Martin B Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 I'm sat with a wad of marshmellows, I'm going to melt some chocholate and dip them in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 31, 2006 Author Share Posted October 31, 2006 Marshmallows? Emma - we have Willow (tabby) and Mog (Black) who produced Ash (Tabby) at a very early age Willow and Mog are brother and sister and produced two kittens shortly after we moved in. There is also another sister called Peach, she had two ginger kittens but they disappeared. There is a big black tortoiseshell male called Tom, he is very friendly. He often disappears for days. He has a manky front leg - must have been run over at some time, he was already neutered when we came here. All except Tom were quite feral when we came but are now outdoor cats. We are encouraging them to be stroked so that we can handle them if necessary to take them to the vet, but they stay outside to catch mice. Willow, Ash, Peach, Mog and Tom - I can cope with that (considering we asked them to leave 2 ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Just think how many there could've been if you hadn't had them neutered Cats breed nearly as quickly as rats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 But nicer to cuddle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 1, 2006 Author Share Posted November 1, 2006 The farce continues............. After the farce with the chickens at the weekend, this evening we had to get the pigs into the trailer. The plan was that on the Monday before the pigs went, we would reverse the stock trailer into the piggie paddock and leave it there for them to get used to and wander in and out. On Wednesday morning they would be fed on the ramp and Wednesday evening they would be enticed to the back of the trailer with a bucket of feed. The reality was......... On Monday Carl tried to get the trailer into the paddock but the two pigs had made a huge muddy wallow right inside the gate and we couldn't afford to get the Freelander stuck. The mud was up to knee height So we waited until today when Matthew would be here with the tractor anyway and if the car got stuck then he could pull it out. Matthew and his friend were busy doing the fence until 5.15 so we than had to move two black pigs in the dark The car and trailer did get stuck - more than once The tractor was called into service, the ground is all churned up and i was struggling to walk on it in the dark Then we had to face the pigs They weren't having any of it They careered all over the place, practically invisible to us, with three men chasing - up to their calves in mud and pig poo. I was in charge of the gate and couldn't move because I couldn't see and I'm not going to damage my knee again and spend another 4 years getting it right We eventually got one in the trailer and shut the middle door. The second pig was such a pain. We had to remove two gates and trap her in the corner and then move her along slowly towards the trailer. Carl and I were trying to entice her up the ramp with feed and apples - the two helpers preferred the 'boot up the backside' approach, which we wanted to avoid Finally - they are both in clean straw in the trailer and have had some food and water. They leave at 6.30 tomorrow morning. Pigs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Sorry shouldnt laugh! You have got to film your activities on the farm and get some sent to You've Been Framed - you will be quids in Lesley!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 And you won't let me video moving the cows I bet that would have looked great on one of those nocturnal filming things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Brilliant Lesley!!! I shall have to copy this to Phil; he'll be creasing up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Are they going for the chop tomorrow? I didn't know that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Yup. Good luck Lesley and Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 1, 2006 Author Share Posted November 1, 2006 What if the little blighters won't come out of the trailer The man who sells cider at the Farmers' Market had his pig carried off by the tail I know they can't hang around but it seems a bit unneccesary........ The temperature around here is supposed to be around -4 by morning - think of us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Oh Lesley (I am laughing WITH you, not at you.......... ) Well. Its 3 degrees here in "sunny dorset" - but it is only 5.45am and we are expecting a lovely day. So, yup, I will think of you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 Well, it's def. below freezing here - the trailer was a bit stuck to the freezing mud but they've gone off now - I'm dog-sitting - in the warm edit - Carl is lucky that he has gone with the pigs - i've just seen the state of the kitchen He only heated up leftovers from the night before . Every worktop is covered with ****, 3 teatowels screwed up in a heap - well 3 heaps really. And I'm soooooo pleased that he brought me more home-made ice cream than I wanted last night because the rest of it is nicely thawed now You can go off people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Oh dear Lesley just think how tasty they will be when you get them back Did anyone try pig boards A plastic dustbin is also a great way to move pigs you put it over their heads and move them backwards as they try to reverse out of it apparently it works quite well:roll: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Aww, I hope the piggies come out of the trailer ok Do you want to borrow my cattle prod for Carl? Half a degree here this morning and frosty too, lovely now though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Such goings on and I promise to catch up on this Lesley as a quiet week coming up hurrah!!! Look out for me on the forum BBx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Gosh I started reading this and laughing then adding the odd 'Oh no' I hope today is better than last night! The plastic dust bins sound a good idea perhaps next time karen x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 They just used two gates and it worked quite well - I was annoyed with myself because I couldn't do much (and I do like to organise people - especially men ) The pigs didn't want to come out and Matthew and Carl had to haul them out by their tails. They didn't seem that bothered and trotted off without a sound . Quite stressless really. This weekend we will need to get all the containers of brine and dry salt cure ready for when we pick up the meat on Tuesday. I ordered bulk sea salt from The Sausagemaker on River Cottage forum and made my own cure recipe which we tested on a piece of the last lot of pork. The stainless steel catering tables are being plumbed in this morning and then the room needs a good clean up. We won't have hot water until next week as we had to order the small water heater we needed, but we will have cold water. We have poltythene at two of the windows as they are still being made and it is freezing in there. It will soon be warm and cosy and weatherproof. The freezer room still needs a coat of paint, the roof mending and a tidy up but then we can move the freezers back in there and add a couple more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 The freezer room still needs a coat of paint, the roof mending and a tidy up but then we can move the freezers back in there and add a couple more. I'll come down and do that for you (in exchange for letting me move into a tiny corner when we get our extension done ) karen x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 - there are plenty of outbuildings to choose from Karen - but I suppose you want the one with the plumbing and loo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 If possible or I'd settle for hot and cold dripping water and refuge from our builders! karen x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 It's come a long way Lesley, especially the prep room, no more dead cats and live rats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 - it does end - honestly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Are they going for the chop tomorrow? "going for the chop" - good one. Richard T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Thanks Richard. Shame about that Cider Mans (Hogans?) pig, and I hope yours taste great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
