Post by Mitra on Jun 11, 2008 16:04:16 GMT -5
Sophie and Charlotte are big girls now. We have experienced several heats so far and I'm writing it all down on the calendar. They sure make funny noises and act especially goofy and lovey dovey when they are in heat. We recently tried to increase their pig area to include the woods. We carefully strung out electric tape over about 4 acres of woods. I figured that since they've been trained to electric, a single strand would work. NOT! Well it might have, if Wesley the steer hadn't charged them. All was going fine for nine whole minutes. Then he got all steery and ran at them bucking (he was on the other side of the fence). Sophie got freaked and ran straight through the electric fence. Then she realized, "Hey, this is that forbidden lawn I love so much - Woohoo!" Max was not amused. I told him to just leave her alone but he insisted on trying to get her back into the electrified area. He got very sweaty and frustrated and she didn't budge except to go in the opposite direction than he wanted her to. I told him to go about his business and she would eventually go back on her own. I was right and two hours later, she did. Once they were back in their pen, he quickly went and took down all the electric (which made me MAD). I told him that I didn't think she should get an "F" for the course just because she flunked the first midterm! Sheesh! Once we both calmed down, we came to a compromise. We will try the woods idea again but in a much smaller more manageable way - not 4 acres but maybe a section of 300 square feet at a time with hog panels and electric.
Yesterday's violent storm has left their area a huge soggy mess but they are enjoying the wallows very much. The storm brought a big elm tree down into their area and crushed their fence and shorted the electric (but they stayed in ;D).
I hope I haven't overfed them which will make it hard to get them bred but I fear they are FAT - Charlotte especially.
Here they are in the wallow this afternoon
Here is Charlotte - I think she's saying, "Does this wallow make me look fat?"
Having a cool hose shower
Now they're both seeing if there's anything in their food dishes
Sophie leaves to scratch on stump while Charlotte eats
Charlotte had a cool trait from her Mom, a kinked tail. Right in the middle of the pig tail there was a kink/bump. Now, her tail is missing the piece after the kink! We think Sophie bit it off! This means that half her tail is gone. I couldn't believe it when I saw it and saw the bloody stump left behind. These two seem to get into it a lot, especailly when they are in heat. They really get on eachother's nerves.
Here is a video of them this afternoon (getting into it) when I was taking pictures. It starts with mean growling sounds. It's a little scary when this happens. They remind me of hippos!
Yesterday's violent storm has left their area a huge soggy mess but they are enjoying the wallows very much. The storm brought a big elm tree down into their area and crushed their fence and shorted the electric (but they stayed in ;D).
I hope I haven't overfed them which will make it hard to get them bred but I fear they are FAT - Charlotte especially.
Here they are in the wallow this afternoon
Here is Charlotte - I think she's saying, "Does this wallow make me look fat?"
Having a cool hose shower
Now they're both seeing if there's anything in their food dishes
Sophie leaves to scratch on stump while Charlotte eats
Charlotte had a cool trait from her Mom, a kinked tail. Right in the middle of the pig tail there was a kink/bump. Now, her tail is missing the piece after the kink! We think Sophie bit it off! This means that half her tail is gone. I couldn't believe it when I saw it and saw the bloody stump left behind. These two seem to get into it a lot, especailly when they are in heat. They really get on eachother's nerves.
Here is a video of them this afternoon (getting into it) when I was taking pictures. It starts with mean growling sounds. It's a little scary when this happens. They remind me of hippos!
If I had to guess, I'd say they weigh close to 275lbs.
