Pigs & Poultry

Finally, spring has started to make a tentative appearance. The grass has begun to grow and the buds on the trees are more noticeable but it very slow. Isaac spotted a swallow at the weekend and there are primroses in the woods. The first few lambs are appearing on the lower intakes and we all hope the winter is behind us.

Hattie our Hampshire sow has produced 12 good piglets. Now a week old they already are developing characters. One boar in particular thinks he is the bee’s knees and bosses everyone else about. They are skipping and playing, eating and sleeping.

Our first incubation of eggs has produced ducklings, goslings and chicks. The sound of chirping greets you in the morning. One of the geese hatched the two eggs she was sat on. The geese are very good with their offspring. They look after the goslings as a group, always watchful for potential dangers. I watched them negotiate passing a number of horses in the field. They formed a line for the goslings to walk along with almost military precision. The goslings are like small robots, always looking for more grass.

The ducks on the whole make useless parents. Often happy to sit but once the ducklings hatch leave them.  This is why we use the incubator. Although, if we have a clocking hen we will often give her a brood from the incubator to look after.

It has been good to get the winter rugs off the horses and they are losing their winter coats thick and fast. The wild birds around the yard have well lined nests!

We have our first show coming up in May. With the Easter holidays out of the way and the nights getting out we will start walking the pigs to get them used to the board and stick. Like all exercise it starts to tone the pig and loosen the joints. It is not bad for the owner either!

Hopefully, there will be some warm days and we can wash the pigs. They are not always that keen at first and it can rather resemble chasing a large piece of elusive soap around the bath. However, they get used to it and some really enjoy it.

I will let you know how we get on.