Friday, August 13, 2010

Farm Animals

Sophie Where are your babies

Meet Sophie..not to be confused with Sophia, Steve and Jo’s two barn cats. ( Steve named them.)  Sophie had babies but she is not telling where just yet.  I am sure they are hidden away, I remember when we had kittens when I was young, every time we found the baby kittens the mama cat would move them to a different spot.

heifer getting UpThis is a heifer ( that means she has not had a calf yet),  the bull spent some time in the pasture 280 days or so ago..so the girls should be having calves one of these days.  I watched these girls get up and decided that is how I get up off the floor nowadays..like a cow.  Back end first.

Baby Pigs

Finally some babies..little pigs just dried off and finding some lunch.  I told Jo if I lived there on the farm I would visit the baby pigs everyday..she just wrinkled up her nose  at me. The little pigs still have their umbilical cords, Steve lets them dry up on their own.   These farrowing crates are a big improvement from how I used to have to watch the pigging sows in a pen, I would be perched on the top of the pen with a scoop shovel ready to protect the newborn pigs..some sows are not real happy to be Moms. Sometimes they can be real cranky. 

I had a good visit to the neighbors farm. I enjoy seeing the animals:)

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm with you...the piglets would be my first stop every day!

Liz

LadyFi said...

What great shots of the critters! Those pigs are tiny and so sweet...

Leah said...

Yes the babies are cute ---but they sure grow up fast... our 4-H barrow going to state fair we just discovered is gaining 2.8 lbs a day -- WOW --- time for a diet!

lisa said...

The piglets are just adorable! Nice looking heifer too!

Anonymous said...

Love these photos! I would be naming all the animals!

Linda said...

Little pigs are cute.....the momma's....not so much!

RURAL said...

All baby animals are cute aren't they? Those are lovely piglets.

Jen

Lynda said...

Grandpa used to have a dairy farm. I barely remember the pigs. They were gone when we were young. I did not know about the farrowing crates and gestational crates - - - - so I went on the internet. There are definite advantages but it makes me very, very sad to the point of tears to think that an animal is always confined to that small cage. It would be nice to know if some farmers let them out to exercise on a regular basis. I would like to see pigs have "runs" like dogs at a boarding kennel. It would be more expensive but if a crate is used exclusively, that is inhumane - - - - or maybe I haven't done enough research to know what I am talking about and those who use crates 24/7 are in the minority?

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I just love babies...of all kinds. I was tryin' to coax our newest donkey Peanut to come to me this morn'. He's a bit shy.

I loved your pics!

Have a marvelous weekend sweetie!!!

Patsy said...

That is the way I get up off the floor I just try not to get down there much any more.Come to think of it I think I have been called a heifer before.

Stacey said...

I should bring my girls to see all the animals and baby animals!

Lynda said...

I just got a very sweet response from the woman where the pictures of the farm animals were taken. Their animals get to go in and out of buildings regularly. They only use the farrowing crates when the sows have their babies. She said it is just the big farms that use the gestational crates.
She seems like a very nice person and I am going to read her blog tonight. I like the first couple of posts I have read.
So this is an apology to her. The farrowing crate is a great idea if not abused and they don't abuse theirs.

The Retired One said...

Baby animals are the cutest...even human ones. ha

troutbirder said...

I love variety and slice of life in a blog. Yours definitely qualifies. Old family pictures and a stunning field of sunflowers. How neat!!!

Covnitkepr1 said...

I don't do awards either. Love your dogs and the piglets...maybe the cat...don't know how to love a cow(except in the form of a steak...and I'll take that cooked medium).lol
On a serious note, you have a really nice blog here with something for everyone, and I’ve enjoyed looking it over. I came across it through another blog I follow. I am now a follower of yours as well. Feel free to look over my blog and perhaps become a follower of it if you wish.

L. D. said...

Yes I remember our farrowing pens were not so high and if the sow wanted to be fed she would put her feet up on the top of the pen and look you in the eye. I like all your farm animals. Some people tell me that maybe I didn't get my kitty tamed soon enough but I think she is just hanging out with her brothers and sister. Great moooving shots.

Rita said...

Love the critters! All of them! And so glad to hear they don't keep the mom pigs in a crate all the time. Thank goodness! My favorite is probably the barn cat. I do have a big old soft spot for cats. ;)

DayPhoto said...

I love the pigs also. We raised pigs for years, but Terry and I deceided we were too old about four years ago to load pigs.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com