JUSTUSNAK...Summer coming to an end!?

[Beekissed]

They looked a little bony to me, ya know? Eight piglets and a nice big mom with full teats shouldn't look bony...they should look nice and plump, by my thinking.

I know what you mean by the dirty pig thingy....I know pigs like to wallow, but I've seen pastured pigs that look so clean and healthy on green grass and dry ground. This pig's enclosure looks like soup....can't be healthy to be wet all the time, can it? We had a pig die from pneumonia when I was young. I've always heard pigs are quite susceptible to it, especially piglets.

I kind of hinted around today that they should be wormed soon, but my sis is quite stubborn and won't be told anything about animal care...just bulls her way through and doesn't see the obvious.

All I can hope is that I can put some weight and good nutrients/immunity boosters into the gal when I get her. Same with my sheep, as this fellow doesn't have rich pastures or good hay and some of the sheep seem in poor condition. I can't wait to concentrate on my sheep and produce some very healthy, very meaty ewes that have good, sturdy lambs.

 

[justusnak]

Awww, Bee, I am so saddened to hear of thier condition. She wont be able to sell them if they are sickly..and yes, pneumonia strikes fast, and kills just as fast on piglets. So sad. Oh I wish I could get a few of them, just to save them! :/ Maybe you can talk to your vet, see if you worm the momma, it will worm the babies through her milk...and slip something to her in a treat!?? Sneaky, I know, but worth it for the sake of the piglets!! I have to say, with my sisters and brother, I am the 4th out of 5 kids....and they ALL come to me when it has something to do with animals...gardening. LOL Heck, my baby sister just bought a home, and there is brush to be burned. She aske if I would come help her burn it, because she has never done it before, and doesnt " know how"...I told her, you need 2 things... a match, and a garden hose! LOL Im headed to Louisville Saturday to my sisters new place...LOL
Good luck with the piggies...I sure hope you can convince your sis to move them to a cleaner place..and worm them...and I hope at LEAST your piglet makes it!!

 

[justusnak]

17 April 09

Oh what a glorius day! I have to stop, and say.... THANK YOU LORD, for a beautifull day!!!
The sun was shining...warm...Ahhhhh.
Started my day with of course, feeding animals. 7 pens of chickens....1 pen with ducks, and 2 turkey pens. Opened the doors wide to let the sunshine pour in the coops..and sweet fresh air! I was finally able to get laundry washed, and hung out. I have been waiting on sunshine...so there was a pretty big pile! 4 loads out on the lines. I just love seeing fresh washed laundry flap in the breeze, being kissed by the sunshine. DH got up, and decided it was time to get the riding mowers going. So, out to the shop...get em gassed, oiled, blades sharpened..and VROOM! He was off in a flash. He could only cut a little of it, we still have standing water! YUK! So, he got the weed whacker out..and took down some really tall green grass. I raked it up, and spread it to dry. Rolled it a few times..and will try to store it for winter use for the sheep. Tomorrow is suposed to be sunny and warm as well...another day for it to dry really well, before stacking it in the barn.
I sold the rabbit hutch today, but had to deliver for her. She gave me an extra $10 for delivery. Nice! Im just glad the old thing is GONE! I was able to dig up a few clumps of grass for the chickens to peck at. Only one pen gets to free range at a time, because the roosters will fight. So, the penned up ones got clumps of grass. I just love sitting in the sun, listening to the roosters call the girls to "his great find" I have several cages ranging from 4 x 8ft to 4 x 4 ft for transporting chickens in...that were left sitting in the tall grass last year...decided to get them out of the weeds, and moved to a gravel area next to the shop. My little 3 ft cherry trees are in full bloom, so of course I had to "stop and smell the flowers" What a sweet scent! Then as I was passing the apple trees...same thing....Ahhhh, Life is GOOD! The grass is green....flowers blooming...chickens softly clucking in the backround...baby ducks peeping..turkey poults calling to thier mother...yes...this is DEFINATELY....Heavens Door Acres!

 

[Beekissed]

I'm feelin' it too! That overwhelming joy and contentment of new growth and happy animals!

Just, I don't hardly ever visit this sister, as its much too painful for me to see. I hadn't been to her place since last year, sad to say. I will just happily get one of the little buggers and hope for the best. That poor girl only visits me once or twice a year also, I think its just as painful for her to visit here. To come from a farm that is stripped of every blade of grass and a yard and pens full of thick, slopping mud over to my green heaven is just too much of a contrast. I keep hoping she will kind of learn by example, but she's never been a real fast learner.

She will come over and sit in the orchard swing and look at the clean, happy animals playing in the green, lush lawn and give a big sigh. That's all....a sigh and a sad look on her face. I don't mention the difference, as its painfully clear. And I'm the poor one! This gal has tons of money slipping through her fingers.....and right down a mudslide into a polluted little rivlet beside her home.

It sounds like you are as busy and you're bursting with life on your acres also.....isn't this the best of living?

 

[justusnak]

Well, Bee...sometimes money can make a person really ignorant. It sad...but very true. Does your sister have enough land to make bigger, better pens? Maybe you can just one day go to her place and say...Oh, hey sis, I was thinking how pretty ( pic an area) this area would be with those little piggies running through the grass, playing under the trees...wouldn't it be cute? I dunno, might work?
I have a "baby sister" that litterally drips of money as well. She just bought a BEAUTIFULL home on 5 acres in KY. Then, asked ME to come by today, and "see the place" and teach her how to burn a pile of brush. I guess money can buy book learnin, but can't buy common sence. So, today is supposed to be a beautifull day...and we will "waste" it driving to KY, to teach a city girl how to live in the country. Hope everyone else has a WONDERFULL day!

 

[Beekissed]

She has about 140 acres....and has abused it all! She has no good pasture left. She read Salatin and decided he was "too preachy" so I don't mention much to her. She is very obtuse and very bipolar, so not really up for suggestions, Just. I'm trying to teach by example, though. That's all one can really do in this life when wanting someone to change as an adult....well, even as kids. Lead by example and hope it sinks in.

I did ask her if she intended on putting them out to pasture and she indicated a barren, scrub brush filled hillside and said they would have that "whole hill"! I think she missed the most important word~pasture!

One merciful thing.....the predators are killing all her poultry and waterfowl, so they won't have to suffer for too long on at that horrible place. BUT....she is armed with an incubator and is quite addicted to hatching.....I'm hoping she gets bored with it. :/

 

[lorihadams]

Wow.....I am at a loss for words.

 

[Blackbird]

Wow.....I am at a loss for words.

So am I, but I had to laugh at the last part.

 

[justusnak]

Oh Bee....thats so sad, Dangit...I wish I had more money to go get those piggies. I just hope yours survives..and that you will be abel to get her bred next year. At least this breed is very good at surviving. All that land, and no desire to use it to its full potential. :/ That almost hurts my feelings! LOL Some people just dont get it. What about her husband? Can't you get him to turn them out to pasture!? Doesnt he see there are issues!? Or, is he like mine and says,"oh, the animals are HER thing, NOT mine" I bet it just makes ya want to "thump her melon"

 

[Beekissed]

Her husband IS the problem! She didn't used to be like this before she married him! He's her co-enabler and then takes no responsibility nor tries to help her care for any of the animals. The man does none of the daily chores nor does he help build pens or fences. He just collects and acquires and goes off to do more of the same. He likes telling people he is a farmer but he knows absolutely nothing about how much to feed, who gets what feed, how much work is involved, etc. Yes, she is a very large and useful doormat.....but nothing I say will ever change that. A person has to get tired of being miserable before they make a change. Estimated time of realization? No estimate could be currently given..... :/

She carries on day after day, struggling to keep animals in enclosures, running to the feed store, carrying water, building and rebuilding fences....like a mindless robot, trapped into a holding pattern. That is why I never visit, though she lives in the next county....we have nothing in common and my level of frustration and just plain old nausea rises when I make my courtesy, yearly visit. I've offered to help her, but she always refuses. I took her nest boxes once but she refused....we put them up anyway while we were there and they are still in use...but that was just a fluke. She, I think, is so ashamed of her circumstances and too proud to get treatment or help, that she would rather suffer...sort of like a self-punishment for becoming this....whatever this is!

Well, enough talk about things we cannot change! I will breed my piglet and let you know when you can pick-up some healthy, fat weanlings that will be finished out on good, green pastures!