Initial Pig Progress

Minor changes so far, besides the hat upgrade for Trins we've changed this activity to...

...bulk feed delivery, it saves $91 per ton (a "stop-gap" measure until we can get the pigs into bigger paddocks and save even more money after they are less dependent on feed)

"plus it tastes better"

Sammy making sure the pigs agree while assessing morale.

Cutting of surplus concrete grid reinforcement with bolt cutters to make additional temporary fencing.

They measure 16' x 8' and if cut in three sections you get 48 linear feet of fencing that is almost 3' high (sufficiently high to keep pigs in) but still heavy so as a bonus you get good exercise installing them.  These are going into the wood line so the pigs have access to shade (you need to offer them the means to cool down like in an area for them to wallow or shade since they don't sweat).

Once a new area is available, they don't waste any time entering it.  One immediately hears a slightly squeaky sound as they pull on grass and other plants with their mouths.

Here is portion of a long term paddock plan, still in draft.  Thought has been put into available forages, topology and efficiency - for example this area has a northern facing slope and for some reason is well disposed for huge oaks (which means these paddocks can be used for finishing the pigs on acorns in the fall), there is also a significant ravine on the north edge to be avoided (crossing ravines increases fencing costs in addition to engendering gaps) but I'm still able to define paddocks that are about 1 acre each.  The yellow lines are to be 20' removable gates to funnel pigs as needed and water troughs will be placed across the fencing that divides paddocks in order to maximize their use (as opposed to buying a trough for each paddock).

Now it's time for a break.  What's going on in the kitchen?

Get down from there! Can't focus on this post with plates dropping on the floor!

Where was I?  Oh yeah, about bees.  We had a visit from a bear (wasn't happy to find this).  Notice the comb has been scooped out and piled on the ground (it also left behind tracks).

All bee HOAs have now been upgraded to gated communities (used 16' x 8' grid cut into two sections, so fencing is 4' high), wrecked comb from the bear encounter is where it was originally dropped in the bottom right, the hive was put back together and now inside the fencing.  The resident bee keeper says it's not the honey that bears are after, apparently they like to munch on the brood.  A week later bees were still coming in and out of the damaged have.  I will be amazed if it survives, only 10-15% of the comb was left in it.