Anyone else have 2 completely different livestock species become best buddies?
I know, there's some serious things to be concerned about including parasites, disease transmission... we dont sell/gift our eggs, meat etc. Well aware of these risks and am installing secondary pigpen fencing to attempt to stop it.
I just wanted to share the "lighter side" of this, really warmed my heart some. This spring, we started raising chickens again after several years away from it, geese and ducks. Well chicken math... started with 14 birds.. it will get ya every time!
Every afternoon, all my birds free range, we are at about 49 birds total: 31 chickens, 6 geese 4 ducks 8 guinea hen.. Everyone goes back to their respective coops around 6pm. duck and geese well.. when they want to. I always come up one Cornish X short on my chicken count, my little runt - bottom of the pecking order. I usually find her sleeping on the oldest pig, Bacon! He is at least 125 pounds at about 18 weeks old, and was a runt too. The little X is maybe 2 pounds at 9 weeks! If they aren't snoozing, he is sharing supper with her! If she gets into the feedbowl, he gives her a nose nudge and then they both continue eating! The first day i saw this i was in a panic! I will post some pictures tomorrow if the rains stop, its just unbelievable. The 2 are just inseparable.
At first, i could coax her out with a mealie or a tomato. Now she isn't having it, she wants to stay with Bacon! If i get her out, and put her in her coop, Bacon is squealing and grunting his head off for hours. The little X is balking and crabbing so loud, wow that's coming out of her?!?!?! I even tried to introduce the other feeder pig RoastieRoxy (You're laughing
i can hear you...how can you tell a 6 year old girl with big brown eyes no?) in hopes they would buddy up.. NOPE not happening. i saw the biggest mouth ever opening up on Bacon, attempting to bite Roxy! Guess the Lil Cornish girl will be staying here a bit longer than the rest of the group!
LilX has grown on me so she is probably a keeper. I am doubtful she will ever lay an egg, but just isn't a normal Cornish cross. We are adding 2 rehomed Alpaca next week, and they are fond of turkeys as groomers and companions LOL.. that sure works well with my spring planning!
I know, there's some serious things to be concerned about including parasites, disease transmission... we dont sell/gift our eggs, meat etc. Well aware of these risks and am installing secondary pigpen fencing to attempt to stop it.
I just wanted to share the "lighter side" of this, really warmed my heart some. This spring, we started raising chickens again after several years away from it, geese and ducks. Well chicken math... started with 14 birds.. it will get ya every time!
Every afternoon, all my birds free range, we are at about 49 birds total: 31 chickens, 6 geese 4 ducks 8 guinea hen.. Everyone goes back to their respective coops around 6pm. duck and geese well.. when they want to. I always come up one Cornish X short on my chicken count, my little runt - bottom of the pecking order. I usually find her sleeping on the oldest pig, Bacon! He is at least 125 pounds at about 18 weeks old, and was a runt too. The little X is maybe 2 pounds at 9 weeks! If they aren't snoozing, he is sharing supper with her! If she gets into the feedbowl, he gives her a nose nudge and then they both continue eating! The first day i saw this i was in a panic! I will post some pictures tomorrow if the rains stop, its just unbelievable. The 2 are just inseparable.
At first, i could coax her out with a mealie or a tomato. Now she isn't having it, she wants to stay with Bacon! If i get her out, and put her in her coop, Bacon is squealing and grunting his head off for hours. The little X is balking and crabbing so loud, wow that's coming out of her?!?!?! I even tried to introduce the other feeder pig RoastieRoxy (You're laughing
LilX has grown on me so she is probably a keeper. I am doubtful she will ever lay an egg, but just isn't a normal Cornish cross. We are adding 2 rehomed Alpaca next week, and they are fond of turkeys as groomers and companions LOL.. that sure works well with my spring planning!