We have a pig!!!!!!!
We headed over the river and through the woods a few miles away to a pig farm. I don’t know if this is how you pick up pigs because, honestly, I just don’t pick up pigs, but it is always entertaining to watch other people pick up pigs.
As long as you are not the pig.
We took him home in a cat carrier and he disembarked in the big pig pen in the meadow bottom.
His name is Pork Chop. Don’t get attached.
Flashback: My favorite pig-picking-up video. (52, picking up one of our previous piglets.)
CALAMITY CREEK says:
Now that’s about the most ominous name for a pig I have every heard. Please don’t tell us cute, fuzzy stories about Pork Chop cause you know we’re gonna get attached.
He’s a handsome pig, tho.
On May 21, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
No, no cute stories about the pig. Just like the last ones. You probably won’t hear about the pig again! Unless it’s a recipe. (JUST KIDDING.)
On May 21, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Re the question will we do the pig ourselves, no, the pig will go to a butcher.
On May 21, 2011 at 8:19 pm
cin13 says:
I seconded that. Please NO cute stories…..I’m from the city and my “porkchop” comes prepackaged! :shocked:
On May 21, 2011 at 8:07 pm
whaledancer says:
Do you have a butcher nearby who will handle the slaughtering butchering, or do you have to do it yourself? Will you be curing your own bacon and hams?
One lesson I learned about picking up a pig when I was a little girl is don’t pick up a piglet and make it squeal when there’s a 300 lb sow (its mother) standing behind you. My adopted uncle made a flying tackle, knocking me to the ground with him on top of me, to save me. Once I understood WHY he had treated me so roughly, it drove the lesson home for all time.
On May 21, 2011 at 8:08 pm
themandabear says:
They are cute when they are babies – not later on though!
Mmm Bacon *_* If I ever had the space to raise a pig I’d have to call it Bacon
On May 21, 2011 at 8:10 pm
yvonnem says:
Just like “Sausage and Patty”! Pork chops are good!!!!!!! :snoopy:
On May 21, 2011 at 8:21 pm
wbender says:
We just went to the butcher today and picked up half of a pig that we bought. I’m thinking about raising three pigs next year with my neighbor, one for each of us and one to sell to help with the cost of raising the pig. But I’m curious about how hard it is to raise a pig? Is it worth it financially?
On May 21, 2011 at 8:22 pm
wvhomecanner says:
ROFL! That’s a great video! See ya in September, Porkchop!
dede
On May 21, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Re my experiences with pigs, you can see the (few) posts I have about our previous pigs here:
https://chickensintheroad.com/barn/archives/pigs/
Re are they worth it financially–we feed our pigs mostly for free, from leftovers from the farmers market, so for us, yes. Depends on what you’re feeding them. But money isn’t the only point, there’s also the point of raising your own food, knowing what went into it, giving the animal a good life as opposed to the factory farming conditions that result in most pre-packaged food at the store plus the health/organic value of what you’re feeding your family (and yourself).
On May 21, 2011 at 8:56 pm
farmershae says:
Yay! Nummy piggy! I do get a little attached to our livestock, but I think it’s mostly because I’m so thankful that they are giving their lives to feed us. I try really hard to give them a happy, fulfilling lfe in return. I probably spend more time with them because of it, too. Can’t wait to raise pig!
On May 21, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Cheryl LeMay says:
What breed is it? It’s cute. I really wanted to get a couple this spring but there was just too much going on. Please share your piggie experiences with us.Some of us want to learn about it,just like your cows,etc.
On May 21, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Oh, and Cheryl, it’s a Hampshire.
On May 21, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Jersey Lady says:
Hi Suzanne-Congrats on Pork Chop. Pigs are such fun. We get 2 pigs at a time at 40 pounds and feed them to 225 pounds in about 4 months. They love MinnieCow’s milk and also get grain and hay. Their big pen is pretty easy to keep clean as they potty in one place like cats. We keep a 1/2 or whole and sell the rest.We have not had a problem but have heard pigs can be escape artists.
On May 21, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Bev in CA says:
Yes it is worth it to raise your own. It does help if you get extra from the Farmer’s Market and also some stores used to let you have their left over produce. We never fed them meat products. I heard bad stories about that. I used to render our own lard, so good for pie crust. Health wise a little won’t hurt you. We made our own breakfast sausage. The kitchen-Aid grinder worked great. Read the ingedients on Crisco. Yuk! You can make a leaner sausage. Had the bacons smoked, also left some fresh for side pork. Fried for breakfast with salt & Pepper, so good. Sacked pig feed is available at the feed store.
On May 21, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Liesl says:
That a cute little pig Suzanne.We are also raising quite a few little pigs and I have been thinking of building us a smokehouse to make easy things like bacon and kassler chops and such,some easy ham recipes would be nice to find. Any ideas on smokehouses???
On May 22, 2011 at 2:04 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Liesl, we don’t have a smokehouse, but that would be nice!
On May 22, 2011 at 6:30 am
lavenderblue says:
A little reading material: https://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1975-05-01/Pork-By-The-Book.aspx
https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/1991-12-01/uncle-billys-salt-cured-ham-zm0z91zblon.aspx
and this old favorite:https://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Build-An-All-In-One-Outdoor-Oven-Stove-Grill-And-Smoker.aspx
Don’t know as the last will cure a ham but this is as good and excuse as any to get it built.
As far as the finances the Mother Earth News handbook (an old, old copy let me warn ya’) says hogs were known as “mortgage lifters”. You’d raise several, sell them to friends and neighbors by the half, quarter, whatever, keeping one whole one for yourself and supposedly earn enough to put a substantial ding in the farm’s mortgage for that year. Probably because they are, well, pigs and will grow fat on anything.
Now, since I only read about these things and Mr. Neighbor is no longer here to guide me, what the heck is the difference between a pig and a hog? If I knew at one time, I have forgotten.
On May 22, 2011 at 10:01 am
wvhomecanner says:
The difference between a pig and a hog is (if I remember correctly) age and weight. A pig is younger and a hog is heavy and older. Do I remember at what weight and age the change in terms happens? No LOL.
dede
On May 22, 2011 at 11:05 am
MaryMooCow says:
Chickens beware! We lost several to our cute little piggies. We got two because they told us they would fatten up faster if they had a little competition eating next to them. I guess they overeat so the other won’t get it. Gross. You really learn where these ol sayings originated after living on a farm. ‘Eating like a pig’ is a really nasty thing to say after you’ve seen the way a pig really eats!
Blessings,
Mary
https://lundkids.blogspot.com
On May 22, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Sheila Z says:
Only one? Is Pork Chop going to be able to handle all the excess whey and milk production on his own? I see some amazing milk fed pork in your future!
On May 22, 2011 at 2:24 pm
TinaBell says:
Congratulations on your new piggy. He’s a cutie, and will be delicious too, I’m sure! I’d love to keep a pig but I’m sure I’d get too attached to eat him…The video was great, I laughed out loud at the grunty oink that he made at the end. A riot!!
On May 23, 2011 at 8:36 am
msmitoagain says:
They make the most horrible noise….
On May 23, 2011 at 10:44 am