The pigs have arrived! For the second year in a row, we are partnering with a local 4H group in Maple Ridge by housing their pigs on our property. Keeping the pigs here means that 4H students have a farm to visit everyday to learn how to care for and interact with them, while we have the benefit of having adorable animals around that poop in and dig up our fields which is GREAT for our soil.
I snapped this shot of two of the pigs running through our field, ears-a-flying. I’m in love.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaQWoETwf9E?wmode=transparent]
The 4H pigs arrived today! We were all looking forward to welcoming the newest members to the farm, but I for one had no idea they’d make such a loud entrance. Warning: I recommend you turn the volume down on your computer before you watch the video above – those pigs did some serious screaming while being carried from the truck to their new pig pen (they were so loud the horses from two doors down ran to their fence to try to see what was going on!).
Once the pigs were inside their pen, the screams stopped and they settled right in, marking their territory, eating food and cuddling up under the heat lamp. When we opend the door from their house to their outdoor pen, they quickly made their way outside to get acquainted with their new surroundings. Although they’re bigger than I was expecting (not quite the small pink piglets I was visualizing in my head), they’re pretty cute and I’m excited to get to know them. Cutest physical trait? The ears – they’re awesome!
In addition to our own farm boys, we had the 4H kids and Brie, the daughter of some good friends of mine, welcome the bigs. The video below gives you a good idea of how chill the pigs are around people. Pretty fun! More pig stories to come I’m sure.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb3ex5A4QGw?wmode=transparent]
A week and a half ago, we built a pig pen and fencing with the help of some of the local 4H crew in preparation for the pigs they’ll be boarding here. In exchange for giving them space (and helping them care) for their pigs, they’re gifting us a pig and, as you’ll see in the photos, helped supply us with the materials and labour to build a pig pen living space on our land. In addition to building the actually pig house, the crew pulled our old trailers out of the way (see video below – kudos to our pregnant helper!) and started putting up fencing (whic
h was completed today). We’ve since painted the pig house and set up the food and water system. More photos coming in our ‘work party’ blog post.
Sidenote: as I’m writing this, I’m realizing that I don’t actually know the proper(?) language for pig living spaces. What’s the difference between a pig pen and a pig sty? Does ‘pig pen’ include the ‘house’ or only the fenced-in graze and play area? Hmmm… sounds like we may need a name for our pig abode (kinda like our rabitat for the rabbits). Any suggestions?
PS – the piglets arrive tomorrow!!! We’re VERY excited. Stay tuned for photos and video footage.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYXHNQPn-w?wmode=transparent]