Papa was trying to teach the gilts ( a gilt in a pig is equal to a heifer in cattle) to drink out of the pig nipple and E really wanted to pet a pig so he helped her in. The pigs are very gentle and tame and the kids love them, but they are not allowed in the pen without us. E is small and she makes these 1 year old gilts look very big!! Of course as soon as E was in then pen then R wanted in to. She's too little to be set down inside the pen so Papa let her 'ride a pig'. R was NOT impressed!! She did smile after a minute but repeated "No Ride PIG!! No RIDE PIG" the whole time!! Then when Papa took her out of the pen she had to come tell me. "NO RIDE PIG!" several times. So I asked her if she rode a pig. YUP she says.. Was it fun? She kinda thought about it for a minute then says YUP!! Then there was no more 'No ride pigs' Just a few 'ride pigs!' She so funny!!
R, age 2 on a Berkshire gilt with E standing by for her turn, see the black horse?
E standing beside a Berkshire pig. The pig is 1 year old and about 300lbs and E is 3.5 years old and 25 lbs. You can see the teats on this gilt. These 3 pigs should farrow (have piglets) in the next ten days or so. This one we think will be first.
E riding a pig. She loved it!! Papa had to scratch the pigs the whole time they were 'riding.' Happy pigs. In the back ground you can see the 'pig huts' we made from pallets where we are hoping they will give birth in. Note the black plastic horse E is holding. Her FAVORITE toy that goes everywhere outside with her.
