Friday, January 30, 2009

Snow, Ice and Piglets




What a week! It began snowing Tuesday morning. Then it was sleet and freezing rain. Then more snow. The power went off at 4:oo AM that night. It just came on again at 6:00 P.M. This evening. 


In the midst of all this, Papaw was trying hard to get the pig barn done before the sows were ready to farrow. You may notice that much of the building materials for this barn are from that barn we tore down in the fall. 

Thursday we moved the two sows, and all the fat pigs to the the unfinished building because the sows looked to be getting close. If you have never tried to herd pigs, I can only say that is chaos. We aren't set up yet with chutes to move the pigs, so we were leading them with feed and attempting to herd them. At the time it was quite frustrating, but I am sure that the whole thing would have appeared quite comical to anyone looking in from the outside. 


Then tonight, almost simultaneously with the power coming back on, Charcoal started having piglets. The building isn't complete, but she and the new little ones are snug and secure in a pen with a warming lamp. 

It has been an exhausting week. All I can say is thank God it is Friday, and thank God the electric is back on. Word is that another snow storm is headed our way early next week. I do believe this is why I moved away from Northeast Ohio wasn't it?

12 comments:

  1. Brrr! I got cold just looking at those pictures!!
    Congrats on the new piglets....so cute!

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  2. oooh! What cute piglets!

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  3. What cute little piglets. :) Waht a beautiful job on that barn! I need him to come here and build me something. :) You'd never know it was made from old barn wood.

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  4. cute! we are expecting piglets too!

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  5. Oh baby piglets, I love baby pigs haha! I hope you are able to get the barn done soon.

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  6. What cute little piggies! I would have liked to witness the pig herding!

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  7. what darling little piglets, Stephanie!

    Hope you had some good melting today, in preparation for the next onslaught.

    What a winter!

    Betsy

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  8. In 6 weeks you will be able to sell weiners (if you want). We raised pigs all my youth and throughout our marriage until about 4 years ago. Therefore, I DO understand about herding (cats) er, pigs. And trying to load them....ughhhhhhhh!

    But those little ones are darling and the momma looks like she is taking good care of them.

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

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  9. Those little piglets are growing like crazy. And 12 hours after these were born the other sow had 11. Believe it or not six are already sold. And seven more may be sold too. It is birthing time for fair pigs around here.

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  10. adorable piglets!! So happy they got into their new home and are nice and snug.

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  11. I'm sorry you lost power - that is so difficult with kids and animals. We were very lucky. Of course we were in the one little pocket in eastern Kentucky that got practically nothing while the entire rest of the state was completely hammered.

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  12. Congrats on the new baby pigs! What kind are they? Do the mother pigs birth and raise them well on their own? I hope your electric stays on, those pictures are beautiful, thank you for sharing because I prefer snow and ice in pictures not outside my own door! I awarded you the "Tree of Happiness" award. Visit my blog for details, but please don't feel obligated in any way, only if you want too!

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