Pig Tails...

I've already talked about the biggest sign that summer's on it's way, the annual shaving of the dogs.

But last night, another sign was received.  Nothing written in the stars or anything weird like that, but more of a "special delivery."

This is the second year that Hubs and I will be raising some freezer pork in our back yard.  Last year, we raised a gilt and a barrow and named then Dave and Jodi (we won't go into why we named them that, just know that's what we called them.)

And, I'll be honest, they were/are delicious!  With two pigs, we had plenty to share with the family, but the problem is that everyone thought they were delicious and wanted more (Other than my ma-in-law who wouldn't try any of the pork b/c she met Dave and Jodi.... she's not allowed near the barn this summer... sorry ma-in-law!)

So we doubled up our production.  Meet Dave, Dave, their brother Dave and their other brother Dave.

 But before we could unload the pigs, Hubs wanted to make sure they would like their new home (and not try to get out of it), so he mowed the pasture.  After all, pigs don't eat grass, they root it up and waller in it.

 Yes, that's a monster truck tire in the piggy play-yard.  Last year, Dave and Jodi liked to rub on it and chase each other around it.  And, we found that if they have other things in their pen to rub on, they won't rub on the fence and damage it.

 This is one of the nipple waterers they have access to.  These pigs came from an operation that used the same style of waterers, so the barrows already know how to use them... and will prolly make a huge mess...

 More mowing....

 Me taking pictures to kill time while he mows...

 Finally, it's time to let the wild things out of the trailer!

 And they immediately begin rooting around in the mud -- they ARE pigs, after all.

 Wait a sec, Hubs thinks the waterer is leaking... turns out it sure was.  But he worked on it and patched it up until he can get the parts to fix it.  (That's how we do things out here... patch 'em till we fix 'em!  After all, pigs can't go without water!)

 The dogs were excited to see pigs again...

 I don't think the pigs were as excited to see the dogs...

 And so begins another summer!

Lemme say something though before I go... yeah, these pigs will be living outside - the barn only has three sides.  They have straw to bed down in, but it isn't that glamorous for them.  Like last night, their first night here, we had a hard freeze and they all huddled up together in the barn to stay warm.

I have NO problem with purchasing pork from the grocery that is inspected and labeled properly and all that.  Hubs and I are just raising these for something to do with a bit of our property.  We're feeding them feed store feed, nothing special.  And we'll treat them medically if they need it... just like the big producers do.

So while this looks like a cute, down-on -the-farm kinda project, it's not our way of making a statement about modern agriculture or saying that everyone should raise their own pork. This is only a fun project for me the first couple weeks, then they get ornery and stinky and I start counting the days until these little piggies go to market!

We support all kinds of agriculture at Slammin' Door farms  ;)

Until next time...