I took this photo this very morning.
The Oxford Sandy and Black farrowed on her own in the field last week or so. Nine of the litter are walking round the field following their mother.
It's an incredible sight to say they are only a week or so old.
Their father is the Gloucester Old Spot boar and he watches on in another paddock and grazes and digs and wonders and contemplates the meaning of life.
The Oxford Sandy Black's were almost extinct twenty years ago and now they are making a comeback.
Anyone else keep free range pigs or thinking of getting some?
I'd rather have a pig than chickens and maybe a couple of geese. But, no, we are not contemplating starting a small-holding. Congratulations on your new arrivals
ReplyDeleteThey are characters and we get a good supply of eggs and pork and bacon Linda.
DeleteA friend of ours has two or three Tamworths...not for eating...he lends them out as garden diggers and fertilisers 😎🙂
ReplyDeleteWe have two Vietnamese pot belly pigs for pets and the big pigs are for breeding and eating GZ. They are great diggers.
DeleteI have never heard of an Oxford Sandy and White. They look lovely. We kept only Large Whites but they were also lovely. Sometimes we would have a tiny piglet in a basket by the Rayburn which mum would be looking after until it could fend for itself.
ReplyDeleteThe Oxford Sandy and Black is a rare English breed originally from Oxford and Cornwall. Your farmhouse kitchen sounds like ours with lambs, pups, kittens, lambs and piglets Rachel.
ReplyDeleteI thought about getting some pigs for our suburban garden but the thought was dismissed in a micro-second. I must admit that I feel a certain brotherhood with Trevor the Gloucester Old Spot boar. It's hard being a father and an old bore to boot.
ReplyDeleteYears ago people in villages, towns and cities would keep pigs and poultry in their backyards and gardens. I suppose it can be boaring being a pig.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered - What is a boar hole?
DeleteAll that money and they live like pigs- Pinky and Perky.
ReplyDeleteLittle piglets are so stinking cute! No, we are not thinking of getting any. I would like to borrow a couple nest spring for about a month. For exactly the reasons that Jaycee gave
ReplyDeleteThey are cute. They are great for clearing overgrown land and fertilising it. They are nature's gardeners.
DeleteLittle baby piggies! I love them. It's good you are doing your part to reinstate the breed.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them River. They are up and ready to root after only a few days.
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