Meet Sausage and Patty.
We took them home this weekend to a clean pen with fresh straw.
Annabelle didn’t know what to make of them.
We wormed them.
And gave them pig feed.
They look pretty comfortable. We’re keeping them in this small pen (separated from the other animals) for a few days until we have their big pen down in the sheep meadow ready. Once they’re big enough that they can’t get out under the gates in the meadow, we’ll pasture them.
They probably shouldn’t get too comfortable, though.
Morgan: “Who came up with the names?”
Me: “I did.”
Weston: “It’s called foreshadowing, Morgan.”
They’re awfully cute, though.
The Ornery Angel, who gave them to us, put them in a cat crate we brought with us. We let her be in charge of collecting them. When the big mama saw what was happening, she climbed up the side of her pen and looked like she was about to break it down. And come kill us all.
I was glad to get out of there.
We got back to the house, put the crate down in the pen, and just let the piglets come out on their own. We wanted to give them a bath and check to see what gender they were, so we tried picking them up.
I’ve never picked up a piglet before.
And after seeing this, I never will.
So much for that bath…. (And the gender? Boy and girl. Sausage and Patty…..)
Leah says:
Technically,Patty could be a no eat name!Plus they’re cute. Ha,ha,ha,ha!The piglets look healthy. I would’ve wanted to get away from their mama ASAP too!
On June 1, 2009 at 2:07 am
Sheila Z says:
Is the little guy a boar or a barrow?
On June 1, 2009 at 3:02 am
Kathleen in Michigan says:
Oh my they are cute! Don’t know if I could turn them into food.
On June 1, 2009 at 3:08 am
Box Call says:
I love it. A decade ago, wait two decades ago, my father, uncle and I raised pigs. In my mind there is nothing better for the farm living-right after chickens-than pigs; I will be interested to see if you can keep those rascals inside that meadow. I believe they can wallow out of any enclosure but one with a concrete. If Sausage is a boar you and 52 know what has to be done so the meat isn’t too strong! Believe me you don’t want to smell sausage cooking from a BOAR. :hungry:
On June 1, 2009 at 3:46 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
We have somebody who knows how to do it who is going to come over and “fix” him….!
On June 1, 2009 at 4:16 am
Box Call says:
That will take the smile off his face for a day!
On June 1, 2009 at 6:36 pm
beekudzu says:
If I lived on a farm, I’d have to become a vegetarian.
Or either just grow crops. Which would be hard for me, because I’m a terrible gardener.
They are cute. Now, when is Pocohontas coming?
On June 1, 2009 at 4:22 am
Kathryn says:
What a nice meat department you are raising! The latest additions look great. We always raised our own when I was little.
On June 1, 2009 at 4:31 am
Snapper says:
Ha! Silly piggy….
They are so cute! Cute enough to eat though.
On June 1, 2009 at 4:48 am
Wheezay says:
Wow little piggies are cuter than baby chickens. How adorable !
On June 1, 2009 at 5:05 am
trish says:
i watched a pig get neutered at work one day. gross!!!!
On June 1, 2009 at 5:39 am
Lynda Dunham-Watkins says:
Hope you can eat them!!! LOL The kids made a pet from one of ours, called him ‘Frankie’. When I cooked pork chops, they would ask “Is this Frankie, Mom?” LOL
On June 1, 2009 at 5:51 am
Lise Funderburg says:
Such cute little fellas — these photos illustrate exactly why I might never be able to raise pigs. It might really mess with my rampant carnivorism.
On June 1, 2009 at 6:17 am
WKF says:
YOU NAMED THEM????????? You’re not supposed to name them. Much less take really cute pictures of them. Pigs are so smart. Good
Luck on eating them. :eating: When is Pocohontas coming?
On June 1, 2009 at 6:25 am
Cyndi Lewis says:
I love them! I too want a yearly pig. The first one already has a name- BACON! Are you going to purchase a couple of piglets every year or keep a momma around and have her birth them for you?
On June 1, 2009 at 6:27 am
heidiannie says:
They really are cute! I’m glad they aren’t so cute when they mature!
Hopefully they’ll be good eating!
On June 1, 2009 at 6:27 am
wildcat says:
Love the names! I guess Sausage is the boy and Patty is the girl? 😆
On June 1, 2009 at 6:47 am
Judy Mitchell says:
The hardest thing about farm living is to raise animals from babies and then slaughter and eat them. My parents delegated the feeding and petting to me as soon as I was old enough. That kept them from getting emotionally involved at slaughter time. It left emotional scars on my psyche! I was never so glad to move to the city and find chicken, pork and beef already dead and nicely packaged for my enjoyment. My aversion never made a vegan out of me, but the only farm I’d want now is a petting zoo! Best of luck with that! I hope (for your sake) that Sausage and Patty are worse than Mean Rooster…so you don’t fall in love with them.
On June 1, 2009 at 7:10 am
Kari Dell says:
Wow, I miss our pig-raising days. They are very cool animals. As they get bigger, though, they can destroy a pasture. They root up the grass to expose the nice cool dirt to burrow into. Something to keep in mind..
On June 1, 2009 at 7:25 am
The Jillybean says:
Growing up our neighbor had a pig farm…they were ALWAYS getting out. But there was this one pig in particular that would always come to our house to escape, I think he liked being around all the kids and he loved to steal any ball left laying in the yard.
On June 1, 2009 at 7:27 am
Diane says:
Cute video. Love hearing you all laughing. Was that 52 helping you or one of your boys. The pigs are cute. After seeing all your animal I am glad I never raised animal to eat. I am not sure if I could do it. lol.
On June 1, 2009 at 7:35 am
Stargirl says:
oh my goodness!!! I’ve never seen cuter piggies in my life.
On June 1, 2009 at 8:17 am
Alicia says:
Fun! They are adorable!
Watch them closely in the meadow. They will tear up anything they can with their noses if you don’t have concrete down. I think they could dig to China if they wanted to.
On June 1, 2009 at 8:18 am
BuckeyeGirl says:
When they get bigger, they WILL snack on unsuspecting chickens if they get a chance. Always remember they’re omnivores like we are, except a WHOLE LOT less fussy! We lost a chicken to the pigs once, it was when they were a lot bigger than that though, almost ready to butcher… a hen got out and thought their pen looked like a good place to scratch around for goodies, she was wrong. Just thought you should keep that in mind.
They’re nice looking piggies though and I’m sure they’ll enjoy cleaner drier quarters a LOT!! :sun:
On June 1, 2009 at 8:25 am
Heidi says:
I LOVE 52’s laugh!!! They are healthy little buggers with a squeel like that!!!
On June 1, 2009 at 8:27 am
Ms E says:
Oh, they have names?! We’ll see if they end up in the freezer. They are really sweet, you’ll enjoy them once they adjust to living in a positive, healthy environment.
On June 1, 2009 at 8:39 am
Miss Becky says:
When I was about 10 years (I grew up on a farm in the Midwest) old my father took me with him to the processing plant, where he stood and talked with the owner while guys in the plant put hogs up on huge hooks to hang there by their hind legs while bleeding to death from a knife stuck in their side. Since that day I cannot eat meat. It was a horrible sight, and I compare that image with your piggy photos and just sigh. Live and learn. Enjoy your pork roasts; I will be surprised if you decide to have pigs every year…best of luck in your endeavors!
On June 1, 2009 at 8:46 am
JenniferB says:
I love the names you chose — hilarious. I remember the time we had butcher chicks that we were raising when my daughter was in 3rd grade. The teacher asked if I could bring a couple in every other week or so and let the students draw them, discuss their growth and changes, etc. Well, I came in with 3 fluffy little chicks and my daughter introduced them as “Chicken Nugget”, “Chicken Soup” and “Chicken stir-fry”. Some of the kids were horrified, but the teacher (also married to a farmer) just grinned and nodded.
On June 1, 2009 at 9:01 am
FidLdd says:
I loved the piggies names! I named my daughters first batch of chickens Cacciatore ,Francase,Nuggets,Tetrazini,etc. They were like pets and all came to the back door for treats in the morning and then went on to their chicken chores.
About “The Patty & Sausage Show” Was that a burp ? What a PIG!!!
On June 1, 2009 at 9:07 am
Ang. says:
Nice looking little guys. 🙂 When you catch pigs, you grab them by the back leg. Its a whole lot easier! The easiest way to sex pigs is to look at their back end. Gilts have a “Hershey Kiss” and boars don’t. Have fun raising them! Pigs are a ton of fun.
On June 1, 2009 at 9:10 am
Bev says:
How sad that one day poor, precious, cute, little Sauasage will be just that…sausage…..:o(
Suzanne…do realize that without a nose ring they will tear up you whole field???
On June 1, 2009 at 9:22 am
monica says:
Little N. thought they were just so cute! I don’t think I could ‘do it’ myself, but I sure do enjoy the taste of fresh sausage!
When is Pocahantas coming?
On June 1, 2009 at 9:31 am
Claudia W. says:
My your farm family is growing in leaps and bounds! They are cute.
The video was fun…all the laughter was great! Now, I can’t wait til you introduce us to Pocahantas! When?
On June 1, 2009 at 9:37 am
Ulrike says:
“It’s called foreshadowing, Morgan.”
Definitely an author’s son. 😀
Also, it looks like Annabelle is there, ready to teach them to be the Best Darned Dogs they can be!
On June 1, 2009 at 9:41 am
Angie says:
Sausage and Patty are too cute – LOL Love the names 🙂
On June 1, 2009 at 10:05 am
Taryn says:
I don’t know if they are cute or not…that one 52 picked up sounded a lot like it was growling…that is a really scary thought. Congrats on next year’s breakfasts!
On June 1, 2009 at 10:25 am
gwen says:
so happy to be reading your stories again, as mij internet was down for a whole week, horror!!!
I have a lot to catch up on hahahah
On June 1, 2009 at 10:36 am
Nancy in Atlanta says:
Piggies!!! From the comments by all the experienced pig owners, I’d say you have a lot to prepare for! They are so cute when they’re little.
Your farm photo – by the expert head-butting, I’d say Annabelle is beginning to think she’s a goat. :sheep: :cowsleep:
On June 1, 2009 at 10:36 am
Robin G. says:
Yay! Baby piggies will result!
And, also… best not to name the ones you’re going to eat later. Let Sausage and Patty, you know, create the next generation who will really be the sausages and patties.
On June 1, 2009 at 11:07 am
Debbie in PA says:
I don’t know Suzanne…naming something that you are going to eventually eat may not be such a hot idea. My Dad grew up on a small farm, and sll the chickens had names. None of the kids would eat them when they showed up onthe dinner table.
That said, I love their names! They are so cute!
And the lady who commented about them tearing up your field without a nose ring was right….it is absolutely amazing how fast pigs can tear up a yard when they go “grubbing”
On June 1, 2009 at 11:38 am
Susan Tawney says:
Good luck on being able to eat them after you’ve named them and raised them. You can’t help but get attached when you’re feeding them every day. They’re very smart. We had Mr. Piggy for 4 years and he enjoyed his last year immensely as we let him become a free-range pig (in a big field). We became prisoners in our own home because he would stay in the field until he saw you coming with his or anyone else’s dinner. Then nothing would hold him in. He was never “fixed” and was a gentle pig unless food was involved, and then it was “outta my way — everything” My husband did the deed one day when I was at the dentist. It liked to kill him. He said, “I just killed one of my best friends today. I talked to that pig more than anyone else on the farm.” We never got another pig after that. For some reason, chickens are different. We have two or three pet chickens that will never be dinner, but the rest we have no problem with. Well, I shouldn’t say “no problem” but it’s not as hard. Good luck, but I have a feeling you won’t be able to eat them.
On June 1, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Box Call says:
You can name them and eat them…..no problem at all. Herschel, Sam, Red, and Spot were but a few that I raised and ate.
On June 1, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Estella says:
My family used to raise pigs. The piglets were sneaky little devils. They could escape from almost any place they were confined.
They were not easy to catch once they got loose, either.
On June 1, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Jenny says:
They are cute. I haven’t ever held a piglet before, but I’ve heard they are very solid little pieces. My husband got posts set today for our pig pen. We are hoping to get ours this month if all goes well.
~Jenny~
On June 1, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Rachel says:
I absolutely LOVE the names!! 😆
As for naming and then eating…IDK, they are cute now, but when they are full grown and stinky I am sure that side of bacon will be calling your name. :hungry2:
Then again I could just be cold-hearted. :yes:
On June 1, 2009 at 4:28 pm
4rum says:
Try to take a little care handling piglets, or even full grown hogs. They are easily injured. They have relatively weak backs and hips. Very susceptable to hip displacia … like German Shepards.
On June 1, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Kacey says:
LOL, just love, LOVE their names!! 😆
On June 1, 2009 at 7:27 pm
darlyn says:
Closet we have ever gotten to a piglet was at the State Fair. My daughter, who was 7 at the time, told me that she could NEVER eat a pig! She told me that pigs were the cutest things God ever did create and we could NOT eat them. I informed her that pigs are we get BACON and pork chops from. She decided that they were not that cute after all.
On June 1, 2009 at 7:28 pm
darlyn says:
Oops, make that CLOSEST, not closet! LOL.
On June 1, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Jodie says:
I love the names. I know it will be hard to eat them. It’s your 1st year or so with lots of new animals. BUT those of us who like to eat meat need to realize where it comes from. At least you’ll know the source and know that it was raised humanely and given healthy food. Can’t wait to see what Pocahontas is! PS. LOVED the video. Good pig wrangling 52!
On June 1, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Senta says:
I made my Husband come look at the pig video. His response was,”No!No pigs!” :no: You know since I brought the chicks home he is the one finding all the treats, and clucking at the girls so they come running. :heart: I would rather have a Clover. :yes:
On June 1, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Darlene says:
Uhmmmm…so you really think you’re going to EAT these. Sweetie, you couldn’t even kill Mean Rooster! And he was charging at you and Morgan. Somehow I don’t think these guys are destined to be dinner, or breakfast or lunch either. 😉 :pinkpig: :hungry:
On June 2, 2009 at 8:53 am
sunnid755 says:
what cute little piggehs, reminds me of my little pig catching days. Thanks for sharing!!
On June 2, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Goodnewsfarm says:
You are as bad as me. I have 2 steers called Chuck and Roast….
On June 3, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Sandy says:
Love the names, hope you don’t mind if I use them next year. This year’s pig is named Schnitzel and last year’s was Applesauce as in “Pork Chops and Applesauce” from Peter Brady. He had Appaloosa spots so it seemed to fit nicely. :happyflower:
On June 3, 2009 at 6:26 pm
monica says:
I saw the daily pic of the apple box & rooster: You are lucky to have the grocery store let you have the stuff they can’t sell! Just remember that the more good food they get, the better they will taste! No more ‘factory farm meat’ for me! They get fed cardboard (fiber) and garbage. They live in disgusting conditions! I wish we had room for a goat or cow for milk. Little N. just loves dairy products!
I think you are so lucky to have enough land to be self sufficient. As the economy continues to slide, more people are going to be looking for advice. Keep up the great work!!
On June 4, 2009 at 8:10 am
Mande says:
:pinkpig: I did the “raise your own pig” thing last year. His name was bacon…it is hard because after a while they will come when you call them, they act a lot like dogs. BUT I got over it when I was frying up some bacon….LOL
On June 7, 2009 at 5:56 am
Elle French says:
We always named our pigs food names too – Pork Chop and Hambone, Bacon and Eggs, Breakfast and Dinner. We weren’t allowed to play with them, either, although they are SUCH fun!
On June 23, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Karen says:
Their names are so cute! Close to my motto if you’re raising animals for food – call them meat and don’t pet them. :hungry:
On June 29, 2009 at 8:00 am
Theresa says:
I love their names. Once when I was a little girl my uncle took me and a friend to an auction and let us pick out a baby calf. He didn’t tell us it was for next year’s labor day until we had already brought her back to his farm. We named her Bon a’ petite and called her bonnie. LOL She was a good cow.
On January 22, 2010 at 10:18 am
Jessica says:
Wow, this post makes me even happier than I usually am that I don’t eat animals. Such sweet creatures deserve life & affection, not slaughter. The comments are really sad, too. Don’t people realize that you don’t HAVE to eat animals?! Maybe if your gut is telling you that you’d “have to be a vegetarian” if you were around farm animals…you should be a vegetarian. Pretending that animals didn’t have to be slaughtered to end up on your plate doesn’t change reality. 🙁
On April 26, 2011 at 5:29 pm