Meet Buiddy and Patches

These are the newest members of our family - Buddy (the brown one) and Patches (the pink one with gray "patches"). Back in the middle of September we went to pig sales and purchased these prize pigs for Reagan to show at the County show in January. We are very excited and nervous pig owners. There is a lot a person needs to know about pigs.

1. Pigs get sunburned - especially the pink or white ones. Therefore you put sunscreen on them daily and you also call your brother in a panic to come help you put up tarps to protect these little creatures skin.

2. Feed your pigs eggs so their their skin will be pretty for showtime.

3. Their feed is more expensive than what you feed your own children.

4. Pigs sometimes have to eat yogurt because their digestive tracts are as sensitive as ours.

5. Pigs like toys to play with in their pens. Patches likes the rubber ball to push around with her snout and also the rubber ducky because he squeaks. Buddy isn't much into this but he likes to watch Patches play.

6. Each pig has their own personality. Patches likes to run. She runs around the back of the barn and back around and waits for you to tell her go. She constantly bites your boots and sniffs your legs. Buddy on the other hand would rather eat, drink, and sleep. He is your typical pig except that I do think he likes baths. This weekend we loaded the pigs in the trailer and Reagan and I scrubbed Patches and Buddy. We had a loofah sponges, Suave, and Joy. Reagan chased Patches around the trailer but Buddy stood quite still while I scrubbed him from snout to tail. (Of course he is a boy pig.) They were so shiny and beautiful after we were done. It was a lot easier than I anticipated.

7. You have to have pig boots or your entryway will smell like pig. All of us girls now have pig boots. I have to say I love to see Reagan and Henlee in theirs. I will try to get a picture and post it because it is the cutest thing ever. I will spare you the picture of me in mine.

8. You have to have good people that help you learn about pigs and don't mind when you call 5 times a day because your pig has diarrhea and is throwing up.

Yes, we love our pigs and I can't even tell you how responsible Reagan is with her pigs. She feeds every morning before school and then at night. She knows how many pounds of feed puts a pound on a pig. She knows that flaky skin will not show well and she baby oils them up. She knows that Buddy is a bit lazier and may need more walking because he is not as self-motivated as Patches. Life is good with our pigs and they are "some pigs". (Remember Wilbur from Charlotte's Web?)