Guts
I've just finished scalding and gutting a suckling pig. She was born Sept 29 so that puts her at just shy of 7 weeks. She's a nice size for roasting and the scalding went pretty ok; it would have done really easily in a mechanical plucker I think. She had a rectal prolapse that I couldn't get to go back inside her; I saw it this morning and brought her in (she seemed cold) to warm up and in the hopes that I could fix it. I could not. So maybe this is my first entirely solo pig kill; I used the little captive bolt stunner.
The little ones have been somewhat constipated, which is probably the root cause of this. I've been trying to get them to drink water but they just will not. At this point I'm mixing enough water with their grains to just be a very very wet soup. Maybe I should try bringing them hot water?
This girl was the daughter of Black Chunk, who was herself born here. She has three uncastrated male siblings that will become their own roasters in mid-December, but I'm getting them done professionally.
It's getting dark out there now - 4:30 is dusk with daylight savings time - and the pigs are frolicking all over, chasing each other and having zoomies. I think someone might be in heat, and I think Rapunzel might be pregnant. I have Penny on my calendar as due on American Thanksgiving but she's not looking super round. I guess we will see.
Tucker reminded me that even though things are getting better for me, I told myself I still want to downsize the farm. And I do. I cannot decide between keeping Baby and keeping Oak though.
My feelings about this all perhaps belong in a different post, written once I have a cup of tea.
The little ones have been somewhat constipated, which is probably the root cause of this. I've been trying to get them to drink water but they just will not. At this point I'm mixing enough water with their grains to just be a very very wet soup. Maybe I should try bringing them hot water?
This girl was the daughter of Black Chunk, who was herself born here. She has three uncastrated male siblings that will become their own roasters in mid-December, but I'm getting them done professionally.
It's getting dark out there now - 4:30 is dusk with daylight savings time - and the pigs are frolicking all over, chasing each other and having zoomies. I think someone might be in heat, and I think Rapunzel might be pregnant. I have Penny on my calendar as due on American Thanksgiving but she's not looking super round. I guess we will see.
Tucker reminded me that even though things are getting better for me, I told myself I still want to downsize the farm. And I do. I cannot decide between keeping Baby and keeping Oak though.
My feelings about this all perhaps belong in a different post, written once I have a cup of tea.