Blogging seems a far more intersting option then my psychology homework so I thought I'd share my goals for my seven babies.
I'm sure anyone who actually does stumble across this blog assumes I'm over sharing, but this blog is for me more then anything. It gives me an almost day to day record of the cavies. If (god forbid) I should ever have a disaster like last time I'll be able to review this blog and likely find the trigger point.
So my goals for the babies.
Pipsqueak Ebony Charm - With Ebbie I mainly want her to be happy and healthy. I'm hoping to breed two litters from her this year, one by Sterling and one by Edmund. After that she'll be retired and allowed to live out her days in peace as a nanny pig for any other pregnant females. I'm also looking at building a large aviary for retired sows next year so if that does happen she'll get to spend the rest of her life in the lap of luxury.
Pipsqueak Edmund - For Eddie my main goal is to keep him in coat. Depending on shows I'd like to show him until August or so, or maybe a touch longer before trimming him off and breeding him to Ebbie.
Pipsqueak Sterling - Right now I want him fat and healthy. He's still very very skinny, at only 760g at eight months old. He'll only be bred once this year but I will probably breed him back to Ebony and Eddies offspring next year.
Pipsqueak Feather - Like Sterling I just want him to be nice and fat and healthy. At seven months old he's 900g, so I'm hoping that he'll keep putting on weight till he reaches 1200g or so. He'll also be joining my show team soon as a pig for members pets. I've always loved showing in the pet classes and between him and Rosie I'll have a boar and a sow for the classes. But like I said I'd like him a bit plumper before he starts travelling. One day I may also breed a single litter of shebas from this boy but I'm not sure yet. I don't know enough about the sheba standard yet to tell whether he is a good specimen or not.
Pipsqueak Fortinbras - This boys beginning to get a bit plumper now, he's just turned four months and is 650g. So he's finally catching up to Eddie. His dropped shoulder coat is also growing back in so day by day he's steadily moving away from bugg ugly. If he does regrow magnificent plumage I think I'll start showing him at the one day shows. These are the shows at places like Grafton, Coffs Harbour and Armidale that I can do in a single day, rather then having to travel there the day before.
Symphonia Laertes - I am so in love with this pig. He's absolutely gorgeous. He's also quite plump already at 450g at just eight weeks old. Mainly I want to learn how to correctly groom this boy. It looks like it'll be quite a challenge. Depending on how he goes at shows over the next year and the judges opinion of him I may found him a little black sow. But since I don't want to pursue dalmatians as such I'd only do this if he really was an exceptional example of his breed. If not he'll just remain part of my show team until he's four years old or so before being retired with a nice baby boy companion. My other issue is his personality. On the whole dallies are temperamental skittish creatures who hate being handled and would as soon as bite as cuddle. I'm hoping with daily handling in his youth La-La won't end up like that.
Symphonia Rosaline - This girl is adorable but I don't have any goals for her as such. As long as she stays happy and plump and is nice to other sows she'll be perfect. I mainly want her to be a gentle companion for sows. As an adult hopefully she'll also be able to teach baby sows their manners.
An endless journey in the pursuit of cavies, knowledge and joy.
Friday, 17 February 2012
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Pigtures!
It's Picture Time!
Pipsqueak Sterling my new breeding boar with lineage back to Pipsqueak Tickety Boo... He has these lovely grey irises as well that I haven't seen before. You can see them quite well in the third image actually.
Then we have Symphonia Laertes. Michele twisted my arm and insisted I should take him. I had been looking for a show-able shorthair of some description so I had something to do while waiting for the longhair classes. Hadn't really planned on a dally but hey. He's a real sooky boy, probably no show-stopper but it'll be fun to show him regardless. I believe he comes from Bumbora lines, I haven't received his pedigree yet.
And my third purchase Symphonia Rosaline. She'll make a nice pet for the members pet classes and she looks like she has the makings of a very sooky sweet adult.
Since they insisted on being photographed too a few of my other babies.
Pipsqueak Ebony Charm my breeding sow, who absolutely refused to be photogenic.
Pipsqueak Feather who is totally and absolutely photogenic.
And Pipsqueak Fortinbras who's dropped shoulder coat is slowly growing back in giving him an interesting mohawk.
Pipsqueak Sterling my new breeding boar with lineage back to Pipsqueak Tickety Boo... He has these lovely grey irises as well that I haven't seen before. You can see them quite well in the third image actually.
Then we have Symphonia Laertes. Michele twisted my arm and insisted I should take him. I had been looking for a show-able shorthair of some description so I had something to do while waiting for the longhair classes. Hadn't really planned on a dally but hey. He's a real sooky boy, probably no show-stopper but it'll be fun to show him regardless. I believe he comes from Bumbora lines, I haven't received his pedigree yet.
And my third purchase Symphonia Rosaline. She'll make a nice pet for the members pet classes and she looks like she has the makings of a very sooky sweet adult.
Since they insisted on being photographed too a few of my other babies.
Pipsqueak Ebony Charm my breeding sow, who absolutely refused to be photogenic.
Pipsqueak Feather who is totally and absolutely photogenic.
And Pipsqueak Fortinbras who's dropped shoulder coat is slowly growing back in giving him an interesting mohawk.
Home again.
After four extremely exhausting days I've made it home again. The driving was interesting, I went through three thunderstorms on the way down which triggered the mother of all migraines. I may need to rethink attending the summer show next year.
However Eddie did make it to the table. He didn't place however the judge (Maria Amos) said that he was a good effort for a beginner but his coat was a tad short for his size. He is a massive three month old so hopefully that will all even out over time. The baby texel that beat him went on to win best baby in show so the best pig on the day won and I'm very pleased that I got Eddie to the table and was told he wasn't a total disaster. I wish I could have stayed at the show longer but as I tabled Eddie this huge thunderstorm was brewing and I wanted to get out of there before the hail hit and the dirt parking lot turned to slush. I only just made it.
Anyways I also came back with some lovely little treasures.
Symphonia Rosaline is a darling little pet rex. She's a DEW with smutty ears and nose. I'm hoping she'll get some of the lovely dark ticking/shading as she grows. She's only four weeks old at the moment but she should make a great cage mate for pregnant sows and provide Ebbie with company.
I also collected Pipsqueak Sterling, he's quite skinny after spending time with other sows but I'm sure after plenty of grain and grass and Ebbie's tender care he'll polish up well. He has amazing lines and I'm looking forward to the babies he and Ebbie produce.
Finally I bought Symphonia Laertes. I actually didn't even notice him in the sale cages but another marked breeder found him and insisted I buy him. He's a show quality black dalmatian, and is honestly stunning, His only fault is a slight cheek drag. It'll be lovely to have a shorthair to show as well as the start of the show as well as the longs at the end. I have of intention of breeding dallies, but if he does well I can always lend him to someone to further their lines if needed.
After several intense days of driving I'm now exhausted so photos will come later.
However Eddie did make it to the table. He didn't place however the judge (Maria Amos) said that he was a good effort for a beginner but his coat was a tad short for his size. He is a massive three month old so hopefully that will all even out over time. The baby texel that beat him went on to win best baby in show so the best pig on the day won and I'm very pleased that I got Eddie to the table and was told he wasn't a total disaster. I wish I could have stayed at the show longer but as I tabled Eddie this huge thunderstorm was brewing and I wanted to get out of there before the hail hit and the dirt parking lot turned to slush. I only just made it.
Anyways I also came back with some lovely little treasures.
Symphonia Rosaline is a darling little pet rex. She's a DEW with smutty ears and nose. I'm hoping she'll get some of the lovely dark ticking/shading as she grows. She's only four weeks old at the moment but she should make a great cage mate for pregnant sows and provide Ebbie with company.
I also collected Pipsqueak Sterling, he's quite skinny after spending time with other sows but I'm sure after plenty of grain and grass and Ebbie's tender care he'll polish up well. He has amazing lines and I'm looking forward to the babies he and Ebbie produce.
Finally I bought Symphonia Laertes. I actually didn't even notice him in the sale cages but another marked breeder found him and insisted I buy him. He's a show quality black dalmatian, and is honestly stunning, His only fault is a slight cheek drag. It'll be lovely to have a shorthair to show as well as the start of the show as well as the longs at the end. I have of intention of breeding dallies, but if he does well I can always lend him to someone to further their lines if needed.
After several intense days of driving I'm now exhausted so photos will come later.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Busy, Busy, Dizzy, Frizzy....
It's been a while since I've checked in. Between the constant migraines and the start of an intense uni year the pigs have been a tad neglected. Though they all still have there daily routine there have been a lot less cuddles then usual.
But tis time for an update on all my babies.
Pipsqueak Edmund continues to do well, his coat looks great and I 'believe it' is still unchewed. He has five wraps in and they are changed every second day. Usually the wraps are pretty loose with lots of fly away hair around by the second day but it seems to be doing his coat a world of good and combing has been a lot easier. His coat still gets gunky from boar glue/pee but now it's mainly the much shorter belly hair rather then his long top and undercoat. He's lovely and plump and is entered into the Texel class on Sunday. I will be overjoyed with anything that's better than last, and if he comes last oh well, it'll will still be a great experience.
Pipsqueak Ebony is doing well and her daily two hourly runs on the floor have returned her to breeding condition. She still sits at just over a kg but her actual condition/body shape is lean and fit. She had her very own pamper session today with a bath, nail clipping and a trim. So she's all ready for her boyfriend on Tuesday.
Pipsqueak Feather is as always a glorious white bombshell of hair. He also had a bath today and seriously the gunk that came out of his coat was putrid. But he's lovely and blindingly white again and looking good. The stop chew spray has totally broken them of their coat chewing habit. I no longer need to use it and they still have lovely locks.
Pipsqueak Fortinbras also had a bath much to his disgust. He's still a bit on the light side with no shoulders to speak of but he does seem to be moving from bugg ugly to mildly ugly/slightly cute. The dropped shoulder coat has grown out slightly so he has his chops back. I still hold out hope that he'll blossom into a magnificent adult. He has the most stunning eyes I've ever seen in a pig and those ears are to die for.
So these past few days have been busy organizing for the show and the family visit (still debating on pretending Edmund's a rat to see if I can scare dear stepmother). Somehow I got talked into staying with my father/dear stepmother as well as collecting my brother and driving him back to our Mother's, as well as going to a dinner with the entire extended family (so only sixty or so people). Thank God for the cavy show, four days with the family would be killer.
I am looking forward to the show though. I have stuck plenty of extra carriers in the car and have gotten plenty of cash out. I'll be collecting Pipsqueak Sterling on Sunday as my new breed boar (I am incredibly excited) and I hope to find a nice sow at the show as a companion to Ebby as well as someone to show in the shorthair classes.
Tomorrow I get to finish packing as well as cooking food for myself for the next four days (the rest of the family does not approve of vegetarianism, if I don't take meat-free food, I don't eat). Then Saturday Eddy gets his own pamper session with a wash and blow dry, then a freshly wrapped Edmund and I will head off down the mountain to Cessnock. Hopefully if the trips not to hard I'll be able to do it fairly often and maybe find someone to carpool with. Me and one pig in a mazda seems a wee bit overkill LOL.
But tis time for an update on all my babies.
Pipsqueak Edmund continues to do well, his coat looks great and I 'believe it' is still unchewed. He has five wraps in and they are changed every second day. Usually the wraps are pretty loose with lots of fly away hair around by the second day but it seems to be doing his coat a world of good and combing has been a lot easier. His coat still gets gunky from boar glue/pee but now it's mainly the much shorter belly hair rather then his long top and undercoat. He's lovely and plump and is entered into the Texel class on Sunday. I will be overjoyed with anything that's better than last, and if he comes last oh well, it'll will still be a great experience.
Pipsqueak Ebony is doing well and her daily two hourly runs on the floor have returned her to breeding condition. She still sits at just over a kg but her actual condition/body shape is lean and fit. She had her very own pamper session today with a bath, nail clipping and a trim. So she's all ready for her boyfriend on Tuesday.
Pipsqueak Feather is as always a glorious white bombshell of hair. He also had a bath today and seriously the gunk that came out of his coat was putrid. But he's lovely and blindingly white again and looking good. The stop chew spray has totally broken them of their coat chewing habit. I no longer need to use it and they still have lovely locks.
Pipsqueak Fortinbras also had a bath much to his disgust. He's still a bit on the light side with no shoulders to speak of but he does seem to be moving from bugg ugly to mildly ugly/slightly cute. The dropped shoulder coat has grown out slightly so he has his chops back. I still hold out hope that he'll blossom into a magnificent adult. He has the most stunning eyes I've ever seen in a pig and those ears are to die for.
So these past few days have been busy organizing for the show and the family visit (still debating on pretending Edmund's a rat to see if I can scare dear stepmother). Somehow I got talked into staying with my father/dear stepmother as well as collecting my brother and driving him back to our Mother's, as well as going to a dinner with the entire extended family (so only sixty or so people). Thank God for the cavy show, four days with the family would be killer.
I am looking forward to the show though. I have stuck plenty of extra carriers in the car and have gotten plenty of cash out. I'll be collecting Pipsqueak Sterling on Sunday as my new breed boar (I am incredibly excited) and I hope to find a nice sow at the show as a companion to Ebby as well as someone to show in the shorthair classes.
Tomorrow I get to finish packing as well as cooking food for myself for the next four days (the rest of the family does not approve of vegetarianism, if I don't take meat-free food, I don't eat). Then Saturday Eddy gets his own pamper session with a wash and blow dry, then a freshly wrapped Edmund and I will head off down the mountain to Cessnock. Hopefully if the trips not to hard I'll be able to do it fairly often and maybe find someone to carpool with. Me and one pig in a mazda seems a wee bit overkill LOL.
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