Piggies

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They have been loving the sun over the last few days...

20230407_135031 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Greta snores, I did try sneaking up to get a video but she woke up just after I took this shot
20230407_134954 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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Pig with no name has now been called Petal by the boss.

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The slot the feed comes out is quite small, so slowly falls through. I am keeping an eye on the amount they are going through at the minute, the first 2 days they ate ~30-40% more than I was feeding them in the troughs, now it is about 10% more and they are properly grazing at it as and when they like. Now they know there is always food there they are not eating as much as possible in 1 go. There are 5 feed segments, and apart from the 2 big pigs they share the segments if 2 go up, always the case of other pigs feed must be better than mine and they are constantly swapping if a few of them are at the food. According to the manufacturer & Red Tractor one feeder is good for 50 pigs, never going to get near that number in our herd.

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They do like lounging in the sun, will have to build a decent sunshade in time for the summer, OSBs are prone to sunburnt ears.

2023-04-20_12-25-58 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

2023-04-20_12-16-03 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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Oh yes, Cagney & Lacey are very smart, OSBs are more chilled out, expect due to the OSBs being more domesticated. When C&L first arrived they were very good escape artists, stopped once they knew what a cushy number they were on.

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bolidemichael said:

Interesting thread and the Mangalica are topical for me having recently discovered the soft salami at a local Hungarian deli.

That is good stuff, can get some locally to me, and will have to discuss with them if they can make some just for me to sell on from our pigs.

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Piglet posing in the sun

2023-04-23_11-00-20 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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Can't go into the OSB paddock without giving Bigpig a scratch now, she wanders up and sits on her arse in front of you until you do, any other pigs look for attention before she gets a fuss will get a nip of her, she is most definitely in charge.

20230424_141034 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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So a pedigree OSB boar is booked in to visit us in June now, think he will be staying with only Bigpig & Greta this time, Gerry & Trouble are just a bit too small. My little setup currently accounts for 1.5% of the registered breeding sows/gilts in the UK for OSB's, hopefully there will be some gilts that can be registered in my first litters.

Reorganised the pens also over the last few weeks, basically halved each pen as they never seem to graze the middles, just around the fences, so will hopefully fully graze the grass off in the smaller pens & I will rotate them around a bit sooner than currently.

Also picked up some weaners today....

2023-05-12_09-53-55 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

2023-05-12_09-53-36 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

2023-05-12_09-52-59 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

3 (ex)boys and a gilt, all from the same litter born on 22nd January.

Edited by scrw. on Friday 12th May 23:39

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new ones have found the wallow

2023-05-14_05-50-12 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Sunday afternoon flat out busy!
2023-05-14_05-50-49 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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Cagney & Lacey have such long noses compared to the OSBs

2023-05-16_05-03-42 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

2023-05-16_05-04-03 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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The OSB girls have moved pen for the summer, will rotovate out the old pen and get some root fodder of some sort planted in there so they something to eat in the autum. Hat to get the started digging the wallows mainly so that they are where I want them close to the fence and easy for me to top up with water.

20230518_125313 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

20230518_125410 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Greta has staked claim on this mudhole just for herself
20230518_125536 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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The visiting OSB boar Jack, currently in with Cagney & Lacey, was meant to be in with 2 of the OSBs but he escaped from his temporary pen and got in with C&L so he will stay with them for a couple of weeks.

2023-06-19_01-53-47 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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Well Jack is settled in with Cagney & Lacey, they are due in season this week, so another week or 2 with them then onto the OSB's

20230620_105510 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

He is a proper big unit, he doesn't want me to measure him to work out his weight but I reckon well over 160kgs

20230623_194321 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

the 4 younger OSBs are loving the weather
20230626_122044 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

the 4 weaners are getting bigger
20230626_121959 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

And Bigpig & Greta are just loving life in the pen on their own, unsure what they will think when Jack moves in.

20230625_113048 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

20230624_195504 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Bigpig as ever wanting belly rubs, OSB's are such chilled out pigs.
20230624_195429 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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Cagney & Lacey in their summer frocks

2023-07-06_07-59-53 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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need to invest in some pig scales, the little ones are growing fast, want to make sure the feed quantities are correct.

20230712_115416 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

20230712_115439 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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Not really, 8 of the girls are for breeding not eating. And Jack has done the deed on a few of them so there will be bacon seeds come october.

Edited by scrw. on Thursday 13th July 09:05

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Someone say lunch?
2023-07-12_05-26-04 by Old_Chad, on Flickr


recent rain means no wallow filling, which is helpful
20230713_131049 by Old_Chad, on Flickr


Someone has not been chewing their food. The oak tree is about 100m away & the piggies hoover up the acorns, spotted this and a few more in the poo patch of this paddock. Think I will pot them so they don't get eaten next time I use the paddock.

20230713_131157 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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I may or may not have some bananas in my hand

20230804_183633 by Old_Chad, on Flickr