Sally becomes a Mom!

My Sally, a Kune Kune heritage breed pig became pregnant.  I tried to calculate the date of her birth, as pigs have fairly reliable cycles and she was just on time.  we were so excited to wake up to discover 5 babies in her birthing house.  We had installed a "creep" a wooden separation with a heat lamp for the babies. This way Mom doesn't roll over her babies - they can get out from underneath her.  Watching her tender caring for the piglets and seeing them growing, playing and scampering about was endlessly entertaining.  I had to tear myself away more than once. Even more endearing was watching papa, Jethro talking to his offspring through the fence.  Jethro is also a heritage breed - American Guinea Hog. We combined the 2 breeds to produce stronger, healthier piglets. When we eventually permitted him to join mother and babies, no father was more caring than my gentleman boar.  He went into teaching mode - it was incredibly sweet to see the small family together.  The family were eventually permitted to free range, eat acorns and forage.  They became healthy, sassy and active.  My pigs have a beautiful life.  I do butcher them and take solace in my avoidance of products produced on factory farms.  The lifetime of neglect, cruelty and fear is not something that I can support.  My pigs have a beautiful life and one bad day.  Eating home raised pork has changed my cooking and eating habits.  The lard made from the pig fat is amazing to cook with and the flavor of the meat is incredible. The process of accepting animals as food has been educational and has forced me to stretch and expand my personal philosophies. I have also started to process chickens using the same ethics and practices.  This has been life changing.