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Pigs Moving Into Greenhouse
Pigs In Greenhouse Although we do not have the cover on the greenhouse yet we have been moving pigs in to the wind protected space created by the north tarp. Although fifteen have shifted to sleeping...
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Split Ends
Tamboar’s Boar Bristles Pigs have split ends. Massively split ends. This is the norm on the very large pigs. I think I might have figured out an evolutionary function of split ends. I see this most of...
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Greenhouse In Use – Stocking Density
South Field Greenhouse Ten days ago we pulled the tarp up and and over the south field greenhouse. The greenhouse doesn’t look green yet since it has the initial winter tarp rather than the clear...
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Hens and Roosters
Hens and Roosters South Field Shed These are some of our chickens who have taken over the south field shed, our other greenhouse, for the winter. I say greenhouse because that is it’s intended long...
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Winter Garden Paddock
Sows, Piglets & Berkshire Boar Spitz In the winter we shift the pigs down off of the mountain pastures into winter paddocks closer to the house. These areas are more protected from the wind,...
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Snow Eaters
Pigs Eating Snow When you see livestock eating snow it means you should check your waterers. They can do fine eating snow, as research has shown, however it takes more calories to convert the frozen...
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Auto Pig Sorter
Auto Pig Sorter Seen from Approach Perspective Although we have multiple herd groups, for ease of management, water access, whey feeding and such we like to keep the pigs in large groups than smaller...
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Winter Trails
Winter Pig Trail While technically, by the calendar, it may be spring, it is still winter here on the mountain. As such, the pigs are sticking close to their winter trails where the snow is packed...
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Winter Paddocks
Winter Garden Paddock During the warm months from spring through late fall our pigs graze out on our pastures across the mountain side. We have about 70 acres of pasture which we use in a grand...
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Painted, Probed & Pierced Pigs
Painted Pigs Snoozing Today I picked, prodded, painted, probed and pierced pigs. For them this was a special opportunity. All of them are breeders who are shipping to other farms across the country....
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Acres Magazine: The Practical Permaculture Pig
Sugar Mountain Farm featured in Acres USA Magazine There is an article in the latest issue of Acres USA Magazine about pasturing pigs titled “The Practical Permaculture Pig” by Andrew French which...
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Calendar Girl – Middle Aged Now
Calendar Girl Kristie Later In Life This sow was a calendar girl in the 2015 Sugar Mountain Farm Calendar. Her photo then actually was taken nearly a year ago ago when she was a first time mother....
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White Piglets
Charlie’s Latest Piglets These are some of Charlie’s latest piglets, just born at the time of the photo. She was still in labor as the paparazzi, that is yours truly, snapped this photo. As a...
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Feeding Meat
Cherry Blossoms in Upper South Field Leslie asked in a comment: “Can or should pigs eat meat? I never have fed mine meat, but someone keeps telling me it is fine for them to eat meat. Just checking...
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Pig Bit Watch
Ben’s Watch Post Pig This is what you get when a pig bites a watch. Good thing it was not an Apple Watch.[1, 2] Ben had been out working on the north field fencing and his watch came off, somewhere....
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Preparing to Pop
White Gilt in Farrowing Field Each week we sort pigs. Some go to market. Some go to breeding herds. Some go to farrowing fields. This gilt is in the lower south field’s paddock one and approaching her...
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Microlots Nesting
Microlots Considering Nest Location Each week we sort pigs, shifting them around between herd groups, boar territories, paddocks and selecting those who will go to market. Part of that is moving the...
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Lard vs Bacon Pigs
Katya & Ben with Weaner Pigs in South Weaning Paddock Dr. Food commented on yesterday’s post: A lean “bacon” breed? I never thought of “bacon” and “lean” in the same clause like that…. Pigs are...
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Inverted Nipple
Inverted Nipple When I am doing vaccines I like to have isopropyl alcohol available for dipping tools and needles. The problem is it’s all too easy to spill a pail of C3H8O. While feeding a kitchen...
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Sorting & Driving Pigs
Ben and Will Driving Pigs Each week we call pigs down from the mountain pastures to sort, select, redistribute and take to market. I use my magic wand, waving it above the herd and then spray paint...
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