Tag: pigs
Any Hour now!
Last night, checking on Gertrude, was able to get a drop of milk from one of her nipples, and she seemed pretty restless. My guess is we should have piglets today or tonight at the latest. 
A Very Pregnant Pig
Our Meishan sow, Gertrude, is very pregnant. We think (actually we know for pretty sure) she was bred on or around May 8th, which means she should farrow sometime between August 29 and August 31. So right around the corner. She has been having trouble getting into the tall feed trough recently, so I moved… Continue reading A Very Pregnant Pig
Sick Pig
This post is long overdue. That is because I have been in Texas on National Guard orders for the last two weeks and it was a very busy course. Early mornings, late nights, long days of computer work. Boring! This all took place at the end of May. Remember, Gertrude was bred on the 8th… Continue reading Sick Pig
A Boyfriend for Gertrude
Our Meishan gilt, Gertrude, has been lonely since the rest of her herd left for a better place. She has also been getting very vocal about every 18 days or so. So we went on Craigslist and found an IPP boar for her. (That's a whole saga in itself). But first, we had to fix… Continue reading A Boyfriend for Gertrude
Gates around the scale, and Hog Live Weights
Everything on the farm is interconnected, whether we like it or not. Because we want to be able to give our customers an accurate live-weight assessment for the pigs they bought, we need a scale. Because the scale needs to be on a flat, firm surface, under cover, accessible to all the livestock, it needed… Continue reading Gates around the scale, and Hog Live Weights
Project Day
Last Thursday was a highly unusual day. The kids all had a sleepover at Deedee and Papa's house, and Mommy had an extra shift at work, so Daddy had a morning and part of an afternoon to work on the farm. However, first things first. On a weekday with no other responsibilities, it is always… Continue reading Project Day
Boy, Let Me Tell You!
Howdy folks! Boy it has been a minute! Welcome back, Three Hearts Farm! How have you been these last 2 1/2 weeks? My goodness has it really been that long? Yes it has. We thought Cascadia had arisen and slid y'all off into the Pacific Ocean. No, it hasn't but thanks for the healthy perspective.… Continue reading Boy, Let Me Tell You!
Some like it hot
Others… Not so much. At 96° today at the farm, pretty warm for this neck of the woods. Daddy insists that it is not that hot, compared to other places he has lived and worked, but for those unaccustomed, it’s pretty doggone warm. That’s why we got to the farm bright and early this morning,… Continue reading Some like it hot
Love it when a plan comes together…
When it does, it's usually not mine. Moving the steers and sheep on Saturday morning I was struck by the how much grass they left standing. It seemed that we should be following them with some other critter that not only ate the grass but also crushed it, rolled it, and squished it into the… Continue reading Love it when a plan comes together…