Wednesday

Weaners Are Ready

     No, I didn't misspell weaner.  (I may have misspelled, "misspell" but not weaner :-) Two weaned from their mother piglets, just joined the Redtail Ridge family today.  They are in their pen and secure as I write this. ......chowing down on quake grass roots!

     They have a job to do before they become food.  The job is to clear out another section of land behind the garden that will be used for growing grain to feed all my animals.  I'm taking this sustainability stuff to heart.  I want to be able to produce the food to raise my pigs and chickens and ducks.  Feed prices aren't going down!

     So far the piglets have taken their new job seriously and are rooting away out there furiously.  Man those noses are strong!


Starting at 40 lbs. each, they should be about 300 lbs. this fall.
Welcome to Redtail Ridge piglets!

     I watched the ducks race over to the pigs with their necks stretched long to see who just moved in.  The pigs had their noses to the air to smell who was coming to greet them.  It was so funny to watch.  About 15 feet away from each other everybody went back to grazing/rooting, and the official greeting was over :-) .


.....dr momi

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh they are so cute! The grandkiddos will LOVE them!

Patrice said...

Visiting from Verde Farm. I just like your blog, so I followed you. I'm a chef turned farmer's wife, homeschool mom, and greenhouse manager for our farm. Please drop by and visit my blog when you get a chance. I'd love it if you'd follow my blog too.
Have a great weekend!
Patrice
p.s. I like the background for your blog! We have 500 laying hens,so I feel right at home with the look! lol

dr momi said...

Hi Patrice....Welcome!! 500 hens! Wow! I'm down to 4 hens, 1 banty, a rooster, and 5 ducks. That's enough birds for me :-)

Sherry Sutherby http://russ-stickacres.blogspot.com/ said...

Nice looking little weaners. We just had piglets born this week ~ don't you love it? :~)

TexWisGirl said...

they're beautiful weanies!

V.L. Locey said...

Hi there! Dropped in from the Blog hop. Love your background. I don`t have 500 hens running around, although it seems like it sometimes!

dr momi said...

Hi Sherry --- this is my first try at raising pigs in 35 years homesteading. I am lovin' it so far :-)!

Hi Texwisgirl -- they are beautiful in their own way aren't they :-)

Hi Feral Female -- thanks for the follow!

Jamie Oliver (@va_grown) said...

How exciting! Pigs will be our next residents, but we're just not quite ready yet. Hopefully next year.

Buttons Thoughts said...

I do miss raising pigs they sure do have a personality. B

Anonymous said...

Pigs are very fun, then they get big and are very tasty :) They are excellent and clearing land and the power in their cute little noses is amazing!

Teresa said...

They are cute! Too cute to eat!

Sarah Rachele said...

How cute! We just got to pigs ourselves. I am enjoying your blog and would love for you to stop by mine. Take care! ;)

Lauren said...

We talked about pigs for this year as well. I would LOVE to have my own pasture raised pork. However, I think we may up it off until next spring...

Good luck with them. I hope to see how wonderful it all turns out. The pork and field for livestock food... that has been on my mind as well.

dr momi said...

Hi everyone commenting!! Who'd a thunk a post on pigs would get me so many comments! It looks like I'm in good company with others who like raising pigs. But...... am I going to love them so much I will have a hard time butchering?? :-) (naw)

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead said...

Congrats on your piggies and your plans to integrate them into your lifestyle! I love it!
I've been trying to find a couple pigs to add to our homestead this year, but can't seem to find them anyway... Oh well, maybe next year!

Dicky Bird said...

We (our girls) have raised pigs for 4-H for several years, we have now moved to sheep. I loved the pigs! They are super smart and escape artist because they use their noses to lift up on the panels, etc. Also, electric fence won't work because their hides are too thick. Make sure to give them shade, as pigs do not sweat and they will get sun burned. They love to be sprayed down daily and slop in the mud. We put our pumpkins where our pigs were one year and had the biggest pumpkins. They will clear and fertilize your patch for next year. If you have questions about pigs, maybe I could help. We fed ours a commercial feed, however, pigs do love treats like apples and bread. Good luck. Blessings from Wisconsin.

dr momi said...

Thanks for all the tips Dicky Bird. Right now they are in a chain link fence old dog kennel....it won't work for long. We do intend to keep moving it, but they will need more room soon. I was going to use panels....I'll make sure they ar secure1!!