If you've never heard a pig really squeal, then you are a lucky person. If you've never had to make a pig do something a pig doesn't want to do then you've probably never heard a pig squeal.
To move Charlotte from one area to another takes a great deal of squealing on her part and some swearing on our part. She's a very stubborn pig. Since Ginger's arrival Charlotte has become very very vocal.
Today, my dad and I were standing just outside the barn talking and we could barely hear each other over Charlotte's squeals. I had to feed her just to get a little quiet, but his is nothing compared to when we trimmed her cloven hooves. (I won a bet by using the word "cloven" in a sentence)
Ginger had arrived only two days before the scheduled hoof trimming day. I'd seen an ad on kijiji for a woman looking for help in trimming her pigs. I'd sent her an email stating that I had no idea how to do this, but I was willing to hold a pig and learn. This stranger emailed me back and said she was learning by watching youtube videos on the internet and was willing to give it a shot. She lived close by and did dog training with my neighbour. Let's call her ... Sandy. (just in case she doesn't want to be in this story)
Sandy arrived at the farm on a Monday afternoon and after a few pleasantries we were ready to flip some pigs. Yes. You have to flip'em. This is exactly as it sounds.
Ginger weights about fifty pounds and is slightly under-muscled for a pig her size. Families are often told if you don't feed the pigs very much they won't grow very big, but this leads to all sorts of problems - worst of all: hungry pigs. We decided to start our pig trimming with the smaller of the two pigs. Sandy showed up exactly on time and brought tools.
We lured Ginger with food and Sandy managed to grab Ginger by her front legs and flip her onto her back so all four legs were up in the air. Once a pig is on it's back and balanced she has a really hard time getting up, but she squeals. She screams and squeals and if you have close neighbours I'd advise trimming your pig when they aren't home. The noise drove the dogs nuts and hurt the ears.
Ginger managed to escape twice, but Sandy expertly flipped her on her back and finished the pig pedicure. Ginger's hooves were so long she had difficulty walking and was standing on her ankles. With freshly trimmed hooves that pig could really move. Finished with her spa day Ginger was released back into her area to rest and relax. After a few bites of carrot she was stretch out in the cool dirt enjoying a nap - new meaning to dirt nap.
It was time to move over to the big pen. Sandy offered to trim the goats too and said she was familiar with trimming goats. Who was this amazing woman??? My part-dog and part-goat Willow stood like a gentle woman as we trimmed her feet. She barely struggled and didn't once try to jump, kick or buck. A perfect lady enjoying the attention and talented hands of our local hoof trimmer.
Sandy, Brent and I stood and stared at Charlotte. I won't lie, we were intimidated. Charlotte is a big pig. Brent guessed she's pushing one hundred and eighty pounds, while I won't go much above one fifty, still that's a lot of bacon.
Sandy and I stared at Brent and waited for him to flip the pig, but first, we have to catch her.
Sandy and I start using our bodies and arms to try and stop Charlotte from escaping the spa area, but we are useless and Charlotte runs right past us and into the big open area of the pen. We try using pieces of wood to guide Charlotte back into a smaller space, but she runs past us and into the barn. We block the entrance into the barn with a piece of plywood, but the plywood doesn't stand a chance.
We guide her out of the barn and set up four foot pieces of fence to limit her area, but she finds and pushes past the one weak spot. Is this pig an ex-Navy seal?
Finally, we shore up the weak spots get her outside and Brent tries to grab her by the front legs to pick her up and flip her onto her back. The first attempt is grossly unsucessful and both pig and flipper walk away bruised.
Re-group. Heavy breathing. A little bleeding from everyone. Okay. Try again.
We tried a handful of times and we were just about to give up when Brent stood up took a big breath and said "ready?" Sandy and I stood at attention and watched as the man and pig eyed each other.
The score was pig 5 man 0, but that was about to change when Brent made a daredevil move that pushed the score pig 5 and man 10. We win! We win! We win!
Brent dove on Charlotte and grabbed her by the front legs and with a grunt of power picked her up and flipped her onto her back. Sandy I stood in shock and amazment before we jumped into action armed with nippers and a powerful file. In under five minutes the deed was done. No drugs. No vets. No serious injury.
Drugs are really hard on pigs and the vet usually want to sedate the pigs in order to trim the hooves, but the all natural "pig way" is to flip them.
Next time we'll use more powerful fencing and I think Brent will go for the dive right away. Show no fear.
Charlotte walked away with a soft whine, but she moved freely and easily on freshly trimmed feet. Cheers to the new farmers! As she walked away I couldn't myself, but whisper "that'll do pig. that'll do."
"The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals" Anonymous
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