Monday, May 18, 2009

Pigs have arrived...........

One of the sure signs of spring on the farm is the arrival of our feeder pigs. We are raising six this year and had everything ready when the phone call came in that they were ready to be picked up.

Piglets were very expensive in our area this year. The average price was $85.00 for an 8 week old piglet. Each year the price goes up. I don't blame the farmers. The price of feed has gone up continuously. I'm fortunate to purchase ours from a fellow that buys in quantity and passes on the savings to his regular customers. They are always healthy and grow well. Four are spoken for, one will go in our freezer and we decided that this was the year we were going to raise a sow to keep for breeding purposes. I've raised quite a few pigs over the years but never raised one to be a pet.

This is Miss Charlotte..... She has a very cushy home all of her own. She is quite friendly and already has a taste for animal crackers :) She loves her back and belly scratched and really likes company. Tom and I are going to teach her to lead with a harness (hopefully) this week. If anyone has tips on pig training, please pass them along. Charlotte will grow well with the extra milk we have. Hopefully we will get her bred when the time is right and have baby pigs of our own :)

Another sign of spring - our hummingbirds have returned to our feeder. My youngest son gave me this feeder last year for Christmas. I absolutely love it! Last evening we sat on the porch for just a few minutes, watching the hummers enjoy their dinner. Several show up at a time, drink and then perch nearby. It wasn't the best light for photos but I couldn't resist trying. The feeder hangs in front of the window over my kitchen sink. I enjoy watching the birds several times a day. During dinner, a Baltimore oriole perched on top of the hummingbird feeder. It was so beautiful....I now have an orange halves on the porch posts for them.



Thanks for visiting with us here at Tylerfarm....................

12 comments:

Candy Duell said...

Busy day for you as every day is :) I also love to feed the hummingbirds, mine arrive back the first week of may usually. This year they were cutting it close, they arrived back on the 7th.

threecollie said...

Those are really nice pigs! Nice and long in the back. Good luck with them.

Nancy K. said...

I just put my hummingbird feeder out last night. I had a hummingbird hovering outside the picture window in my living room ~ that's where I always hang the feeder. I guess it was telling me to put dinner on!

lisa said...

I love the hummingbirds and I like your feeder. I can't wait to start raising some pigs myself. Still have some work to do before we get pigs though.

Unknown said...

Oh, I wish you lived closer (or vice versa) because I would take one of those pigs for the freezer! I am a die heart pork eater but I just can't raise one and then but it in the freezer....guess I am a chicken. Lucky Miss Charlotte!

Anonymous said...

The pigs look great and Miss Charlotte is so pretty,I bet she's going to give you lots of fun.Don't tell my goats but pigs really are my fav;)
We have hummingbirds too and it always amazes me everytime I see them.They are so pretty,great pics.

The Berkshires Mottley Crew said...

You have inspired me to try feeding humming birds again. I have had no luck. As for the rest of your life on the farm - wow - how do you find time to photograph and write? I am glad that you do!

Wished we lived closer. Ann

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

The hummingbird feeder is very unique, I want to attract hummingbirds to the barn.

I've never owned a pig but love pigs. Give Charlotte a kiss for me.

Callie Brady said...

Miss Charlotte looks so comfy and cute!
Check out:
http://www.upprs.com/training/main.htm
for pig leash training. I've trained dogs, but never a pig. Good Luck!

DayPhoto said...

Pigs are soooo much fun. We raised them for years and years and years. Until I just didn't want to load them and haul them anymore. Done! That is me, anyway.

But I love raising pigs. They are so full of personality. Around here a 35 pound weiner goes from around $75-$250. I think it is a racket, because the same famers get $35 for the same size piglet come August through February. Then the 4-H and FFA kids come on the scene and the price JUMPS!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

ChristyACB said...

Love the piggies! Charlotte looks like a doll baby! I had no idea feeder pigs had gotten so expensive. My goodness, they were sold for 3 bucks each when I was a kid...well, that was a while ago.

Gayle said...

What beautiful piglets. I got some a few years back...$75 each and they were half that size!! One of three died right away. Been afraid to get any since (not so easy to find feeder pigs here...one guy trucks out of Canada, but you have to get your order in early). Good luck with breeding.