Just booked my Berkshire's!

[Thurston Garden]

This will be year three keeping Berkshire pigs! I had been putting off taking on weaners this year for a number of reasons, personal ones though - pigs need twice daily attention and I was not able to give them that so we delayed ordering them.

However, the time is now right and I called in to see Elaine who breeds them this afternoon on my way back from buying hen food and chick crumbs (watch for the 'Hatching' post on Wednesday or Thursday!). Elaine will be weaning pigs on Monday, but that is a bit quick - the electric fencing is still guarding our onions from the increasing rabbit population! The next weaners will be due nearer the end of the month and two of them have our names on!

3 weeks to go!

[camillitech]

how do you get through the day without any piggies we went for about 2 weeks last year (between slaughter and new arrivals) and we just didn't know what to do with ourselves mrs camillitech kept going to feed them (despite 1 being in the freezer)

just keep telling yourself it's only 208 days to christmas and 21 days doesn't seem so bad

cheers, paul

[Thurston Garden]

I know exactly how you both felt. Every day I look at where the pigs were last year and sigh. However, we did have to have a break from keeping them as mention in the OP.

Roll on pig day, that's what I say.

[camillitech]

absence makes the heart grow fonder
and it's only 207 days to xmass (should be just ready for then mmmmm)

[Stonehead]

how do you get through the day without any piggies

Keep more?

We're down to nine at the moment, and will drop to five by Monday, so the croft is feeling deserted at that level. We had 26 at one point and quite enjoyed that.

We're awaiting a litter from Dolores, but even so I keep thinking a few more breeding pigs would be nice (a second boar and another two sows would be about right).