Happy Pigs

The doctors office receptionist was reviewing my information when she asked if it was correct that I was unemployed. I guess when I wrote couch potato on my forms she interpreted it as no job. That was the first time I've been referred to as unemployed. Usually I rotate between labeling myself as a child wrangler, people maker, and more seriously as a substitute teacher.

Now I have finally settled on the label pig farmer. Today fifteen feeder pigs arrived, which is just the beginning. I found myself just watching them with the kids. This is the first time the pigs have been outside in the dirt with room to run. Their pigness is fascinating to watch, which I found similar to a toddlers. They root around in the dirt, chase each other, and fight to be the leader. I think that sums up my own children. After watching them, I realized that this was why we bought the farm. I may not have a dishwasher, but I have land to raise animals.

I'm reminded that we are doing this because it's frustrating to watch market prices fall when the meat prices at the grocery store are up. That means less profit for the producer and more for the marketer and retailer. That has always pissed me off because the quality of that meat lies with the producer, who carries all the risk. So how do producers make a full time income, they go big or have a job to supplement the farm. For us, we decided long ago that we will be the producer and marketer setting our own prices.

It makes me happy to produce happy pigs directly to the consumer. I love being able to give my kids chores where other living things depend on them. The cycle of life, meaning we eat them, is just an added bonus.

Who done it?

My kitchen chickens were killed over the weekend. We had them since March as baby chicks. They even survived the neighborhood cats in town only to be moved to the farm where a predator killed them. They were great egg layers and are sorely missed as we ate the last of their eggs. Now I will give you all the details, so you can help deduce the killer.

Friday morning I did the chores as usual. I moved their pen to a new spot on the grass (behind the garage); I checked their food and water; I gave them the leftover Cherrios from the boys' breakfast; and I collected their eggs. Friday afternoon a hunting dog showed up with a collar and was pretty friendly. My husband took him to the animal shelter, which is just down the road. Then early Saturday morning the neighbor dogs showed up and were running around. When my husband went outside they ran back home. My husband went to do chicken chores when he saw the carnage.

The chicken pen was in shambles. The chicken wire on the sides was pushed in, the plywood on the top was chewed on and collapsed in, and the wood around the base was clawed with digging marks in the grass. The carcasses were strewn about with feathers everywhere. Only four out of the five chickens were there with no outward marks on them. No blood, no guts, no missing heads, etc.

Whatever predator got to my chickens didn't bother the rabbit or the mama cat and her litter of kittens. I tend to think it wasn't the dogs because they weren't here long enough to do a lot of damage, and they didn't have any feathers on them. The dogs would have probably taken a chicken with them.

I don't want to get more chickens until we take care of the predator. However, I'm not sure what the predator is. A couple of live traps might help, but not if it's a coyote. So my question to you is, who done it?

My husband's response to the chicken killings was to say that he should have put up the gun rack sooner. I rolled my eyes at him, but then I agreed. I told him I would shoot anything that got near my animals. He hasn't put the gun rack up yet because I think he's hesitant to have a crazy pregnant lady with a loaded shotgun. I was too enthusiastic.

Note: We are responsible gun owners. We are both certified trap shooting coaches, and have been through gun safety courses. So if your reading this worried that I will accidentally shoot something be assured that I'm qualified to handle a shotgun. I will most definitely shoot a wild animal intent on my animals.