In order to do a "Pork" article!  (Are you laughing yet?  And, by the way, hang in until the end, and I promise a SMALL poultry mention!)

We have added to our small "farm" a pair of pot-bellied pigs, Arnold and Bac'n Bits.  Yes, we've branched out, as a friend of dh asked if we'd like them.  DD, the one who refuses to eat animals we have raised, was troubled as to whether we would be eating them, and once she was assured that these are pets only, spearheaded the campaign to acquire them.  Endlessly reminding her Dad that she was interested, he pursued the offer.  Ironically, youngest dd has been doing "This Little Piggy" on her own lately, prior to our obtaining a pair of "little piggies". 

Pot bellied pigs don't like to be picked up.  Getting them into the vehicle to transport was a little scary, and getting them out?  A little ingenuity never hurt anyone.  A plaster panel we had close by made a nice ramp, and Bac'n Bits wasn't too tough.  Arnold???  He needed a good nudge, and he stumbled and tumbled down the plank, into his new pen.  They are in the former extra chicken pen.  Next door to the ducks and turkey.  The turkey wasn't at all thrilled.  I think they looked like the dogs that were just recently threatening its existence.  Flying through the fence didn't work, and that turkey came running to dh when he approached.  "Save Me!!!!"  The chickens were all up high as well...everyone was nervous.  Even the goat, who was rearing up on her back legs. Ah, well.  Youngest dd was very intrigued when I asked her where the little piggies were, then showed her!  Feeding rituals are being established, and the kids (and adults) are making friends with the pair.  No further poultry-cides have taken place, and the birds and goat have calmed down over the invasion.

A couple of days ago, Arnold pushed hard enough against the door of the pen to loosen the nail holding the bottom in, and pushed his way out at the bottom.  Panic.  This guy, after all, was just a little tough to man-handle.  Quick thinking kids grabbed a rope and his food bowl.  He didn't much notice the rope, but his food bowl?  Talk about anexcited animal!  Extra rations?  "I'm there," I'm sure he was thinking.  They led him with a little food in his bowl, and I held the rope to TRY to keep him from going the wrong way...he took me for a little walk as he powered his way toward the bowl and the pen.  Great rescue effort on the part of the kids!  Guess we will have challenges!

As for the latest in poultry?   We decided to see if we could hatch some fertile chicken eggs by using a light bulb.  We'll see how this one goes...we're using a bin and a drop light.  We're doing pretty well at regulating the temperature and keeping the eggs turned.  Humidity may be our down fall. We can't seem to keep it very constant.  And DD who won't eat home butchered meat?  She's led the investigation on this one, figuring out how to use the flashlight in a dark room to examine the eggs for development.  Imagine a family of 10 crowded into a darkened bathroom, all trying to see one egg up close.  HMMM!  5 days to go to get to that 21 day time frame.  We'll see how we did!  

That's about it from the ranch for now...our Fall Festival is this weekend, and our family has collectively entered 42 items for the arts/crafts/food/horticulture show.  It's one of the big events of the year, very fun!  Last night, 5 yo ds wanted to know when we could go see how his giant zucchini did, when could he get his ribbon, could he be a judge?  Ambition!

Be sure to visit Canada Girl's blog for more show and tell!

Blessings!