Classical Country Mama Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Every year we encourage our lace-and-fairy-tale princess do the county fair greased pig chase; it's part of our attempt to make her into a well-rounded individual. Of course she's too dainty to actually catch one, so we just go for the lark and Superior Education of it all. Until today. So, um, let me introduce you to the newest member of our family, Charlotte. She's the pink one. Now what??? What I need to know: how much does it cost to raise and care for a pig? She's at a friend's farm right now with a few other pig buddies, and I THINK we can keep her there until eatin' time, which I'm told is in about six months. But it's all very Green Acres. Should we just sell her to someone? Or is the bacon worth the, er, bacon? Lots and lots of advice, pretty please??? Thank you so very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I have no advice whatsoever, but I am :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenangelcat Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 If you have a place to raise her until butcher that she can't escape from, it's definitely worth it. I can't comment on cost because everything costs more up here in Nova Scotia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Too funny. I guess if you are going to eat it, it might be best to not read Charlotte's Web this year.:001_smile: I would totally keep it and raise it for meat rather than sell it now. A great lesson in food. Here is a local farm with cost information. http://ebeyfarm.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-much-does-it-cost-to-raise-pig-july.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I'd keep it for a pet :) Who could eat that cutie??!! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Wait, what? If she catches it you KEEP it? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 You. want. to. EAT her? :svengo: She's adorable. She should have her own room, w/ a t.v. and a canopy bed and everything. And yes, I loooove bacon, but umm, not her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I had a pet pig. We ended up eating her. She was a pain. Charlotte's Web is fiction. Sorrry, it was so long ago I couldn't tell you how much we fed her or any other details. I can tell you that she broke out of her pen and into my back porch where she ate dog and cat food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 :lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Wait, what? If she catches it you KEEP it? :lol: :lol: that's what I was thinking - this is a prize? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skadi Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 You should definitely eat the pig. If your kids feel reluctant, educate them about the realities of factory farming. Your pig is very, very lucky to live in the open air and root around like pigs love to do. If you don't eat her, you'll probably be eating a pig that was kept in a cage barely big enough for its body and never even had the chance ot stand on real earth. is a good overview of what a pig's life is like in factory farming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 From now on she should stick to cake walks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiKC Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 From now on she should stick to cake walks. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Wait, what? If she catches it you KEEP it? :lol: Oh. My. No. :svengo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker Martin Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 That is hilarious. I had no idea that the winner kept the pig! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenangelcat Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I'd keep it for a pet :) Who could eat that cutie??!! ;) Pigs get huge and they eat a crazy amount of food. Definitely not pet material. As much as we loved our first pig Checkers, we loved her even more when we changed her name to Bacon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: I needed that. No advice, but have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Pigs get huge and they eat a crazy amount of food. Definitely not pet material. As much as we loved our first pig Checkers, we loved her even more when we changed her name to Bacon. I guess it helps that I don't eat any pork :D:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 You. want. to. EAT her? :svengo: She's adorable. She should have her own room, w/ a t.v. and a canopy bed and everything. And yes, I loooove bacon, but umm, not her! :iagree: ROFL! She should be treated like Mercy Watson. She's so cute! (I'm just joking - I'm all for people raising their own food if they have the ability!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thessa516 Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 :lol: No advice, but she's adorable. Congrats to your dainty daughter. I'd say she earned an A+! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugs Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I think by the time she gets to be ready for "pig heaven" (or whatever they refered to in Babe) it won't be so cute anymore and easier to do. Great story by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeachGirl Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 First let me say :lol::lol::lol:. Ok, I got that off of my chest. Second, call your local 4-H group and ask if they had any kids raise pigs this year for your local fair. They should have some idea how much it will cost in YOUR area. I could give you amounts for Northern California but I suspect that we pay far more than other areas of the country. Good luck with your new sausage factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I'd keep it for a pet :) Who could eat that cutie??!! ;) :iagree: Pigs are very smart and can be trained. Your daughter could raise her and join 4-H. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_JWM Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Awww...your very own Mercy Watson! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I have an idea! You can dress her in a kilt and let her become the WTM mascot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 We raise several pis each year, and don't buy food for them other than a bag of barley a month. We feed ours kitchen scraps( no meat), extra milk, and weeds from the garden. They grow more slowly than if we were giving free choice grain, but I think they are healthier and it is not as expensive. Did you know that if you make cheese, pigs thrive on the leftover whey? They can be raised on only whey and pasture or hay. They also are easy to train to electric fencing. We pen ours in the spent garden where they eat the leftovers and till and fertilize for the coming year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 You. want. to. EAT her? :svengo: She's adorable. She should have her own room, w/ a t.v. and a canopy bed and everything. And yes, I loooove bacon, but umm, not her! Pigs like her grow. They're not so charming when they're hundreds of pounds. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 From now on she should stick to cake walks. :lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Country Mama Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 OK. So the good news is my friend says she can board Charlotte for us. That means our dp has a place to stay indefinitely. Now we just have to figure out the food thing. And whether we're supposed to take her to get shots at the vet, if you have to scrub her in the tub once a week, and if we're supposed to bring her special treats when we visit so she'll know she's meant to like US best. Yesterday I asked the guy handing out little bags of feed how much it costs to feed a pig. He very helpfully said it depends on how much they eat. :glare: I DO think, Nance, you've got a brilliant idea on your hands with the kilt thing (assuming it's ok for a girl pig to wear a kilt? but her name is Charlotte, which is halfway to Mason, right?). So dd can learn to care for an animal AND sew at the same time. Unfortunately, she can learn neither of these things from me, so back to Google I go. After I edit my signature, obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Country Mama Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 Looks like we're keeping the pig. We'll go visit her tomorrow and hopefully learn a lot more. And maybe take measurements for her kilt and canopy. Is there such a thing as a battery operated, wireless TV? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Yay! Coincidentally my husband finally agred that we should get a pig or two next year for meat. Whoo hoo! Pig happiness all over! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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