Discussion
So down to only 3 of the litters from last year now, Patches, Bucket & "a pig", all the rest have gone off to local farms for breeding or fattening on.
We only retained one for growing on ourselves, and that was only as we are selling Bucket so want a companion for Patches until he is old enough to get jiggy with the girls.
There is alot of interest in Bucket, a young well handled boar of his line is sought after it seems, there are only 27 Clarence line boars registered (well 29 with Bucket & Patches but they missed the count), and I think he is heading down Somerset way.
bucket2 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
bucket by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Patches is ahead on growth of all the litters from last year, he is turning into a real tank and will be ready for action late summer.
patches by Old_Chad, on Flickr
We only retained one for growing on ourselves, and that was only as we are selling Bucket so want a companion for Patches until he is old enough to get jiggy with the girls.
There is alot of interest in Bucket, a young well handled boar of his line is sought after it seems, there are only 27 Clarence line boars registered (well 29 with Bucket & Patches but they missed the count), and I think he is heading down Somerset way.
bucket2 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
bucket by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Patches is ahead on growth of all the litters from last year, he is turning into a real tank and will be ready for action late summer.
patches by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Just to add Scarlett went off to a local farm for breeding, I really wanted to keep her but she is the only relative of Patches in our herd and it would be too much hassle keeping them apart, she is only local & I have got visiting rights, can't wait to see what sort of piglets she produces.
scrw. said:
Just to add Scarlett went off to a local farm for breeding, I really wanted to keep her but she is the only relative of Patches in our herd and it would be too much hassle keeping them apart, she is only local & I have got visiting rights, can't wait to see what sort of piglets she produces.
Fair play, you're doing some great work for the breed! How's the field doing?The old paddocks are a mess, still have 4 girls on the best pen, they are coming into the orchard this week. 1/2 the field still has standing water on it, and I need to rotovate and reseed the whole field, so they won't be useable until autumn I think. I may rest them until next year now, we have extra land now so will set up new pens and as its our land I can stick down concrete slabs for the arks to sit on, will make them more useable as all year pens then.
Bucket is actually off to Norfolk now, via the OSB charity group's assistance to spread the genetics about the UK. And his is keeping the name & the new owners know his story LOL
After Minnow he was the one I was most worried about, he was so small & Cold when I found him lost outside. He turned out to be my first registered pedigree boar.
signal-2023-11-29-13-15-56-236 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240329_130039 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
After Minnow he was the one I was most worried about, he was so small & Cold when I found him lost outside. He turned out to be my first registered pedigree boar.
signal-2023-11-29-13-15-56-236 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240329_130039 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
The four OSB girls are in the orchard now, condition wise they have done really well over the winter, to the point Gerry who is in charge is a bit over weight as she is a bully at feed time, unsure if I will split her off for a couple of weeks or just keep an eye her and reduce all their feed a touch.
20240427_170347 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Really need a litter off Gerry soon, and before patches is old enough, so may have to AI her next month, will see.
Cagney & Lacey are cheerful as ever, planning on having a litter off them next spring so Patches will be in with them November/December this year.
20240426_153641 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240427_170347 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Really need a litter off Gerry soon, and before patches is old enough, so may have to AI her next month, will see.
Cagney & Lacey are cheerful as ever, planning on having a litter off them next spring so Patches will be in with them November/December this year.
20240426_153641 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Well Bucket, or his posh name "Old Chads Clarence 1" is on his way to Norfolk and his new herd of ladies
440794902_757069229869774_9010319310441423106_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr
440794902_757069229869774_9010319310441423106_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr
A quiet few weeks on the piggy front
20240521_131734 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Apart from Cagney & Lacy jumping over their pen fencing and having a wander around the orchard for a night! Thought someone had let them out until I shoo'd them back in and watched them out of sight, they both cleared the stock fencing from a standing start. Impressive that a 250kg pig can clear a 3ft fence with ease. A couple more strands of electric fence have been put in to put more hight on the fence, and its high viz orange and they know that one hurts so hopefully that is an end to the escaping.
20240521_131157 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240519_131308 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240521_131734 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Apart from Cagney & Lacy jumping over their pen fencing and having a wander around the orchard for a night! Thought someone had let them out until I shoo'd them back in and watched them out of sight, they both cleared the stock fencing from a standing start. Impressive that a 250kg pig can clear a 3ft fence with ease. A couple more strands of electric fence have been put in to put more hight on the fence, and its high viz orange and they know that one hurts so hopefully that is an end to the escaping.
20240521_131157 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240519_131308 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Update from Bucket, he now has his first girlfriend and doing what he should already, should be mini Bucket's in september
Snipaste_2024-05-29_20-00-33 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Patches is getting very interested in the girls next door, will have a re-jig of the pens and he will be getting a visit from Gerry I think in a few weeks.
Snipaste_2024-05-29_20-03-47 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Snipaste_2024-05-29_20-00-33 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Patches is getting very interested in the girls next door, will have a re-jig of the pens and he will be getting a visit from Gerry I think in a few weeks.
Snipaste_2024-05-29_20-03-47 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
A no news update, piggies have moved along a bit in the orchard to new ground, fencing on the new field is delayed until the end of the month, and planning for the new barn is in so that will start september unless the council get upset (permitted agricultural development). C&K are in full summer dresses now.
20240721_130009 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240722_124059 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Gerry nearest the camera is the head of the OSB herd, as such is bullying around the trough and eating a bit too much, needs to lose a few KGs, soon as the new field is fenced she will be in her own pen for a few weeks for a diet and then a visit from the sexy beast Patches.
signal-2024-07-20-12-58-00-628-2 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
signal-2024-08-09-114843_002 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240721_130009 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
20240722_124059 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Gerry nearest the camera is the head of the OSB herd, as such is bullying around the trough and eating a bit too much, needs to lose a few KGs, soon as the new field is fenced she will be in her own pen for a few weeks for a diet and then a visit from the sexy beast Patches.
signal-2024-07-20-12-58-00-628-2 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
signal-2024-08-09-114843_002 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
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