Piggy Updates

Hey there. Just thought I'd share a few updates today about our no-longer-little piggy.

- When he came to live with us almost 3 months ago he weighed 25 lbs and was the size of a small dog. Now he weighs around 150 lbs and hits mid thigh.

- He eats a 50# bag of high protein feed about every 6 days.

- If his feeder happens to running low or if he just gets bored, he rips it off the wall. Haven't yet figured out a way keep it wired to the wall.

- He also likes to tip his water bucket. At first I think he was making a mud hole to lie in, but the pen is pretty muddy now. I've taken to watering him with the hose. He likes to drink straight from it or the kids fill up water bottles and pour it right in his mouth. So funny.

- Since all the rainstorms, the mud in his pen is about a foot. Seriously thought I was going to get stuck in the muck today.

- The stink of said muck is nearly impossible to get off. Even after a scrub in the shower my hands smelled faintly of pig. Have to take a nail brush to really scrub it out.

All in all, it has been a really fun experience taking care of this pig. The chores are dirty but not too hard, the kids love him and I love that he recognizes us and grunts and runs around the pen when he sees us coming. Definitely something I hope to do again next year.

They Call Me Mr. Pig

Say hello to our new friend, Ned. We brought him home on Sunday and he is already quite adjusted to his little piggy pen and is comfortable with us, the kids and the dogs too.

So comfortable in fact that he tried to mount the dog but we won't share photos of that here. Despite that incident :) , they are fast friends.

Since I've had a bit of a cloudy head all day, I'll share a list of fun facts with you about pigs:

1. Not even the shrieks of 3 toddlers who have just discovered they are sharing their bath with a wolf spider can top the ear-shattering squeal of a pig who does not want to be picked up. Yikes.
2. Boy pigs have teets too. 8 of them.
3. Even though he is the same size as our small dogs, this piggy already weighs 26 lbs - as much as our 3 year old daughter.
4. Pigs root around with their snouts, tearing up the grass and what not. It's almost like another appendage and quite adorable.
5. This little guy likes to nibble on loose clothing and also on doggy tails.
6. A pig is an omnivore and eats anything from grain to beef to egg shells. They aren't picky.
7. Some people say that pigs are as smart as dogs and need just as much attention. This little fella has gotten plenty so far.
8. When he is full grown (hopefully by the end of Autumn) he could weigh up to 200 lbs. Now that's a lot of bacon!

Sadly bacon is what he will become but we told the kids that (and I keep telling myself too) right from the start so hopefully it won't be too hard when the time comes to butcher. Either way, I'll feel a lot better knowing exactly where that bacon came from. And who knows, maybe if this little venture turns out alright, we'll get a billy goat or maybe some chickens.

Lots more to share this week, hope I get around to it all! Hope you stop back!