Week Three: My Whitmore Watershed

I'm adjusting to my new lifestyle; the early mornings, loooong work days, and overall physical demands have kept me pretty tired. This week, however,  I'm not nearly as exhausted, in fact, I feel great. My body is finally catching up.  I like being up before it's light out (where I drink my coffee next to the pigs) and working a hard but super productive day. I sleep great.   I've declared week three my Whitmore Watershed.  I did a little research and according to google, dogs should adjust to their new homes within a few days. I'm not sure what this says about me, seeing as it's taken me a few weeks to adjust, but I'm glad to know that everyone needs a minute to get their bearings.  My arms and legs (and somehow even my midsection) are still covered in scratches, bites, and bruises but I like to think this gives me a sort of farm street cred. 

The farm is out in the sticks, as you might imagine, and surrounded by other farms.  We buy almost everything locally (and by locally I mean next door). Even the hay that we feed our goats and sheep comes from the farm next door.  Earlier in the week we drove next door to pick up hay bails; Kent climbed up in the barn loft and threw the bails down to the bed of the truck where I stacked them. I felt like such a farmer. 

One of our pigs was giving birth when I came back from working the farmer's market. I had been waiting for this particular pig to give birth all week. She was way past her due date and I was anxious to see my first pig birth. By the time she actually gave birth I had declared she was in labor at least a dozen times over the week. Every time I would witness what I thought was definitely a pig in labor I would run excitedly to announce her approaching delivery. By the end of the week I was pretty sure everyone was tired of my false alarms. Turns out, a pig laying on her side and breathing heavy just means she's super pregnant and uncomfortable. Now I know. The delivery went great! Kent had to intervene a bit when one of the piglets was breach but other than that everything went smoothly. 

Other neat things I learned this week:

A pig's temperature is taken rectally. If it's really sick it'll stay still and let you take it's temp, otherwise you're running around a field with a thermometer and lube trying to catch a pig. 

A pig's penis is curly on the end, like it's tail. I'm not joking, google it. 

A new momma pig is pretty protective. If you pick up a piglet and it squeals (which they always do) have an exit plan. They bite!