Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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Pel
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Thanks Shan, Merry is now truely happyWe went to Shan's last friday to drop off some quail eggs, and she very nicely gave us a tour of her animals. We went into the field and the drift of swine came running towards us, well my father fell in love with the little KKs, he thought one imparticular was very well formed (good confirmation) and was pretty enough for merry, and he decided it would be just right for Merry (my mum's KK boar). On the way back to the sitting where we were he seemed very pleased and mum and dad chatted on the phone that night.
We decided to go chose one on sunday (6th sept), this is the little gilt he chose:
So now we had to decide how to get her home, luckily Shan had a crate that we borrowed. She travelled very well, no poos or wees or sick, and it was a 2-3hour drive. When we got home and carried her up to the 'garden' and into Merry's pen we then had to roll her out as she was fast asleep.
Mum brought up Merry's food, and straight away they were eating, and then ate together as well, no fighting occured:
The next afternoon i sneaked up.. you have to sneak otherwise they want an apple off the tree and they come running. Well i manged to take quite a cute photo of them in their house togther:
Still no fighting has occured, merry does tell penny off with a grunt and a push when she tries to nick his food, though if she is persistent he does give up 
Merry is about knee height and is 10months old, and Penny will be 5months old at the end of the month.
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marigold
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Don't they look sweet! 
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Shan
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I'm so pleased she has settled so well. She looks like she has a lovely new home and a boyfriend to boot!
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Green Rosie
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I  Kune Kune's - and they are always so much happier when they have a friend.
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Pel
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Yeah, he did have two finishers in the pen opposite to him, so he had friends, but then they went off for meat back in May, he seemed sad for a day but then wasnt to bothered. I think he will start slimming soon penny is good at nicking his share of the food as well as eating her own.
Yesterday she was pig sick, she stuffed herself full of nuts, whilst merry has a mouthful then looks up and chews slowly. She stood there guarding her food standing in a corner scoffing her face. She then wandered indoors looking a bit ill, wander round the back of the hut and through up her food, mum got her a smaller drinking bowl and put it by her so she didnt have to walk for a drink.. then she went back and began scoffing again. Today though she followed Merry's suit and ate slower 
She is a complete chatter box, whilst he only grunts if someone is up the garden, and now to her, but normally only if she comes and shoves him for attention very cute.
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BadgerFace
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Lovely photo's. What a happy couple 
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welsh veg grower
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they look so cute, will have to come up and see them with my son who just loves animals and misses having pigs, ducks etc.
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Shan
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| Pel wrote: |
She is a complete chatter box, whilst he only grunts if someone is up the garden, and now to her, but normally only if she comes and shoves him for attention very cute. |
Our piglets chatterboxes? Never!  I wouldn't know where they get it from. 
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Marionb
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I love that pic of them in their house
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AnnaD
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They're really cute wee pigs; I especially like the markings. Are they used for meat or more as pets?
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Shan
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Mostly meat but unintenionally as a pet with Pel. Although, I'm sure Penny would have very tasty jowls and her belly...hhmmmm...yummm... especially after those belly rubs.
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AnnaD
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I like the idea of keeping pigs, but I'd probably end up getting too attached to them to eat them.
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Shan
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I do get attached but I must admit I reconcile it with them having a good life with affection and when you rub the back leg, it is good to think: "Nice looking ham".
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Penny
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| Shan wrote: | | Although, I'm sure Penny would have very tasty jowls and her belly...hhmmmm...yummm... especially after those belly rubs. |
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bring me sunshine
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Shan
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| Penny wrote: | | Shan wrote: | | Although, I'm sure Penny would have very tasty jowls and her belly...hhmmmm...yummm... especially after those belly rubs. |
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Pel
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Yes, they are mainly pets, but they are both "fully working".. well hopefully Penny isnt just yet. They will be getting another pen, and another house (same design), but with the addition of farrowing bars, just incase Merry isnt infertile.. i keep thinking he is, his balls didnt drop till 5months old, and only from 7months they have looked like anything decent
If piglets do occur they will be destined for meat (home reared), or selling as meat weaners or faling that down to carmarthen market, where i know we wont get a lot for them, but they will go some where for meat.
They still havent fought, which is great. Penny is a bit of a squealer though, i'm sure he pushes her with his nose on purpose, a gently prod in the side and she squeaks
Penny defintely has some good hams on her too, hope she passes them on yum yum, and yes those jowls are fab, should make good brawn.
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Pel
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| welsh veg grower wrote: | | they look so cute, will have to come up and see them with my son who just loves animals and misses having pigs, ducks etc. |
You'd be more than welcome, we've got baby rabbits too, they are 4 weeks old at the moment.
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Pel
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| Marionb wrote: | I love that pic of them in their house
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Did you notice their veranda? Merry loves it, he gets his food in one corner of it and normally stands facing the house, however if it rains he goes parallel to his house, so he is under his veranda and gets to eat but not in the rain
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