Tuesday, January 25, 2011

LISTEN to these piglets!

OOOOOOOOoooooo!  I think I've got this figured out!  If I do, you are about to meet "Holly" and "Ivy", my American Guinea Hog piglets, in person!  I tried making a video with my camera.  As you may remember me commenting on a number of occasions, I can't see the buttons on my camera to know what to do with them ~ but I saw this little red dot and thought maybe that meant 'record'...

I hope you have your speakers on.   ;-)


17 comments:

  1. Marilyn10:10 AM

    Recording came thru fine. Pigs... such talkers. Always have something to say. I do miss having pigs around. Cute how the dog seems to have taken on the role as overseer. When we had pigs our big dog did the same thing.
    I read on your chicken blog about their visit to the hen house.
    I don't know how to delicately say this....it might be more than spilled chicken feed those girls are consuming...they may be also munching on any droppings they find. :[ yeck!
    I wonder if a panel the pigs can't see over might be a good idea with that barn door...if the pigs have access to it when your not around. If they can't see the food they might be less insistant to get to it.
    I second what someone mentioned about pigs liking chicken dinner. They may get to be fast enough to catch a bird on their own.

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  2. Yes, they are noisy and nosy. Can't imagine them in with the sheep. Sure is nice that your dog is so gentle.

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  3. Holly and Ivy followed me into the sheep pasture the other day when I went out to feed the sheep. The sheep immediately started chasing them and those poor little piglets were terrified! They didn't know which way to run. Sheep EVERY where! Poor, traumatized, little girl pigs...

    ;-)

    Thanks for the cautions about chicken-eating pigs. I'm hopeful that the AGH, being a smaller breed, won't be quite so thus inclined. Especially since mine will be free-ranging and not confined to a small area. If they are ~ they'll just have to be housed away from the chickens.

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  4. Dreamer says," Now that your Old-lady eyes have found the record button, hows about a video of ME????"

    BTW- how old are the piglets?

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  5. Oh my, as insistent as they are now about trying to reach food, I'd be very afraid of what they could and might do later, when fully grown! Their vocalizations in your video are very cute (as is YOUR voice ;-).

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  6. That brought a much needed smile to my face!

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  7. Anonymous2:55 PM

    Poor things -- they look like they're starving -- NOT! -- reminds me of my days on the farm -- thanks

    Jean

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  8. Too Cute! Remember that pigs are omnivores like us. If they get "starved" for animal protein, they really might go for the chickens. A friend noticed that about her pig chow - someone tried to make it vegetarian. She first noticed when the pigs started stalking her chickens!

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  9. Isn't it funny how they always act like they're just starving! Now I know where all of those comments came from -- "eat like a pig" etc!

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  10. They are cute! I will second or third the chicken eating.. I have had it happen and a newborn lamb disappeared when it had the misfortune to get in with the pigs..
    They are so cute though..

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  11. We always raise a pair of feeder pigs in the summer for bacon and pork chops. Last year we had some killer pigs. (They were the fourth or fifth set that we fed out-all those other pigs were nice)while last years were nasty. They killed and ate 3 baby turkeys. We thought hawks had gotten them until I saw them kill a full grown chicken. I ran over when the chicken started squawking, but I could not get there in time. They tried to eat her, but I took her away. Those pigs also bit a sheep who stuck it's head to near the pig pen's ear off! This year we raised some Berkshires (really good flavor) and they behaved themselves just like the past years pigs. Only last years pigs were nasty and they were a modern cross for special lean meat
    (we found that out later.) Lean pigs are mean, I guess, and they don't taste very good compared the the fattier ones!

    Are your pigs pets, breeding stock or dinner?

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  12. Oh my! I never realized that pigs were such NASTY critters! I did do quite a bit of research before purchasing Holly & Ivy because I only wanted them if it would be likely that they could free-range with the sheep. I was assured by a number of Guinea Hog breeders, and saw lots of photos indicating, that they were quite compatible in a pasture setting with other animals. I'm wondering if the majority of instances where pigs kill and/or eat chickens aren't concerning commercial breed pigs that are confined in small areas (stys) and the unlucky chicken ends up in the crowded pig environment. I'm not saying that I know this for a fact, just that I wonder if it isn't a possibility. I would hope, that 2 to 4, small (adult AGH only stand about 17 inches tall) pigs, that live on 3 acres of pasture would be less likely to see chickens as "dinner". Still, if there is any indication that the pigs are a threat to the chickens, I will simply keep the chickens safely fenced in an area the pigs don't have access to.

    I am grateful for the warnings though and will probably put the pigs directly out into the pasture and barn with the sheep instead of in the one with the chickens. Even if the pigs don't bother adult chickens, I would imagine baby chicks would be mighty tempting...

    Thanks for the words of caution!

    P.S. I do want to clarify that Holly & Ivy aren't just making all that noise because they want in at the chicken food. They do it any time that I talk to them! As soon as I go out into my garage (they are still living in a temporary pen in the garage) the start squealing and trying to climb through the wires of their pen. They are absolutely hysterical. NOTHING in moderation! When I give them food, they act like they've never eaten before and when I pet them, they run round around in circles, climbing all over each other and squealing and (in Ivy's case) 'quacking' like their tails are on fire! I must admit that owning a couple of piglets has given me new insight into phrases like "eating like a pig" or "acting like a pig"! I don't think a day goes by where I don't catch myself saying: "You girls are such PIGS!".
    ;-)

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  13. They are lovely! Poor starving piggies! Tee hee.

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  14. They are cute all right...but likely WAY too intelligent! Hope that they stay out of trouble and behave like good little piggy-girls.

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  15. Wonderfully enchanting Nancy! I love your little piggies (and the dog).
    You got the video just right so now there'll be no stopping you, right?

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  16. Hello Nancy!! I think I missed this post because I would need a grin for the day--This was it--THANKS for that!! :-D

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