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For the love of pigs

Mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun. Not our dogs, they are put inside when it's as hot as it is at the moment. I have always been happy in the thought that our animals have fields with access to shade if they want it.


It is a bit different for the pigs as they are in separate pens some are shadier than others. Our young sow is in the sun, she can't get her whole body in her wallow, time for a move to to the shady side and a rest for her old pen, especially with a heat wave predicted on Thursday - whoopee, can't wait for that.


So this morning it was decided to divide a pen that has a bit of shade into two and move a hut. Posts were banged in, hooks attached (my job as well as chief gopher, go for this, go for that).  Before the electric fence was stringed along the hut had to be moved. Now mid morning with a temperature of 32 degrees and in the full sun, a bit of heaving and hoeing the said hut was up ended down the hill with the one liner I hear so often "can you just hold it there" being shouted. My holding capabilities were thwarted a bit through stinging nettles jumping at my legs and sweat dripping in my eyes (lovely thought) the hut finally got to its resting place.

Electric fence erected, alley ways closed off and gate open said sow was moved by throwing bread  along her route. At this point when a pig is moving all other pigs get a little excited in their piggy ways of making lots of grunting, maybe cheering fellow pig on and watching with enthusiasm, perhaps for a piece of bread that may come their way.



No straw, I do like a bit of straw.

She seems quiet content with her new patch. One down, four to move tomorrow. Still it's going to be a cool 28 degrees, no sweat!


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