Today started off normal, but certainly didn't end that way.
I went out and did some normal chores, filling up waterers, making sure the animals are all doing well, picking up things...let the turkeys out because hubby forgot, checked on the baby ducks...things like that. I decided to dismantle the "Lowboy" that was damaged, went and got keys to the shed and collected tools to start to work on it. Sometimes it seems bad to build things well, especially if you want to reuse parts...the Lowboy was basically made from 2"x2" and 2"x4" pressure treated pine, the sides just had chicken wire stapled to them, the top was already torn hardware cloth. You would think since it was put together with screws and chicken wire it would be quick and easy to take apart. It was not. It is not...I got sidetracked and helped by turkeys, it is not completely apart.
I went to get some ice water, today was kind of hot. The UPS guy stopped and made a delivery. I went and got the packages and opened them, new light bulbs for the heat lamps and shade cloth came today, I have to finish pens to separate more roosters...shade cloth is for over the last two pens. I sold 14 chickens to get the money to do it...and help feed the poultry. Anyway, while I was up at the house I saw something run across the street. I thought it was deer and walked over to see if I could see them behind the shed...when all the sudden two pigs came out from behind the shed.
They were decent size pigs and I was thinking, we have not had any wild pig signs out here...they bee-lined it to my grapevines and I thought they would tear them up. I yelled at them and they came towards me, but swerved when they saw the kiddie pool out by the tree...they jumped in the pool! I know nothing about pigs, I ran and got my camera...I figured my husband wouldn't believe me unless I had proof. Then I went out and took a few pictures, and called him. Since we already had a cow loose on our property, he believed me when I told him about the pigs. He had to go before I was able to ask him any questions...he was at work and a customer came in.
Anyway, I decided to try and get them into the backyard. We have logging trucks that drive by at 60 miles an hour on our street and didn't want them to get hurt. I also figured someone would probably come looking for them, they did when we had a cow loose on our land. I got some dog food and poured some on the ground, they gobbled it up. I went and got more and shook the container and called them and they came running. I dumped it out in my back yard. I am a member of a few groups on Social Media and asked what to do...I called the Sheriffs Office since we live out in an unincorporated area in the boonies. They had a Deputy call me back.
I heard a commotion outside and went to investigate. They had dumped out the dogs waterer, the bottle part was on the ground and wetting the porch...along with my feed barrel that was about a quarter full of scratch grains...the scratch grains were all over the porch and both pigs were munching it down. I opened the security door and retrieved the big container and lid. At this point I was unsure of how friendly they were or if they were feral hogs or domestic. I thought they were domestic, I have seen wild hogs before and they didn't look like them. But I consulted with the group and got some answers, I have never dealt with pigs before and it was kind of scary to me...I have heard they can eat people, I gave them more food...I am not ready to take care of pigs, not sure I should start off with any this big. I am guessing the weight of the larger one at 120 pounds, the smaller one at around 80 pounds...female is larger, the male...well I saw pictures of males posted on the Facebook group, he has either been fixed, or is very young still.
I hosed them down and they enjoyed it, they never rushed me or anything so they are pretty friendly, they flopped down in the water as I was wetting them down. The members of the group told me they can sunburn easy. I even was able to scratch their ears. They seem like they are people friendly.
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