Took a wheelbarrow over to retrieve the piglets from Dale,
my special neighbor today. They're cute; good sized litter of 9, all healthy and bouncing. Dale isn't speaking to me, but got to meet her Son, who seems to be a pretty reasonable guy.
Got the pigs tucked away in the barn, and was out working on an implement near the tractor when I noticed a pig eating thistle plants.
I would have thought that thistles would be the last thing a pig would eat; they're jagged and thorny and to me look completely unappetizing, but this pig (and several others) were working their way through a thistle patch, eating the entire plant, root, stem and leaves.
I've got a couple of patches of thistles on the edge of the field. I've been eradicating it as I work around the edges of the property, mostly while fencing, but it's nice to know the pigs are helping.
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I've noticed that my pigs eat thistles too--at least the smaller milk thistles. They don't seem too interested in the giant bull thistles. Nonetheless, a big help in controlling a very annoying plant.
Good to hear you got your pigs back! I noticed my pigs eating thistle back in August, but only after I cut it off at the base with a hoe first. It'll be interesting to see if they tackle the whole plant themselves next year when they're bigger.
Super cute. I'd been wondering if you got your sow back.
My horse eats thistles, with exactly the same look on her face that I get when I eat hot wings. Delicious yet painful, apparently.
We find our pigs eat thistles, burdock, blackberry canes and a variety of other things I would not want to wrap my lips around. :) They've pretty much cleared our fields of these. They also favor blueberries, unfortunately.
We find our pigs eat thistles, burdock, blackberry canes and a variety of other things I would not want to wrap my lips around. :) They've pretty much cleared our fields of these. They also favor blueberries, unfortunately.
Our goats tend to ignore the thistles, and nettles (I was bummed about that), but the turkeys love both, so I suppose it's still a win. Cute piglets by the way.
Where are you, did the neighbor shot you? Long time no news.
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