18th February 2014

No pictures this week i'm afraid. I ended up having no help at all, and with it being school holidays I knew I was going to be in trouble. The furries are still in the same area as the birds, and there was no way you could see into half of the pens as the crowd watching the bird bidding was too dense. I listed what I could though. Lots of rabbits, a run from the usual dealer, and some pigs from an unknown seller. Had a chat with the buyer known as Mr Shiny Shoes, as I thought he has grandchildren who help with the animals he buys, and his daughter helps and rehomes what is suitable. We were both down in the tat sale trying to buy run and hutches too! He's certainly not buying for bait, all good news.
Lots of bidders and buyers meant some of the dealers' lots went for silly prices.... one pair of baby sows went for £26! Last week they didn't get a bid I bought two beautiful satin baby sows cheaply and thought that would be it. Then a couple of pens held pigs, some of those it was impossible to see into (the bird auction was still going when the rabbits started...two lots of shouting in the same area. Chaos) I ended up with both lots, two ginger sows and a black very very funky boy.
I was ready to go and fetch the car down, then noticed the auctioneer had more paperwork, turned out there were more pens around the corner, and then even more in the old area the sales were previously held! Most of the buyers had moved off by then, so nothing was gaining bids. I followed the usual principle of buying guinea pigs that were not raising any bids at all. Tell me, those of you who feel buying is wrong, what do you think will happen to these animals? If they can't make £1 in the sales, are the sellers really going to take them home, care for them, ensure they have the correct diet and environment? Or just off load them anywhere they can so they don't lose more money. Abandon them there in the pens. Neck them. Harsh? It's the reality of life i'm afraid.
This way they have every possible chance to go on to live a good quality of life. You might think that donating £1 to the rescue will not help. It will help these guinea pigs enormously I can assure you. Please carry on helping us to help them.
I bought 9 lots, most had multiple pigs in, all for minimum bids. Boars and sows, mixed ages. Avalon don't 'choose' who to save, any that are in need will be welcomed.
Then even fewer buyers headed around the corner to the dozen or so pens stuck around there. Two had pigs in, one lot of two boars attracted a bid from another 'family' type buyer, I had the other pen.
So poor Shaz had to endure my arrival with boxes of pigs. Room was found, pigs were checked over and they were soon eating. I was also handed over 5 young boars from one of the dealers, a sweet chap with an eye issue and four other healthy boys that should be suitable for rehoming soon.
Again, sorry for the lack of photos, trying to do everything alone is a complete nightmare. If you can help in the future that would be great, most weeks it's easy but occasionally we get a manic one like that was. I do have a few friends I can call on, but unfortunately in this case I found out I would be alone too late to drag anyone in

11th February 2014

Ok, it's winter now! Had to contend with a hail/rain/snow storm when we were at the auction today, boy was it cold! The cages are of course undercover but they are metal and i'm sure very cold for the pigs. Luckily there were not many in today, the usual run from the dealer and then a group from an unknown seller. All those sold, but just one pen from the dealer was sold through the auction. I was happy to let them go for reasonable amounts as usual, but there was a buyer who did their very utmost to obscure a pen and stop others getting close. Me being me I decided to run them up Then I decided I would rather have them myself They are two aby sows, listed as in pig. I figured them and their unborn babies would be better off with Avalon! Very sweet, but completely terrified. They are still sat in the same place in their overnight b&b, not made any attempt to even nibble the fruit/veg/food. I've left them now, and will see what they take overnight.
I also bought a small choc/white boar and two sows from the dealer. One sow is small and about 2 months old, the other is bigger and apparently 'mated'. Wouldn't be a surprise if both were. I got the boar because he is sweet, and because I like to take one from them when I can. It is a good idea not to alienate the dealers completely as from the inside there is a chance to re educate. I have explained about the fungal, and now when one is suffering they bring them to me. Not ideal, but the main thing is the pigs are then receiving treatment rather than suffering on.
Total cost today: £10 (plus commission) for the two abys, £4 each for the sows and £2 for the little boar. These two groups are eating and are bright and alert 

4th February 2014

About 20 pens of piggies in, and double that of rabbits. Most the pigs sold, and went to more private looking bidders. As usual I was there on behalf of Avalon to pick up the unwanted animals, along with any that looked in need of attention or care. It's a tough time of the year, and the rescue's finances are low so we have to be careful, but there is no way we are going to leave in need guineas to the mercy of the dealers and innocent buyers.

Today was a real example of why we go. The first pig through was a white sow, sat in the back of her pen with her eyes closed looking thoroughly miserable. We had decided to buy her before we knew what sex she was, and even more so when it became clear she was a girl and a lethal.

For those who don't realise, the gene that creates the roan guinea pigs, carries a 'lethal' element, that has no effect until doubled up in the breeding pen. So if mum and dad are both roans then there's a 50% chance the progeny will be 'lethals'. These are often born blind, with major teeth malformation, and also can have poorly formed insides. Many live very short lives, others appear to manage until their teeth prevent them eating, as this little girl has found. The ignorant breeders that continue this process should be strung up, it only causes heartache. Some may not realise the issue, others carry on regardless.

Anyway, this sow was not going back into the breeding game. I was determined she was coming back with me. But no one was interested anyway, and she came to Avalon for a minimum bid of £1. She did look very ill to be fair, as it turns out it's more from malnutrition than anything else. 

We also collected 3 very young boys, all beautifully marked but suffering from patches of fungal, a black rex type lad who apart from being terrified is rather nice..... and a cage of hay.

Yep you read that right. There was no piggy in sight. Just a load of hay with a 'lump' in it. He was the last pig sold and we decided to take a punt on him, although we had to go to £3 to get him! Turned out he was the most adorable hairy peru type lad, and very even tempered. Glad he's safe now

All are at Avalon now, the little white lady is called Snowflake and will stay at the rescue. Her front teeth have been clipped, as have her rear ones. They are growing out sideways rather than up, so they will never wear properly. But now they are no longer digging into her mouth and tongue I'm sure she'll be happier. She immediately started foraging in the cage we put her in, and a foster 'auntie' started to give her attention. She may be older than she appears, and is small due to lack of nutrients. But it doesn't matter, she's safe now.

28th January 2014

Farrier again changed to Tuesday. I thought I'd got it sussed, so Tony stayed with him, but then the NHS messed up my idea by keeping him at work until 4am, so he wasn't in a fit state to be at the yard first thing!

Anyway, got down when the first few cages were going through. Lots of pigs cages, a lot from the usual dealer with a reserve on. I don't think any of those sold. Lots of 'normal' looking buyers, most seemed to take something home with them.

There was an adorable bi colour rex boy in, semi adult. He kept coming to the front of the cage to say hi. Our manky friend (see previous blog post) put the first bid on him and seemed sure of taking him home. So I had to go to £4 to get him. He was too cute to let a dealer have him! There were also two PEW (Pink Eyed Whites) ladies, one crested, who are now at Avalon. I watched a lot go though, some making decent money, some only getting one or two bids.

The rescue is full to bursting so I was happy to leave those who looked to be going to private homes. But I did get 4 very young boys, and 6 older ones. And then I took them to Shaz and I *might* have brought two of the older boys back home with me!! Obviously the younger they are the more chance of rehoming, so I didn't think I was being too naughty. But they both sat with me whilst I had a coffee and I just had to have them  One is with my Dutch show boy, the other with a magpie baby. So both doing a job for me.  Another youngish sow went back to Avalon too, so lots of new inmates...if you can pass word around to your friends perhaps we can find new long term homes for a few.

I had a discussion with someone after the auction who was trying to buy a sow from me. He dropped into the conversation that he had a boar at home. He didn't seem pleased when I refused to sell him one. Even when I explained they would breed and re breed. He thought that was great. Even when I explained that if everything went well they would cost far more that the £1 they were going for in the auction. And things can easily go wrong.  I'm sure he'll get one. That is why we are at the market each week picking up the unwanted pigs. People like him. Hmmph!

21st January 2014

There was not much in today. Some from the usual dealer with reserves on (non sold) and a few others spotted about.

I was gutted that one pen was amongst a run of rabbits and I missed them. They were a trio of pets, no sex listed, and our manky friend (See below*) got them. I put the first bid in and several bids went above so I left them- I hadn't spotted him bidding. He tried for a mum and two babies as well so I carried on and got them so he didn't. The same went for a boar, I put a pound on and he bid on it as well. So, although I don't make a habit of it, I went until I got him. He's very nice, I guess that's why he was wanted.

Different again from last week, no one much bidding and prices low all round.

I also got 4 other young boars, all a bit scabby but with good weight on.

(* There are some very unscrupulous dealer/breeders out there who buy the pigs cheaply at the market, overbreed them and sell what they can. Sadly many of these dealer/breeders have no concern for animal welfare and we often see the consequences of their irresponsible breeding. One of these dealer/breeders is a regular at the market and is usually trying to get sows (especially the pregnant ones) as cheaply as possible. For more information on our "friend" click here. Please be aware that the contents of the article may be distressing for some readers.)

14th January 2014

Bad timing meant I had the farrier on the yard at 10.30, but we whittled the list down and got things sorted so my other half could stay and I dashed down to the market.

The sale now starts after the birds have finished, there is no time specified and it all depends on how many lots there are in the bird auction. So at 11.30 the furry sales were in full swing and we arrived puffing and blowing!!

The first 19 lots were all rabbits luckily, so we had time for a quick scout around. There were 19 pens of pigs, a mixture of adults and babies. There were also a few bidders I haven't seen before, along with the usual suspects. The bidding was furious and went far higher than usual, the early lots were sows so I figured that was why, but then the boys were going for high prices too! They were making £10/£18 for a pair of sows, and £8/£15 for two boars. Bearing in mind there have been unwanted pigs of both sexes in the last month I just sat and watched! One bidder bought quite a few, I will watch out for them in the future.

I put one bid in for a pair of boars, but was quickly topped and they went for well above what is probably their value, the rest I watched. Until the last lot....One ginger & white big boy. They didn't give him a second glance so I bought him back for Avalon for the usual pound. He's actually rather nice, very squishy and no trouble at all. I might have forgotten to get pictures of him though  Shaz...your turn!

I also took two older boars from the very nice dealer, they are in beautiful condition but probably old enough that they will be hard to rehome, we all know how tough it is with adult males. So they are staying with me.

So a quiet week, which I am sure Shaz is appreciative of!

If anyone else can spare an hour or two for market duty that would be great, it's very hard to ignore the rest of our life here to go every week, but I do worry what will happen to those no one wants.

Help/assistance/company would be very welcome, you could even tie it in with an hour in Shaz's sow shed having your shoelaces destroyed!

7th January 2014

New year, same old rubbish! Couple of sets of cages today, around 20 lots of pigs amongst the rabbits. One line from a dealer as normal, a couple sold through the auction and one or two afterwards.

After the heartbreak of watching too many young sows giving birth, losing babies and then fading themselves we are a touch wary :-(

I watched a few lots sold, and bought two lots from the first run as there were no other bids, but the cages were all boars so those that were wanted I left. The first ones were in a top cage, hidden in straw, so I had no idea what they were. Turns out there is a tiny, tiny ginger chap and a brown/ginger slightly older one. The tiny one should never have been entered, far too small. Also got one of those rare purple and cream Himalayans!(Joke) Who knows why he is that colour, but his skin is good so guess they were marking him.

I bought the first of the next run for a minimum bid, two foxy type boys. I want first dibs on one of them if he doesn't get rehomed please Shaz!! He's just been sat on my lap watching RaRa the noisy lion.

And I finished up getting the final lot, two older boys, funky types, terrified but tame enough and sweet natured. So 7 pigs for £4.40p. :o/

For a reason we cannot fathom, this boar appears to have been spray painted with purple paint.

This little guy should not have been entered into the auction, he is far too small/young.