So in the early morning it was time. We went up to the pasture with feed and water and I made a few modifications to the fencing. I wanted to make sure I could close the gate asap after I get them in and that all the grass was cleared from the line. We juiced the wire and I started wishing I had bought that tester. Nuts.
I grabbed the wire and it was pitiful, hardly a twitch. Then Navarre grabbed the wire before I could stop him and he and said "Well, there's a little bit. Is that all they need Mom?" My eyes fell on our rubber boots and I quietly said a little expletive and told the boys not touch the wire anymore. I took off my boots and socks and took a breath. I reached for the wire, its a pulse so it doesn't get you right away but when it hit, OMG! Yes, it works!
Thankfully it didn't hurt as bad as when I accidentally touched my neighbours' fence. His is set to keep his bull in, I can still feel the painful arch across my chest from that day. I repeated to the boys, don't touch the wire and put my socks and boots back on.
So now that everything is ready, it's time for the move.
I was so happy to have another adult with me, even though Paul's a city boy, he was willing to help. We went into their stall with a plan, but frankly I was flying by the seat of my pants.
The pigs have gained a lot of weight and muscle since I brought them home. After many failed attempts we managed to lasso the big one "Binoo" around the neck and drag it out. I secured the door keeping the other one in and ran and added a second lasso behind its front legs around the belly. Then I loosened the one around the neck and yelled over the screaming pig "Lets Go!" I was pulling the majorly reluctant pig and he was directing it. The kids were following cheering us on and yelling "Mom! It's pooping!" (Yeah, thanks sweeties. I really need to hear about that right now! Still, I smiled.) I made it halfway up the hill to the pasture when I yelled "Switch" The pig was fighting us the whole way and god it was heavy! I just couldn't pull anymore. Once we reached the pasture we took it to the waiting food. I secured the gate and took off the ropes. He was a little skittish but started chowing down.
"Next!"
We went back down with the plan to do it exactly the same. Why not? However the smaller one "Toopy" is way more... lively. It was certainly a rodeo in there. We were finally able to corner it. Paul got the lasso around the neck as I sat down on it, trying to hold him still. To my surprise I was bucked right off! It was going nuts and doing it's best to be louder than Toopy had been. Bear hugging the pig I wrapped the rope around its middle and yelled "Got it! Out we went. I took the lead line and he took the pull one. Once we got to the hill I knew we were faltering and I grabbed the pull line to help, Binoo fighting us the whole way. We got to the pasture and after making sure he had the pig I ran to drop the gate. The other pig was still chowing down. We got Binoo in, set the gate and I walked over to the grass outside their pasture and collapsed. I couldn't even talk, I was gulping in air.
Never. Never Again. My next pigs will go straight onto pasture, when I can still lift them. So, so tired.
I stayed with them a little while. They were checking things out, digging away. It was so cute to see their little tails wagging a mile a minute. We looked in on them throughout the day. Both are acting extremely happy to be outside. The day was heating up and we kept refilling their water. At one point as I was rubbing them down while they were having a drink, Binoo laid down on the water dish, spilling it everywhere. The sun came out and they were hot. I realised they needed some sunscreen. I started pouring some water on them. They were both oinking away staying close. I then grabbed some mud and started coating their backs and the light skin behind and on their ears. Also the mud would act as a bug repellant. They have some shade behind their little house but with this heat I want to build them a little wallow.
Playing in the mud with them was fun.
I'm so incredibly happy to finally have them on pasture.
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