that she will bust through the kennel and have us for dinner. She's fast and tough. Yesterday, the plan was to remove her totally from her paddock to the other side of the farm. But she wouldn't budge. She would not leave her piglets.
We're trying to castrate early since there are so many piglets and soon they need to go to their new farm home. I think we are going to have to wait another week with #2's litter. She's still too attached to her piglets. As they get older that attachment will start to fade and hopefully she will be more willing to take a walk across the farm.
We are in the process of building a new website. Still in the works so please bear with us.
Well...coffee is done, breakfast is done. Time to go out and enjoy what God has made. Happy Easter!!
About Me
- rhonda barnhart
- It's funny how things turn out...I remember way back thinking how I would love to sit in the middle of an African jungle and research chimpanzees, the next Jane Goodall. I loved the medical field, but do I really want to be a doctor? No. I love animals but do I really want to be a veterinarian? No. So for the next 20 years I didn't think there was a description for "what I want to be when I grow up". Until we moved to Pleasant Hill. Saying you want to be a farmer isn't what you think about at 18 years old....unless you were raised in farming. But farming is precisely what I realized I wanted to do...what I wanted to be. The animals I adore, the breeding I love, medical needs, behavior research, food, eating, etc, etc. Everything was right there! We accidentally got into pigs and that became my true love. What great animals! I am thankful every day that I finally discovered what "I wanted to be when I grow up"....a pig farmer!!!
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