PIGTAILZ JUNCTION SANCTUARY NEWS
SPRING 2006
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Winter is a high expense
time at the sanctuary. Our main concern is keeping the piggies warm, dry and
well fed. We stock up on straw so that they have piles of straw to snuggle
into . Of course no piggie bed would be complete without a blanket to curl up
in, too. This winter we used 150
bales of straw at a cost of $3.50 per bale and 50 bales of alfalfa hay at a
cost of 5.50 per bale. Four to five 50 lb.bags of feed were used every day at
a cost of about $7.00 per bag. So you can see the expense involved in keeping
the 77 sanctuary piggies warm and well fed during the winter. |
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Thankfully our sick pen has
been empty since last summer. Clyde our HUGE Yorkshire farm pig was laid up
for 2 months with a sore back leg which required vetting and medication but
he is up and walking soundly now. Though our herd is made up of 75
percent of pigs aged 9 and over they
seem to be enjoying good health. |
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Spring and summer is the
time we rebuild, repair and try to relax before winter hits. We need to
accumulate funds to help us buy straw to last the winter. Blankies need to be
bought and put away. We also try to offer the piggies as many fresh summer
fruits and veggies as possible. New pools have to be purchased to replace
those suffering from pig abuse. Also vet supplies such as ivermectin, for
spring and fall worming needs to be purchased |
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I have just put out 150 lbs
of pasture grass seed to replenish our fields. Last fall I planted 10 trees,
7 fruit trees and 3 shade trees. Of the three shade trees 2 were nice weeping
willows to help control the wet areas as well as provide shade. Though
fenced, the two trees and I lost out to Reilly our young farm pig. The
remaining trees are budding and flowering and the piggies are looking forward
to the added shade by the barn and of course the fruit. Our mouse problem in the
barn has been taken care of by our new barn cat that rules the barn and loves
the pigs. Soon I will be starting our
monthly natural fly control through the use of fly parasites. I started this
program last summer and was very pleased with the results. |
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We were blessed with an
extremely mild winter and a very warm January. Piggies roamed the pastures
and woods and could be seen basking in the sun almost every day. We did have our usual wet
weather, which resulted in our extremely muddy areas around the main barn,
and mini barn which made walking and carrying buckets of feed difficult and
even made walking for the pigs treacherous. This has made me firmly vow to
add gutters and an over hang to both barns as well as loads of crush and run
to alleviate the problem. I am hoping to raise the funds, about $2,000.00 for
the needed materials. Anyone wishing to donate funds or manpower would be
greatly appreciated. My project for the spring
besides putting away the heaters from the water tanks, getting the pools out
is to hopefully get a back hoe in to enlarge our small ponds and make them
better able to hold water for the up coming warm weather. Piggies love and
need those areas to keep cool. |
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For those not familiar with
our sanctuary we have almost a mini preserve rather than what one would
normally think of pigs being in penned areas. All 77 pigs are free to roam
the pastures and woods of the entire property at any time. They return to the
2 barns to eat and sleep separating themselves into smaller herds of their
own choosing. These smaller groups they have chosen for themselves have
remained basically constant for many years with only the occasional pig
changing his sleeping companions for reasons known only to themselves. During the warm sunny days pigs will be
seen all over in small groups or by themselves basking in the sun, swimming
in the ponds or browsing the pastures and fields for good things to eat. We
have walnut trees and they enjoy their fruits in the fall and of course
acorns. They will travel long distances from their home barns in a happy
pursuit of what ever pleases them.
This activity not only gives them healthy exercise but a contented
existence. Many of them have established their own daily routines, ie after diner walks or a sunbathe in a
special private place. Their days are
as active and busy as they wish them to be. Their days are as creatively busy
as a pig can make them and the farm pigs can sometimes be too creative. |
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Our pastures are now
sprouting clumps of wild daffodils and narcissus of many colors and shapes.
The pigs seem to appreciate the lovely garden Mother Nature has created for
them and never touch the flowers or bulbs from these plants. This is definitely
unlike my house pig Izzy who seemed to feel the bulbs I planted in front of
my house were put their by me for her to treasure hunt. Though Izzy sleeps
with me in the house she does go out with the herd during the day to roam the
pastures and of course visit the mud holes. |
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I want you to know that
without your purchases at the Pigstuff store we would not be able to maintain
the fine level of care for our piggies. The proceeds from your purchases go
totally to support the sanctuary. I want to thank you for making these
purchases. I hope you enjoy them and come back again. Please tell your
friends to shop at Pigstuff.com and help support the piggies at Pigtailz
Junction. I also want to thank our
sponsors and donors who help the Pigtailz Junction piggies live the best
possible lives piggies can enjoy. You are all very special people and
treasured friends. |
Have a pigtacular year!
Mary Ann
Mary Ann Piatkowski
Pigtail Junction Sanctuary
418 James River Road
Scottsville, Va 24590
434-286-4155