This was a much bigger job than I originally anticipated.
Obviously, homesteading can be tough work and animal husbandry can only add to it. I knew that my neighbor @bluerthangreen planned to move his hogs today, but I had no idea what I signed up for when I offered to help.
IT BEGAN SO SIMPLY
When I arrived on the scene this morning, @bluerthangreen was hard at work attaching some cattle panels to an old barbed wire fence. By doing so, he wouldn't have to drive any t-posts into the earth for this portion of the border plus he'd have the added effect of the barbed wire as well. He plans to move some hogs and goats through this area of thick growth in an attempt to "tame" some of this wild land.
He had six Ossabaw Island pigs in a pen for quite some time now. They were ready for a new home and he was ready to get them a little further from their "home base." The trick would just be to finish the new pen and then get them moved.
With a good supply of cattle panels and t-posts on hand, he was happy to have the help too. I had some fencing of my own to accomplish too, but things like this always go quicker with additional help, so I wanted to get my neighbor off to a good start.
This was the opening that @bluerthangreen had left for the hogs to enter. Before we moved them we needed to make a gate. While the original idea had been to slide a wooden pallet over some freestanding t-posts, we brainstormed a bit and came up with another option.
A SIMPLE, BUT BRILLIANT, GATE
Once we came up with our idea, we just needed to know how wide the gap was. This is one of the parts of life that I really enjoy; creative problem solving. There's really nothing like using your brain, and maybe the brain of your neighbor too, to come up with practical solutions. This is what people had to do prior to google, and we still like to leave the smart phones in our pockets sometimes and just think for ourselves.
Once we had our measurement, @bluerthangreen cut one of the cattle panels to length, and left some it overhanging. So far we just had an idea, but we were about to test the effectiveness of our brainstorm.
We fit the newly created gate into place and matched up the factory end to the existing fencing. We then bent the overhanging portions that we left on the other side around the end we wanted it to hinge on. Sure enough, our solution was going to work!
Here you can see our fancy hinge-work. While it may not be extravagant, it is effective and simple. Just to get something that works built to last is enough to call it a success, so we did! This newfound "technology" will now be in the back of our minds for years to come, so we can apply it to situations in the future if need be!
RALLY THE TEAM, WE'VE GOT HOGS TO MOVE!
The next step was to make a make-shift chute to be used when moving the hogs. We used vehicles, cattle panels, and a healthy supply of children to make ours. Each and every part had to be in a specific position if we were going to stand a chance, but we didn't want to leave any room of error.
This is a view from inside the new pen. If we calculated each part of this process accurately, we'd be moving these pigs in no time with the least amount of effort possible. Unfortunately, such was not the case....
Pinkie-Pepper, Red-Pepper and one of the little offspring of @bluerthangreen and @allforthegood were in position with two cattle panels.
Monster Truck the Pepper was down near the entrance holding a cattle panel tight against the truck and the fence.
Sweet Pepper was safely tucked inside the fence, but also hard at work holding a panel in position. Even the littlest of them get in on the action, and we certainly needed the help!
@alittlebluer and one of her brothers were near the beginning of the chute, eagerly awaiting the next step in the process.
I got in position to help @bluerthangreen release the hogs, and soon were all ready for what was about to happen... or so we thought...
HOG ON THE LOOSE! HE'S GONE HOG-WILD!
We opened the cage and slowly, and ever so cautiously, the hogs began to creep out. In slow motion, the littlest ones came out, and then the big ones. Once all the hogs were out of their old pen and into the chute we let the door close behind them. There was no turning back...
To get them moving a little more, I "encouraged" a few with a hearty smack on the backside. It kicked them into gear and soon they were nearing the end of the chute and beginning to enter the next pen. This is when I made my mistake. The hogs bottle-necked and I gave one smack too many!
The last little piggy I smacked turned around and busted loose. The next five minutes may have just as well been choreographed to the worst circus music ever. The pig ran free, this way and that. @Allforthegood grabbed a trash can lid like a super hero and tried to hep steer it. Monster Truck the Pepper and his cattle panel were no match for the force of a piggy at full throttle. @Bluerthangreen and @papa-pepper ran, juked, cut him off, and started all over again. Attempts to steer, grab, and even tackle were made, and eventually I just had to jump on that thing and bear hug him, raising him up into the air.
Finally, we were successful. The hogs were moved, the children were safe, and I was tired. "What's the moral of the story?" you ask... Don't get carried away when you are spanking a hog. Mind you, I wasn't out to hurt the pigs, just to give them a few slaps of encouragement, but we can see how that worked out... Thankfully, @bluerthangreen said that valiant effort made up for my error! Thanks man!
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-finally-finishing-the-job
Until next time…
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DUDE - You are insane!! You and @bluerthangreen were quite ingenuituve with the fencing, the Entourage of helpers and the late mad dash scramble to keep the last one on track!!
As always brother - Great True-Life story telling of your adventures with priceless pics to help illuminate the story further...
As always keep it up!! What animal is next to move?? I'm thinking a mini-series of this post brother lol
I think that I might need to illustrate a few of the things that I didn't get to take photos of.
If it'll make it even better than do so brother... What parts of the adventure did ya not get to take pictures of if ya don't mind me asking?
@allforthegood in action with the trash can lid, and Monster Truck getting almost ran over by the pig.
BIG SMILE - YES INDEED @papa-pepper If you can illustrate those parts of the story -especially @allforthegood with the trash can - either thru a picture, drawing, meme, or soundclip - it would totally rock and comete the entire visualization of the story my man!
Your kids are really learning some good lessons being able to be hands on in building things and being involved.
We used to ride a heifer on the farm, holding a stick with a corn cob tied to it in front of her face. She'd just keep walking trying to get that cob. I could have related this story earlier and you could have ridden the lead hog right into the new pen. The other hogs would have followed like little lambs. Never hurts to ask for advice!
LOL, sounds like an impromptu pig scramble! I have seen people move hogs about by constructing what is essentially a slightly bigger than hog sized box with the bottom and top open and handles on either end, you drop the box on top of the hog and then lift it up just off the ground and with one person on either end you can guide the hog wherever you want. You can only do one at a time but it only takes two people.
Appreciate you for such a great interesting post
Animals are also living things . but we do not take care of them .
Now a days we do not care of any human being so that are then animals .
I am very happy to see your post .
Very great helping story .
Please carry on .
wow....looking so beautiful...keep going
Hmm, never try to teach a pig to sing or fly for that matter. It irritates the pig and doesn't do much for you either.
Don't try to turn a pig's ear into a silk purse and stuff.
I can imagine how tiring all of this can be... Having so many animals and pets to take care of. Weldone Man
I find that eventually, even being awake is tiring... lol
great job sir....carry on..>>>>>>>>
Thanks @sarsey!
This nice animals post
Thanks for sharing this story
I appreciate your life.....
The part i love most" Nothing feels like using your brain and that your neighbour too" it made me laugh so hard. Is a good thing, you did put technology aside and had to brainstorm and it worked out.
Spanking the hog is like saying "move it, that's where you staying now"..
I'm glad that you liked that part, I was hoping that it would inspire others!
Hi sir,
It was a very nice post, this animal is very nice, excellent story,
Homesteading is really a tedious and cumbersome job often times, it requires the brain and muscles to function simultaneously.
You really a nature lover and strong man too..So you did this perimeter fencing yourself alongside your neighbour.
little-peppers would definitely be proud of Papa.
Great effort Sir.
I hope you didn't get sow-erd on the experience. LOL.
LOL!
Oh boy! That was some work. I'm sure you were unable to work on your own fence again. Sorry Papa. Feel good this morning? I need that slap of encouragement, but i won't run wild. Hahaha. Well done Papa. I admire you desire to always want to help. Glad it turned out okay in the end.
It did turn out okay! Thanks man!
Anytime, Papa.
@papa-pepper that was a very well put together blog post keep that up. I enjoyed reading every word of it and the pictures where awesome. I cant tell you had a pretty interesting and fun day even though you worked your butt off all day. Only if I had neighbors like you but I don't, the day would past by so much quicker.
Steem on my friend.
Maybe one day you'll have neighbors like that! Thanks so much for the encouragement!
Your welcome papa and thank you for always replying back.
Our leader am @yetund ,l what you to visit my tag and see what l write in honor of you.
homesteading is a great thing to do , only if the person will be able to give it time. it is however energy consuming because feed them is not a easy doing
shhhh...papa pepper a man should eat if he doesn't work lol
shhhh...papa pepper a man should eat if he doesn't work lol
As I said yesterday in one of my comments on your post, I always good to help others. You have dedicated yourself to helping others.
Though you have your own busy schedule (like you still have some fencing to do), you still find out time to help your neighbor @bluerthangreen, and you even took along @little-peppers to help too.
Sorry for the stress you went through with the pig, but thanks got everything was successful at the end of the day
Thank you @fatherfaith!
this is good work @papa-pepper.
Loved the pic of sweet peppa!!😄
Black hog..😂😂
In my island this pig very much.. 😂
farmers have also tried a variety of ways to repel boar such sound firecrackers Carbide or spirtus, give fragrances around the land, install the razor wire, tide Nets, post lights flashing twinkle, create a campfire, plug wire Fed the power of the machine generator, and even some post Kris.
Well, should I call this hard work or smart work? Certainly a smart work. I can see lot of creativity and brainstorming here. However, how many days did it take you to complete this project?
This was a one day project but some others take longer.
thats awesome
Nice work @papa-pepper for helping out. And to every body involve you all did well it was a team effort. Even the kids did there part lol.
It was a great team effort and we all learned!
You're right
What a pity Pinkie-pepper wasn't on the camera, what terrific photos she would have got.
2 B Picky, if you had put the 'hinges' above the horizontal strands in the main fence the gate wouldn't sag into the ground and be easier to open in the future.
Yeah, we did that on the next gate. Good observation!
Are the posts threaded through the fence panels?
If they are just wired to the outside, why not just have a whole panel gate, usher the animals in as before, the gate is wide enough so there will be no " corking" as you got.
Once through the animals are going to take off into the scrub leaving you plenty of time to fit the last panel to the fence.
If you need a gate, allow a panel and a gate for the hole, then you can use the post each side of the gate to swing if from and to lock it too.
Just to be a picky bugger.
But that’s part of the fun in homestead Knowing that you’re doing everything yourself and not relying on others to do it for you even going as far as helping out a friend. It is very tiring, but just as gratifying, I think. Good work friend
It is gratifying! Thanks!
i still remember this way in the previous post when you fence your sheepfold. But here there are barbed wire, is not that dangerous for pigs?
No, the danger for sheep was the wool. So the pigs will be fine.
Yess papa great idea,,,
This reads almost like a River Cottage experience. It is a lifestyle that city dwellers cannot quite understand. Keep living a free life...
We will try to remain free! Thank you!
We have made many a gate like that:) Moving animals almost never goes exactly as expected. And you usually get one chance for it to all go right. One time we chased a cow across county lines. Always an adventure!!
Nice! I'd never seen a gate like this but we figured it would word. Tough, secure and functional!
Nice thinking outside the box on the gate! Who needs Google? Herding animals is a tough job especially when they have a mind of their own. Glad it all ended well. Tired is all in a days work, @papa-pepper. You did good!
I figure use it or lose it, and I'd rather not lose my mind!
Moving pigs can be fun.
I only had 3 of them but they were mean machines when they wanted to go their own way.
Respect the hog...
That's right! Respect the hogs!
That looks like a pretty good area for the hogs!
They really like it!
Haha, I saw this was a post about moving hogs so I had to click and see how it went. Moving hogs is a chore because they are big and STRONG and very stubborn. You can't just herd them like some animals.
Every time our neighbors take a couple hogs to butcher, we help them load them on the trailer. It is always a circus. We mainly manage it with lots of treats, particularly cheap hot dogs. They love those hot dogs. Just be careful you dont get your fingers close to their mouths, because a finger covered in hotdog juice IS a hotdog...