As you all know we were in an emergency search for a new pig as our other pig lost his buddy. So my hubby set out to visit different breeders and this is what happend.
This morning…
I got a text from my hubby saying the pig he chose was larger than we anticipated. I quickly got the goats out of the pasture and set the wires to pig height. As soon as I was done the trailer arrived and in it was this large mangalitsa pig!
This guy was definitely not happy after taken out of his group and being inside the trailer for a couple hours. I could tell he was mean.
As we tried to get him out he wouldn’t move so we actually had to get a wooden board to drive him. He tried to bite and charge several times.
I knew we were in for a challenge.
Once in the pasture he met with our other pig (our Kune) and I used the Kune to lead the newcomer to the water.
After cooling down from his trip the new pig came much closer, a bit too close for me. He made me feel uneasy with his nasty mood so just as I did with wild horses and cows I grabbed a sturdy old branch.
With these kind of situations it is best to carry a stick around to have something between you and the animal if necessary.
This afternoon..
After observing for a while it seems like he is curious and has the potential to be friendly. I’ll just keep my distance for a few days and go with the flow.
First he needs to get used to his new surroundings, routine and me. When he got too close I said “no” with a stern voice, pigs are incredible with picking up human voice and body language. He came close several times trying to get to know me but didn’t enter my space a second time.
As I walk in the pasture he keeps his distance and makes way if he happens to be in my path.
This means he at least has some respect for me now.
The people he came from let him roam free so he isn’t used to human interaction. On the plus side he is used to electric fence. He and the Kune keep their distance from each other but are chatting non-stop. I think we are off to an OK start.
Ideally I would like a more friendly animal in this situation but the availability of pigs at this time of year is very limited. I had to give the task of choosing a pig to my hubby this time, so I’ll have to trust him. He has seen several groups of pigs all raised on pasture so he probably chose a healthy sturdy individual. He has observed the normal behaviour in a group.
For now the task of caring for our new pig lies with me. I’ll make visits to him several times a day and make him feel comfortable. Making visits doesn’t mean I walk up to him, no, I’ll just stroll around the pasture. If he wants any contact he will come to me and then I’ll answer his kindness. It is important to me that I am able to touch him soon so I can check him over or treat him if something happens. We have decided to name him Willy, our other pig’s name is Manny. Makes for a nice pair.
One more thing though, the people we got them from were also self-sufficient in most of their food. They had some excess young turkeys including a white one, I’ve always wanted turkeys so most likely some of them will be picked up tonight.
What an exciting day!