We didn't know it at that moment of elation, but our work was just about to begin. We knew the pigs could not stay in the chicken coop: there were baby chicks that most likely would disappear if we left them in there. We couldn't leave them in the back woods where they might escape again. Our only option was to get them into the front pasture.
How?
And so begins our work.
Our first thought was we would simply herd them from inside the coop, across the driveway, through the fenced-in backyard and into the pasture. So we had Tirzah stand, in all her 3 foot height to guard them from going towards the house and up the driveway. I stood with arms stretched out to block their escaping to the back woods. And Daniel was the herdsman. And so everyone in positions? We wait. And we watch Daniel chase those pigs around and around inside the chicken coop. Chickens are scattering this way and that, turkeys are flapping and making such a fuss you couldn't believe it. And the pigs are darting around the coop and under the blackberries and back out again, making it nearly impossible to follow through with our plan.
Plan B: I go into the chicken coop to help push them out. Now mind you these are not friendly pigs yet: they are frightened of us and when we get close, they leap and snort at us in an awful sort of way, so I am pretty much as scared as they are at this point! My tool? The food pan of all things! They do not like this one bit and as I get close, they bolt for the Way out. Perfect! We lead them across the driveway but things go wrong and they decide to go around the garage and corner themselves into a shed area. Daniel comes around and just goes for it: plan C: catch the pig and take it to the pasture. Now, you carry a pig by the hind legs. Enough said. Daniel was amazing! With his first try he catches those 2 hind legs and carries that pig safely to the pasture. Oh but that scream of the pig!!! Truly, the most awful noise ever. Exactly like those black riders in The Fellowship of the Ring.
One down, one to go. So I try my hand again and use the food pan to ease him towards the pasture, but he bolts and runs towards the back woods! I am all screams and running my heart out to keep that pig from escaping. Well, instead of Going to the back woods, this pig goes to the coop again. And so ensues another hour of pig catching! That pig did not want to leave that protected area! So around and around all three of us went, Daniel chasing, me guarding a section of the coop, and the pig darting in and out of the blackberry cover. Poor thing had cut its nose and so was bleeding from there and had cut his haunches as well. All three of us were absolutely exhausted, piggy panting by now, Daniel covered in dust from sliding and diving trying to tackle this guy time and again and me, seriously emotionally distraught.
Well that's what we did for an hour, trying to get this animal to its home. It was one of those things that is funny now to look back upon and would have been hilarious to behold... But it was not something to be enjoyed while living it!! Finally, piggy hid beneath the blackberry bushes and I crept up towards his face. We stood still staring at one another for some moments when Daniel attacked from behind and grabbed his hind legs: he got him!!! But my oh my that pig's scream stirred up the whole neighborhood! Daniel had to carry/ drag him all the way from one side of the house to the other and that thing was screaming all the while! Neighbors came running out, all 3 young boys, running into one another and the Mama came too to watch over the fence. What a sight! Especially since at one point, Daniel and the pig were doing the wheelbarrow... You know? Like where Daniel was holding the back legs and that little pig was walking with his front legs on the ground. Oh my. I simply turned to the neighbors, whom we had not yet met and said: I promise we are not as red neck as we seem!!!
Well, since then, things have been going well! Pigs are happy and no more chasing, thankfully! They are growing as well as is our garden! Irises from the yard, broccoli ( not from seeds but starts), spring lettuces( from seed) and kale transplanted from our other home. Strawberries (which we got for free at the co op) and onions from a set... So excited to have more things pop up!
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