The wildflower bank has really come into its own this summer: it faces south/south west and the long warm afternoons have produced the best wildflower display we have had for many a year, attracting bees and butterflies en masse.And in the same balmy, summery mood, we tackled the task on Friday afternoon of separating Ginger fro
m her boisterous brood. They are just six weeks old but have been pestering her for the past week for more milk than she felt prepared to give - in this photo you can see one piglet hanging on to a teat for all he's worth!
m her boisterous brood. They are just six weeks old but have been pestering her for the past week for more milk than she felt prepared to give - in this photo you can see one piglet hanging on to a teat for all he's worth!So we let them have one last drink and then, one by one, carried them the 200 yards or so to the Old Stalls..... which sounds a lot easier than it is..... a few of them are just shocked into silence by being manhandled for the first time but many of them squiggle and squeal for m
uch of the distance. Which is a bit daunting since they weigh a good 15-20 kilos at this stage. Catching them involves cornering them in their pen with a couple of hurdles and then scooping them up from above before they realise what's going on. If you try and catch them by approaching from the front, they just dart hither and thither and, almost inevitably, the human ends up face down in the dirt.
uch of the distance. Which is a bit daunting since they weigh a good 15-20 kilos at this stage. Catching them involves cornering them in their pen with a couple of hurdles and then scooping them up from above before they realise what's going on. If you try and catch them by approaching from the front, they just dart hither and thither and, almost inevitably, the human ends up face down in the dirt. Strangely enough, as soon as they find there's ample food at the other end, they calm down and, seemingly, forget all about mum! That was just cupboard love then!
Ginger meanwhile made the most horrendous noise for the next couple of hours, pacing around and calling out for the little ones. Eventually though she tired and settled down to sleep. Next morning she was calm again and happy to see us for breakfast.
Later in the day we re-united her with Mangal and that made up for everything! Especially when she discovered the huge wet wallow he's spent the past few weeks preparing for her! "Oh Bliss": "Oh Joy!" we could see her thinking as she paddled and rolled and wallowed to her heart's content. Out she came, wandered round, let Mangal nudge and poke her and then back in again for more rolling and wallowing..... by the time she'd finished she looked like a really curly milk ch
ocolate pig. With a big grin all over her face.
ocolate pig. With a big grin all over her face. And then there was dinner to enjoy too...... could life get any better? Certainly piglets were a very distant memory.....!!!!
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