Anybody out there?

 I am told that the RSPCA recommend an area of 36sq.m. per outdoor pig and, thinking about it, that's probably the average size of an old fashioned sty. We run a Pig Custodian scheme. People who love pigs and wish to 'own' them can take them from us as weaners, look after them as their own and, when we all agree the time is right for them to go to the big sty in the sky, we go and collect them. In exchange, the Custodians receive a 'provisions credit' to the value of the feed costs attributed to the pigs during the intervening months.

One of the questions always asked is "How big does the pen need to be?" There is no fixed size. Large enough for the little chaps to run around and rootle in with room for a shelter and some shade.  But after that it depends very much on the Custodians' circumstances and constraints.

Yesterday we delivered two of Mangal and Ginger's Little Deserts to their new home in the North of the County. It was a very blustery, damp day but that didn't tarnish the anticipation with which they were awaited. As is our wont with little weaners, we transported them in a dog cage in the back of the 4x4 so on arrival we drove through the gates and directly up to the new pen.

Which is palatial!  

"It's as well to get used to holding them from the start" said The Boss and duly gave instructions as to how that was most effectively achieved. Following which their new 'family' unloaded them without too much bother (!!!) and put them out in their new home ....and off they ran.... and ran....and ran. Since they were unloaded one at a time, they ran in different directions ---- and it took a minute or two before they found each other again. Then they ran and ran and ran along the fencing - "Are we nearly there?" you could almost hear them grunting!
We left them exploring whilst we all went indoors to do the paperwork over a cup of tea.......
"If you are thinking up names for them they're from the litter named after Deserts." explained the boss at one point. "Yes. Yes. We thought we'd call them Spamalot and Dorothy Porkins" said their new Boss. We were taken aback - slightly. But the new Boss was adamant. Turns out they're characters from a story which he used to read to his son when he was just a piglet! And Spamalot had other connotations which also made them smile!
So... Spamalot and Dorothy Perkins it is.
And before we left we went to have another look at them;  they were still trotting along the perimeter fence. Having been confined in the stalls since weaning it's little wonder the wide outdoors seemed so very wide. And not another piglet in sight. In fact not another anything in sight. Just not anybody out there.
It'll take a bit of getting used to. But they'll be alright. Though they can't see them, there are chickens a little way off and there are sheep to come at some stage and maybe some horses later so their 'outside world' will not be empty for too long......