Growing the Farm!

2016 is already off to a great start, and a lot has been going on!! Our farm has expanded to more then just chickens and a horse.

We have been talking and wanting to get pigs for a little over a year, but it was never the right time to do so.  We prayed about it and talked some more and then the beginning of this year the time was right! We both felt that God was telling us that now is the time to get pigs and begin our journey of The Etherton Farm.

The end of January, we started out with buying 2, 1 bred sow (due, at the time, in a few weeks) and a gilt that was to be bred in the coming week (she has yet to come to the farm). We then found someone with feeders later that week and came home with 3 feeder gilts that we are going to raise and breed.  Having the 4 and watching them has been a blast, some nights we spend to much time in the barn watching them play and become more friendly.

Left to right....Merida, Reba, and Willow

We have already have had an adventure since getting the pigs.  The 3 feeders we not vaccinated when we got them, so we did. That was entertaining!! Just trying to catch them was a workout, and they have so much strength at 100lbs.  I was sitting on one after we caught her, Kevin was about to give her the shot and she crawled with me still sitting on her! After that we figured out that the best way for her to get the shot, and from now on with the other 2, was to get a hold of her leg, nose in the corner, and pushed up against the wall. She couldn't move that way.  We just have to figure out a way to give them shots when they are full grown.

A week ago today the bred sow had her piglets! First one was born at 9 Tuesday night and baby number 15 was born at 2:30 Wednesday morning!! It was a long night, but it was fun, exciting and a new learning experience for me!! We did end up loosing one, mother laid on it. The 14 piglets are doing great!! There are 'porkers' in the group and a runt or 2.  But the little ones surely don't let the big ones push them around! Boy are they growing fast!! They are getting more and more active as each day passes!!

Sally is the mother's name and all 14 piglets!!  

We have yet to de-tusk the piglets, we did learn that that should have been done soon after birth, but it will be done here soon! So far this has been a wonderful learning experience!!

Yesterday, I added another animal to our farm. A pair of ducks! Muscovy ducks and they are fitting right in with the chickens great!! The chickens on the other hand are not quite sure of them.  They are so fun to watch!! I have yet to name them.  He acts like she is the queen, he will walk to the food, chickens will walk away and then when the 'coast is clear' she walks to the food. The same is for the water, he is the leader and then she follows! I did clip their wings, as they do fly a little and I wanted them to stay in the run with the chickens.  I would like to add more ducks later and I would like to stay with the Muscovy breed.

I really am loving this farm adventure!! I am looking forward to what God has in store for us and this farm!!  Have a blessed day!!