Piglet Freedom Day

After being confined to the Swine Shack for several days, today the piglets were finally let out to play.  It was important for them to learn to identify the Shack as their home before being granted the freedom to roam since I have zero desire to chase them around the field each night at bedtime trying to get them into their barn.

That is one heck of a mischievous grin.

Who needs TV when you can watch piglets venture into the great outdoors for the first time?! The boys were rapt.  Despite the chicken cheering squad, the piglets took their time finishing their breakfast before heading out to explore.

Awaiting the feature presentation.

If you are a pig, breakfast comes first.  Always.

When they finally did venture out, Gloria and Solo walked out of their barn and straight to the opposite side of the field and into the electric fence.  First one "zap!" and then, less than a second later, the other "zap!"  They only did that once.

After this, they sidled over to a muddy spot in the barnyard and thoroughly enjoyed wallowing.  By afternoon, their previously rosy pink bodies were a new shade of mud coloured.  Gloria managed to get pretty even coverage of the muddy sunscreen, while Willoughby worked mostly on one side.  Maybe he is saving the other side for tomorrow?

Nope, they are not dead - just relaxed and very, very happy.

Seamus worked on teaching Gloria and Solo how to drink from their water barrel.  They were intrigued by the stream of cool water that spurts out from the nipple but have not quite figured out how to do it themselves yet.

Ava also had a freedom day today.  We are working hard at training her out of chasing the livestock.  She did pretty well this morning and was off tether for a good chunk of the morning with only minimal correction required.

Note: Ava is not chasing the goats!  Progress.

Bishop has regrown two small scurs after being disbudded as a baby. 
He lost one scur the other day headbutting with his siblings and now only has one left.  It is loose.

Yummy!  Fresh grass.

Seamus is snuggling his favourite duck, Kate. 
Being half blind from a rooster attack in her youth,
Kate is the easiest duck for him to catch. 
Seamus has nicknamed her Quackers and gives her loads of good cuddles every day.

The best part of the day was that is was not a chicken, duck or goat freedom day.  The hens, ducks and goats are being very good about staying in their allocated paddocks, out of my gardens and away from the ewes and lambs.  It is nice when everyone behaves sensibly.