Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[baymule]

We are hibernating today. We don't HAVE to go out and get work done, we can wait until it gets warmer-which it's going to do starting tomorrow. No point in going out, getting chilled, then sick, then being down a couple of weeks because we were impatient and stupid. I've worked outside for years in all weather and it's nice to pick and choose when I want to work outside.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Hibernation sounds good!

But, we will be putting out another round bale, re-arranging pigs, and trying to outsmart a fence-jumping dog, lol. We're already over 50 degrees so it'll be a nice enough temp to be working outside. Beats 100+ any day!

 

[sumi]

I had a pot bellied pig that raked up the oak leaves in the back yard to build her nest--right under the dryer vent! Now how smart is that? I gave her hay to snuggle in and on cold nights I turned on the dryer for 30 minutes to get her toasty warm.

Clever girl!

Pigs, I've been told, are more intelligent than dogs and can be trained to do all sorts of things, like play fetch, etc.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

They are smart - no doubt!

We've been semi-busy today. Spent a while shoring up the places that Cowboy has been breaching the fence. I chose to start by just adding some taller fencing to the places he goes over. Will that stop him - who knows? But, I wanted to try a $30 idea before committing the money, time and effort to an electric fence. Silly dog!

The baby pigs are just adorable and really curious right now. They love to nose my rubber boots. Not sure what the pay off is for them - maybe they just like the feel of it. But, while they're nosing my boots I'm scratching their sides. I've got a couple sure fired belly floppers in the bunch, lol. Soooo cute to see them flop over for a belly rub when they're so tiny.

Fixin' to head out and convince the mama sow and the babies that the gilt deserves the stall for awhile. And yuck - the gilt has a loose stool... I'm fairly certain it's because I've been trying to put out extra feed for the babies and I know that both she and the sow have been scarfing it up. Gonna have to get her isolated so I can control her feed and get her back on track before she farrows. If she's gonna follow my three week timeline she could go within the next few days. But - who knows?

Gotta get back to it. Oh - and 59 degrees at last check - not too bad!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Bay that is too funny! I had a pot belly, we had a heater for her. We would still have her but she did not appreciate being replaced by a human child and a bunch of naughty goats... She was jealous... And started attacking me. I would have dealt with it if there wasn't a human child involved. She now lives at a house with all grown up humans and is much better.

59 isn't too bad! It's about 12 here... Was 15 when I did afternoon chores, but it's dark now and dropping fast.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Got the gilt penned up by herself, but it wasn't the easiest thing to do. Not that she was being bad - but because she can barely walk. Both. Back. Legs. That poor girl... Hope its a sign that she's gettin' real close.

The sow got lame before she farrowed too...but just one back leg. I'm trying to remember how long it was after she got lame that she actually delivered. I wanna say it was less than a week.

I know how she feels - foot is really bothering me today. I've found out the hard way that one of the most painful things is walking in shoe-sucking mud with a bad foot....

It's about 12 here

 

[NH Homesteader]

Aw poor girl. I hope she has them before you have to get her one of those wheelchairs for handicapped critters.

I always hurt myself in mud. Get some rest, you've got too much to do to reinjure it too badly!

 

[baymule]

she can barely walk. Both. Back. Legs. That poor girl... Hope its a sign that she's gettin' real close.

The sow got lame before she farrowed too...but just one back leg.

I know how she feels - foot is really bothering me today.

Gilt is lame because she's pregnant.....the sow went lame too before she farrowed......you are lame.....???????

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I am lame because I'm old and clumsy, lol!

 

[sumi]

Those belly floppers' image made me smile Any chance of a new pic of the little ones?

It sounds like your gilt is getting very close now, hopefully while the temperature is on the correct side of freezing!