Making Piggies

It was a hot day today, so when I went out to water the pigs, I spent some time spraying water for them to wallow in, like I always do. 

After about one minute of cooling off, they felt comfortable enough that they decided to start breeding, right there next to me.  No need for me to guess the breeding date---I got to witness the whole thing.  (And can I just say, that corkscrew shape is VERY strange looking, and the spinning drill-type action downright bizarre!)

Anyway, now that I know the breeding date, I can count forward and announce that we should be expecting our first baby pigs sometime around August 27, give or take.  Which means that they'll be ready to go to their new homes by late October.

Guinea hogs are a fantastic heritage breed and are super easy to care for.  I already have a small waiting list for piglets, so if you're interested in buying one (or more) let me know! 

Our Little May Queen

Ah, the first of May, ancient festival of Beltane, when all the pretty girls wear flowers in their hair and dance around the Maypole, and the prettiest of all is crowned the May Queen.  Who else should fit the description on our farm, but our own lovely young Wish!

Ahem.  SOMEONE doesn't seem to be taking this modeling session very seriously!  :-)

Happy Beltane, everyone!

Curiosity Dehorned the Lamb

Poor little Xoco.  She has learned the hard way the perils of poking your nose (or in this case, your whole head) in where it doesn't belong.

I don't know exactly where she poked it, but this is what she looked like when I discovered her.  Notice how one horn points one way and the other horn points another?  She stuck her head in somewhere, got it caught, and in struggling to free herself has uprooted her horn halfway out of her head.  Yeeowch!

With Ken's help, I caught her, pushed the horn back into place as best I could---it actually POPPED back into her skull!!!---and sprayed some insect repellent for wounds on it, to prevent fly strike.  The last thing she needs is maggots in her skull!

She will most likely be fine, although the horn may never grow in quite the right direction again.  She was one I was planning to keep anyway, so at least I don't have to wonder if the cosmetic issue will affect her sales value.