Baby-pigs-1

We’ve been waiting like expectant parents as our big sow, Blondie, got bigger and fatter. She developed an udder like a Holstein cow and still no pigs. But we weren’t too sad because the weather was nasty. Even in her pig house, bedded with lots of fresh hay, it was kind of chilly and we have no way to hang a heat lamp in there as we are off grid.

She must have been waiting for nicer weather because two days ago, the temps went into the high 30s and the sun shone. And out popped the piggies! All eleven of them. I feel like sending out birth announcements!

Baby-pigs-2

Two of the people who bought feeder pigs from us last fall have pretty much reserved the whole litter. However, since we raise a few pigs to butcher weight to sell as half and whole sides of pork, we want to keep at least a couple of them. (By the way, we still have one half of a butcher pig that will go to the processing plant in about two weeks, left unsold if anyone is looking for excellent, naturally raised pork.)

Our two gilts are residing with our younger Red Wattle boar, Big Red, down in our pallet fenced pig yard so hopefully we’ll have a bunch of new babies come August. Maybe they’ll arrive just before the seminar. — Jackie

8 COMMENTS

  1. Jackie – we are expecting our first piglets this year, possibly as early as April. Where can I find more details about what you do and provide for them at these temps? Everything I read said to have separate areas for the piglets with heat, but we do not have electricity at our barn.

  2. zelda,

    I’ll check on the availability of dry ice. As we’re in such an isolated area, I’m not sure it’s available. I’ve never seen it offered anywhere, but I’ll check and let you know either way.

  3. Jackie I would gladly buy your pork if the cost is sensible for your processor to pack a half or a quarter of it in dry ice and ship it to me. I bought half a beef from Jared Bedke, who wrote an article about grass fed beef for Backwoods Home a year or so ago, and he has shipped his beef in dry ice successfully.

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