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Off Topic :
farm life, meet Bella

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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 7:44 PM on Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

The chicks, turkeys and ducklings have arrived. The house is loud with chirping.

The store employees nicknamed one duck with a black spot Houdini because he kept getting out of the box. Caught him trying to escape on the way home.

Oh man the turkeys are beautiful.

I am so happy. So are the kids. Not so sure wh will be though.

Oh AND i had posted on the community page looking for an old covered box trailer or camper trailer to use as a animal house ages ago. Neighbour up the road messaged me. Hes bringing me a huge fifth wheel camper trailer for free tomorrow. I am giddy. New goat house here i come!!! And its moveable. Yay!!!

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8652682
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 8:25 PM on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021

Heres an update:

Bella the piglet is officially no longer into snuggles all day long. She's become adventurous. Even leaps from the sofa to run around the house. She likes to run and jump. She can even jump out of her night box to come wake me or wh up when shes hungry or needs to pee....she enjoys rubbing her butt on anything she can (the chihuahua did not find this amusing one bit lmao)

Edited to add that Bella is using a litter box now. If only we can get her to eat and drink from a bowl....

Below house duck Becky is meeting Bella the piglet. Becky wasnt so sure about Bella at first. I think she doesnt like that Bella has the heat mat lol. Bella refused to leave her bed to investigate Becky.

[This message edited by DragnHeart at 2:26 PM, April 28th (Wednesday)]

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8654834
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 4:52 PM on Tuesday, May 4th, 2021

Update:

Bella went from syringe feeding to a bottle to now drinking from a bowl! I am so proud of her progress. Shes also gaining weight nicely!

We did have a bit of a scare this morning when she threw up all over her blanket. I held off giving her a bottle to let her stomach settle but left a bowl of warm milk for her and while i was helping one of the kids with their schoolwork dd found Bella drinking from the bowl.

She just got up from her nap and went straight to the bowl

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8656526
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 4:00 PM on Friday, May 7th, 2021

Look at the chubby cheeks!!! Finally Bella is putting on some weight.

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8657585
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 4:37 PM on Sunday, May 9th, 2021

I have discovered that Bella likes to tear apart paper....

We had a Big scare with Becky the duck. She has a cage she stays in at night. We leave the door open during the day and she comes and goes as she wants.

A couple of nights ago the older kids came to me crying that she was dying. She must have tried to fly/jump while IN her cage and knocked herself silly. I honestly thought we were going to lose her.

We put her in a box in the bathroom where its warm and the kids stayed with her until they went to bed. Next morning becky was out of the box. Yesterday she just spent sitting on a towel, ate and drank. Today she's more herself walking around. Shes still not 100% yet. She still wont run around like she normally does but i think shes out of the woods.

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8658012
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Jeaniegirl ( member #6370) posted at 6:29 PM on Sunday, May 9th, 2021

Dragn, you have taught your children how to love and care for animals. THAT is so important.

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8658027
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 11:13 PM on Sunday, May 9th, 2021

Thank you. Im trying. Of course they love the animals, just not whats involved in caring for them lol. Thats moms job.

I went out to get some groceries and animal feed today. Saw electric wire fencing for a really great price!

Set it up so momma goat and kids can venture out to some nice green grass.

Giz our kid buck touched the fence first. Jumped straight up. Pearl was next. Ran and hid back in the kennel lol. Both are out again with mom.

Im impressed with my solar energizer. Was out all winter and still packs a punch lol

This is perfect fencing for dividing the pasture to keep my boys from the kids and girls.

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8658052
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 3:30 PM on Friday, May 14th, 2021

Well sad news

Ds has been feeding and watering mom and piglets in the garage. He found one baby squished. This happens so i had made an area babies could go that mom couldn't to prevent that! Didn't work. Ds found baby two yesterday and was devastated. Despite baby three eating and drinking from the bowls she was shivering and had lost weight so we made the decision to bring her upstairs too. She now has a huge crate, blanket, food and water bowls. Mom still has milk coming in so we don't know why that baby is losing weight, especially with her eating pig pellets.

Bella is still tiny compared to her.

This piglet is very calm. Just wants to be held and snuggled. Ds and dd took turns all evening. If i can find a place open ill buy her a heat mat. If not ill order her one. Her and Bella also look so different from eachother. Bella has a smooth. Short coat, her sister has a more rough, long

coat. Ive got both on whole goats milk so that should put the weight back on.

Mom was put out with the other pigs and it was a happy reunion with her girlfriend Truffle.

So now two piglets and a house duck. The 11 ducklings will be going out to the coop brooder this weekend. Turkey poults and chicks are doing amazing out there. Geese are with momma goat and kids in electric net fence pen.

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8659407
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 9:24 PM on Thursday, May 27th, 2021

Officially no longer a runt! She used to be the size of his hand. A very spoiled piggy!!! We always warmed her milk in the microwave so now when she hears it on she squeaks. She gets milk but only at meal times.otherwise she has a bowl of water and her piggy pellets.

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8663137
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zebra25 ( member #29431) posted at 4:24 AM on Friday, May 28th, 2021

Wow! That little piggy has really grown. So cute!!!

"Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces."

D-day April 2010

posts: 3712   ·   registered: Aug. 25th, 2010
id 8663276
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 1:58 PM on Friday, May 28th, 2021

Trying to spread the joy and cuteness with piggy pictures lol

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8663392
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BraveSirRobin ( member #69242) posted at 4:26 PM on Friday, May 28th, 2021

Aww! Yay Bella.

Is her sister ok? I wasn't sure if you still had two house piglets.

WW/BW

posts: 3724   ·   registered: Dec. 27th, 2018
id 8663480
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 4:40 PM on Friday, May 28th, 2021

Sadly Shelly passed away over the weekend. The kids didnt stop crying all day. She had been eating and drinking just fine, was gaining weight and running around but passed overnight. We dont know why.

Luckily Bella is doing well. Some contact dermatitis on her legs due to the wet grass. A common issue with the horses with white socks. Bella wasnt happy with me but diaper cream has cleared it up nicely.

She has been just so helpful...started the kitchen renovation for us by tearing up the loose floor tiles.

She now has "toys" to keep her occupied when shes not getting belly rubs or snuggles.

Note: two of our three adult females were bred before they came here and are due end of june.

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8663485
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Jeaniegirl ( member #6370) posted at 6:09 PM on Friday, May 28th, 2021

That is one cute PIGGY. But I have a feeling she doesn't know she's a Pig.

Dragn, did you ever watch those old Green Acres sit com shows where that Ziffle family had a pet pig named Arnold Ziffle? I watch it now on old-time TV. Priceless! They treated Arnold like a son and he even had a college fund. Too funny.

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8663505
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 3:04 PM on Monday, May 31st, 2021

Nope never saw those shows.

We have had a situation arise thats kinda scary.

Pigs, like all herd animals have a hierarchy. Even at birth piglets fight for teat order. A common problem with "house pigs" is sudden aggression. A show of dominance towards their humans or other pets. They may show agression when disturbed from a nap or food agression.

Yesterday we had spent outside. A couple of times Bella got frisky with the chihuahua wanting to play and he wanted no part of it. Snapped at her. Didnt make contact though. Bella seemed fine.

We came in for dinner. Then went back out. Wh went to pick her up and she bit him. No warning. When he put her down she ran to her potty spot. We though maybe she had to go and thats why. When he tried again later again she tried to bite him. She even went after DS. I tried and she lunged at me. A quick bop to the nose and a firm no and she sat down and just looked at me. I ended up taking her inside and she ate and drank her milk then went and laid down. I had my old winter coat hanging on the back of my chair that she pulled down and sleeps on since she has outgrown her pet bed.

She didn't try to bite me when i brought her inside.

At bed time we usually bring her into bed with us for a cookie treat then belly scratches. She will start to commando crawl to the end of the bed and that tells us shes ready for her crate. This time wh put her on the bed and again she lunged at him.

So in her crate she went.

All night she was restless and breathing heavy. I couldn't sleep thinking rapid breathing is a sign of pneumonia.

I bring her back out to the kitchen where she uses her potty. Urine and poop all normal. No fever. She eats, drinks then plops herself down on the coat and settles. Breathing normally. I can't leave her loose in the kitchen so i get out the larger crate, set it all up with her coat pee pads and food/water dishes.

All of that and not once did she try to bite me.

This morning i thought she would be happy to get out of her crate but after breakfast she just went and curled back up to sleep. I have been able to pet her without incident. She did yawn so i guess shes tired. We were up past 1am.

She cant tell me if something is wrong. If shes scared. If her tummy is sore. I have to watch her behaviour and rule things out one by one.

Shes not even 8 weeks old yet so this isnt a case of her first heat.

She isnt showing food aggression but she may have been hungry.

She had been sleeping when we went back out. Maybe she was just cranky because we disturbed her nap.

Maybe the dog snapping at her upset her.

Maybe wh picked her up the wrong way.

Her sleeping now isnt unusual. She would normally sleep on the coat under my chair. So the coat being in the crate it makes sense she would stay there.

What bugs me more than anything is wh response. He isnt empathetic to something being wrong. He takes it as she hates him. After the second attempt to bite him he says she can go sleep with the other pigs outside. This from a man who has babied this piglet from day one (spoiled pig syndrome is an actual thing). He did pet her before he went to work but it just seems like all the love he had for her is gone. Scary that he could just change like that.

She does seem more comfortable in the larger crate. Shes all stretched out now. I think letting her sleep is best but if theres any more changes (stops eating etc.) off to the vet we go.

[This message edited by DragnHeart at 9:07 AM, May 31st (Monday)]

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8664028
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Jeaniegirl ( member #6370) posted at 5:06 PM on Monday, May 31st, 2021

My Dad took up raising Chester White pigs for a while. My conclusion was they like to eat and sleep. Maybe she's just having a time out being a pig.

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8664045
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 5:22 PM on Monday, May 31st, 2021

I sure hope so. Still eating and drinking this morning. Came out of her crate for a while, rooted around, got rubs, tried to get into the cat food then went back to bed.

No aggresive behaviour at all.

I need to clean the kitchen up and move things around for this larger crate. Very much in the way!

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8664050
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 9:53 PM on Monday, May 31st, 2021

So wh came home and so far so good. No lunging or biting. She "mouthed" his hand but didnt bite. She does this thing where she pushes her nose up against you, usually a hand, and does a sniff suck thing. Ive seen videos of other pigs doing this as well. She wanted his palm down to do the suck.

I have been working on positive reinforcement as well as positive punishment. Training videos show using treats ONLY when they perform a desired action. So the command Sit. Then treat.

When shes goes into the cupboard a stomp or clap with a firm No! When she moves away a Sit and treat is her reward for desired behaviour.

This works great. She instantly moves away from the cupboard.

Bordom is a problem inside. She loves to shred paper. Once i cleaned up the kitchen of paper that's when she went for the cupboard. So shes bored. Dog rope toys and a Kong with some peanut butter helps. I need to find some larger stones and a bin for her to root in. This way i can put a treat in it and she can root through the bin.

Shes responding well to the larger crate as well, going there when she naps. I washed her blanket so she will have that tonight.

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8664077
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zebra25 ( member #29431) posted at 10:25 PM on Monday, May 31st, 2021

I didn't know you could train a piggy to sit!!

"Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces."

D-day April 2010

posts: 3712   ·   registered: Aug. 25th, 2010
id 8664082
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 DragnHeart (original poster member #32122) posted at 11:58 PM on Monday, May 31st, 2021

I didn't know you could train a piggy to sit!!

Yep. They can be trained to go potty outside like a dog or use a litter box like a cat. Sit, stay. Come. Im sure theres more. I havent gone through all the training videos yet. I know they can walk on a leash with body harness.

Theres some who say they make great pets while others are totally against pigs as pets.

Lots of debate on proper nutrition.

Bellas skin is very dry, moreso now that shes on pig pellets. Ive been doing alot of reading to see what formula is best. Lotion is an option. Sunscreen is also recommended.

They dont get fleas. Have hair not fur.

Wh took her out for a bit and she ran around, rooted here and there then found the cord for the pool pump,picked it up and ran. I said NO! She dropped it and kept running. Surprisingly pigs are fast runners!

Me: BS 46 WH: 37 (BrokenHeart911)Four little dragons. Met 2006. Married 2008. Dday of LTPA with co worker October 19th 2010. Knew about EA with ow1 before that. Now up to PA #5. Serial fucking Cheater.

posts: 25896   ·   registered: May. 10th, 2011   ·   location: Canada
id 8664090
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