Today's the day to Revolt!

The Nose Knows ...

Pigs are something else.  
I think I could raise pigs on pasture for a thousand years and they'd still find ways to surprise me!

Pigs at 6S are all raised year round on pasture.  In the winter months when they aren't grazing, we make large paddocks for them in our bushier areas so that they have plenty of shelter from the elements.  We strategically place round bales under the bigger spruce trees for them to bed in.
It's fascinating to witness.  
In the morning you'll plop a round bale under a tree and by evening they'll have the whole thing broken down and molded into a large nest that nicely accommodates the whole herd.  Complete with built up edges so everyone is tucked in nicely.  They get so cozy in their nests that it can be colder than a seal's butt cheek outside and yet when you wake them up for morning feeding they'll leave their bed in a steamy cloud of heat.
They're an absolute wonder ...
and then for seemingly no reason at all one morning in the spring they'll wake up and decide - today's the day to revolt - and they will take off en-masse following their noses wherever they may lead.  
Apparently "the nose knows" because this is almost a yearly spring phenomenon.  This behaviour too is a complete wonder but not in quite the same amusing way as the nest building behaviour.  
As you might imagine it is a little disconcerting when you head out to do chores in the morning and boom baby - a whole herd of pigs has disappeared into thin air.  
 And even if you didn't have "pig tracking" scheduled into your calendar for the day it matters not.  Those pigs really couldn't care less about your proclivity for efficiency and productivity.  
In fact, those selfish pigs will keep you on the run for several hours but you'll know you're getting close when you start seeing this ...

That's not 💩 by the way.  
Piggies love to root in the soft spring soil and they'll follow their noses in any direction that they smell something interesting.  Here they've nosed up the ground looking for fresh young roots and generally just enjoying the wander.

And when at last you finally find them you'll swear they're all grinning at you mischievously like they knew exactly what they were about!

As you might have guessed, that was our Tuesday last week.
I'm happy to report that all those frolicsome pigs were found happily grinning and rooting away in the soft mud of the lower Home 1/4 Bush Pasture and then they proceeded to gleefully follow Travis back to the nesting paddock where they've been contentedly residing ever since.

It's a waddle drive! 😆
I must say though, that trailing all those waddling pig butts home again did get me to thinking about bacon, and pulled pork, and pork tenderloin, and air fryer pork chops and
bbq ribs ...  
... mmmmmmm bbq ribs. 🤤

If you've got pork on the brain too, then you'll definitely want to head over to the online store for all the piggy goodness!