Post by dmbenson on Oct 31, 2011 13:37:48 GMT -5
So. I looked at my 'garden' spot, completely fenced, and solid with weeds - they kind of got away from me this year 
) and was thinking if I get a pig for 2-3 months, he/she will root it up nicely and then can go into the freezer. Great plan, right? Right. Even talk hubby (who loves pork, but intensely dislikes pigs) into the plan.
Accordingly, I find a local farmer who has small (50-60 pound) pigs drive out in the rain, wade through the muck, and choose "That One", and carry him home in the back of my pickup in a dog crate. A little Hampshire/Hampshire cross barrow. I drop him in the garden space (there is a shelter at one end by the way) and fix water trough and feeder. Day one is fine - pig (now named Porky) wanders around, checks everything out and curls up on his new hay pile to sleep. Day two, pretty much the same, but came out when I went in to feed.
Day three, came running to the feeder when I went in and banged the bucket. By day five however, there was a change. Porky started to come to the fence expecting scratches - no feed, just scratches. By Day 8, the little stinker is literally racing up to the fence when I walk up, poking his nose through and wiggling his ears and tail in what, if he were a dog, I would categorize as sheer pleasure in seeing me, and will stand there as long as I'm willing to scratch behind his ears and pet him. Two weeks later, he not only runs up to the fence, but follows me all around his pen when I go in, snuffles and snorts at me, and will actually leave his feed bucket if I walk to another part of the pen to follow me.
Not fair, not fair, not fair. I simply CANNOT have a 500 pound pet pig - I cannot. Please someone tell me he's going to change personality and become something I can put into the freezer!
) and was thinking if I get a pig for 2-3 months, he/she will root it up nicely and then can go into the freezer. Great plan, right? Right. Even talk hubby (who loves pork, but intensely dislikes pigs) into the plan. Accordingly, I find a local farmer who has small (50-60 pound) pigs drive out in the rain, wade through the muck, and choose "That One", and carry him home in the back of my pickup in a dog crate. A little Hampshire/Hampshire cross barrow. I drop him in the garden space (there is a shelter at one end by the way) and fix water trough and feeder. Day one is fine - pig (now named Porky) wanders around, checks everything out and curls up on his new hay pile to sleep. Day two, pretty much the same, but came out when I went in to feed.
Day three, came running to the feeder when I went in and banged the bucket. By day five however, there was a change. Porky started to come to the fence expecting scratches - no feed, just scratches. By Day 8, the little stinker is literally racing up to the fence when I walk up, poking his nose through and wiggling his ears and tail in what, if he were a dog, I would categorize as sheer pleasure in seeing me, and will stand there as long as I'm willing to scratch behind his ears and pet him. Two weeks later, he not only runs up to the fence, but follows me all around his pen when I go in, snuffles and snorts at me, and will actually leave his feed bucket if I walk to another part of the pen to follow me.
Not fair, not fair, not fair. I simply CANNOT have a 500 pound pet pig - I cannot. Please someone tell me he's going to change personality and become something I can put into the freezer!
The good thing is that now my city raised grandkids really know where their food comes from......the 4 yr olds comment when we cooked the first pork chops was " Mom.....Picnic is some good!!! "
