Unsecure chicken perches

[Redwing]

...Went on their last journey yesterday

 

We are surprisingly sad (given that we have let quite a few lambs go now) the pigs were great characters and very sweet.

 

They were absolutely HUGE come the end though and costing £20 a week to feed so I wont miss that

 

The place does seem awfully quiet without them though

[Saronne]

I admire you, Tasha, you are braver than me. But they were never intended as pets and you've given them a good life...

[Daphne]

Tell me Tasha; I've often wondered - is it harder sending livestock to slaughter than culling your own birds for the table?

[Space Chick]

Hugs honey xxxxx

 

Bet it'll be worth it when you taste the pork

 

I know I couldnt do it though, so I really admire you

[laurmurf]

From an empty eglu in your front room in Bristol to being self-sufficient in meat you've reared in a happy free range way: I envy you something rotten and would do it in a heartbeat!

 

Well Done!

[craftyhunnypie]

Aww I admire you too. We will have to cross that bridge next year. Our two are pets & will always remain pets. But next year they are going ' in pig'. We will keep two of the best to continue the breeding , but the rest will go as weaners & for meat. We dread it, but at least we will know that the meat was produced free range & won't be pumped full of water & growth hormones.

I know how sad you must be feeling, but well done & I'm sure you will have more pigs next year.

Hugs.

Emma.x

[Lesley]

It is really hard isn't it - pigs really are such characters! We've found it just as difficult each year, it never becomes any easier.

 

You will really enjoy the pork though and as Emma says, you know every s"Ooops, word censored!" of food they've eaten! Enjoy!

[LisaP]

Don't think I'd even got around to posting that we have pigs as things have been busy over the summer (I use the word summer loosely ), but we too will be saying goodbye to them soon and we're not really looking forward to it even though that has always been the plan

 

We got them - saddleback x tamworth/large white - as 9 week old weaners on 15 July and on Friday we visited the abattoir and booked them in for 14 November. We went to visit because not having done anything like this before we weren't really sure of the 'process' but I was very pleased that the man who runs the abbatoir (it's a small setup) was very nice, reassuring but also quite taken by the fact that I am vegetarian

 

Good for you for doing it, I hope we will all find comfort in the fact that we cared for them and treated them with respect.

 

Lisa P

[Redwing]

Thank you all x

 

I dont think it will get easier but one thing I have noticed with all of the animals and birds is that their personailities can change as they get older, sure the pigs were very sweet but also strong and stubborn so things like that ease the guilt a bit, we could never have kept the pigs as pets in the same way we cant keep lots of mature rams with big horns

 

Daphne I think the chickens are easier as once its done there is relief and I get very pragmatic. With the livestock you watch them trot trustingly up the ramp and spend the rest of the day thinking about it

[The Dogmother]

Well done Tasha, it's not easy. Enjoy the meat.

[Redwing]

Our chest freezer is full, our upright freezer is full, the fridge is full and a friends freezer is full. NEVER have I seen so much meat ever, we had just one section of one pig made in to sausages and have 61lbs of them thats over 360 sausages!

 

Think next year we will go with much smaller pigs

[LisaP]

Wow that's a lot of sausages

 

We have been wondering what size of chest freezer we are going to need I remember that your pigs were a Mangalitza X but can't remember how many you had.

 

Our two are going on 14 November and although we were shown some of the 'finished' product at the abattoir we don't really know what to expect when they come back One of the orders we were shown had opted to have some of their mince made into sausages and some left for them to 'have a go' at home and we thought that we would like to do that too, should be interesting

 

Our two will be 6 months old when they go, the abattoir advised that to be the optimum time for coloured X breeds. Don't know how I'll feel about it nearer the time but I too, are finding them quite a handful - they are lovely funny characters (fairly certain they think they are dogs ) but I keep getting ram raided every time I take their food out to them and it really hurts when they stand on your feet

 

Lisa P

[craftyhunnypie]

That's why we went for the Kune kune breed. Smaller, but rounder. Looking into boars at the moment ready for their breeding program. Should have plenty of meat this time next year.

I know what you mean about them changing as they reach maturity. Mine aren't boisterous or anything, but they do nudge me slightly more than they used to. Plus I think mine are brimming at the mo, as they stand & freeze on the spot when I pat their bottoms, plus their bits are quite pink & plump (sorry). Most of the time they just want a belly rub. Only ever had Flo stand on my foot once. That hurt a bit, but no more than a human standing on my foot.

 

They are just lovely!

 

Emma.x

[LisaP]

I have quite literally just been swept off my feet by Pig 2 (as they're not pets they are simply Pig 1 and Pig 2 ), she always tries to walk between your legs but she is thigh height to me now and when she pushed through my legs my feet were barely touching the ground, I was practically riding her I would love to have some kune kune pigs but simply as pets

 

Emma I pm'd you a couple of days ago but not sure if you got it.

 

Lisa P