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.

17th December 2013

As expected the rabbit/cavy sale was quiet again today. With just the usual dealers entering stock and little of it selling.

I went back afterwards and spoke to the dealer, and came away with four young sows and one rather unhappy but sweet boar. One sow has bad fungal and I've taken a shine to her, one of those who looks at you and says "Help. Please!" The fungal on her eye is the smallest patch, hopefully it will improve soon.

The boy, well, I guess he's an alpaca type, or a cross. He stinks, has major hair loss over his shoulders and there is something about his eye...I'm hoping its just an infection rather than the eye being a problem. Very sweet though.

They're stopping here tonight as I'm going to my daughters dance presentation but they will be at Avalon tomorrow.

That's it for two weeks. I will enjoy the break and the lack of emotional rollercoaster!

The young boar with a poorly eye

Young sow with bad fungal infection. The patch of fungal infection around her eye can clearly be seen here

10th December 2013

From one extreme to another! I'm suffering (again!) so forgot my bidding card and notepad, but walked down anyway knowing I'd have to fork out for a replacement. I'm putting my forgetting it down to being ill rather than old and stupid.
I found the sales were round by the birds again, which had ended early, AND that they were about to start before 11am.... but a quick scan found just 15 pens and only 5 of those were pigs, all from a known dealer that has reserves on. So I let them be and went tat hunting. Might have overdosed on garden tools, anyone need any? Be prepared for Spring? Proceeds to Avalon!

When I returned 2 pens had sold, leaving one sow pen and two of boars. The two cute, older boars were being negotiated and were bought by an unknown buyer who looked decent, so that left two pens, 4 piggies. I haggled and bought these. The dealer knows me well and knows that I make no money from them, so she's happier letting them go for less. The two girls are about 10 weeks old, sweet enough but have mites and fungal. The boys are possibly a bit younger and again have fungal. Not a problem now, will soon be sorted.

Then another dealer pulled me aside, she's a very fair person and had a group of young boys she wanted me to have, hence not putting them through the auction. So all 12 came home with me! Such a change to see money taking second place to the best for the animals. These are rex/aby/smooth coated, variety of colours and in good condition. Homes required for them once they have been fully checked over so please help if you can. They are scared and submissive, and would bond easily with other boars. Try to give them a chance if you can, we don't ask you to take a group or all of them, but every little helps. It's my new motto.

One more week and then a fortnight off from the sales, although i'm looking forward to the break I'm also conscious some pigs will have longer to endure before we can have them.

Please, please, try and help rehoming those suitable so we can help those in desperate need.

3rd December 2013

 

Nightmare is the only way I can describe it today. For some reason the usual area is no longer suitable for the selling of furries, so the cages were stuck round by the caged bird and dead stock sale.  The crowd were in the way as they were bidding on the bird sale... and the pens were spread all over the place. I made a quick inventory and found 26 pens of pigs. The first ones were midway through so I might have popped along to the tat sale.... bought a few boxes and then wondered what the hell I was going to do with them as I was on my own. Doh!

Anyway, the first pigs through were what appears to be old breeding stock- big chunky sows that were in a bit of a mess but holding their weight, so must have been well looked after somewhere. I bought those that had no bids, and one that had a first bid only. They were mostly sows as I say but there was also a youngish boar. They are abys, texels and perus. Gorgeous. But smelly.

The next run was in a different block, and directly in front of the dead stock. Difficult for bidders on both sides  To my knowledge not one lot was sold. They were all in from dealers and had reserves on. I'd earmarked one I wanted as it had a mark on its side but I didn't bid at the time as I wanted to take a closer look and I knew I could talk to the seller afterwards. When that block had done everyone walked away, as they do. Then the auctioneer says he's got sheets for more, it turned out there were 9 more cages across the way and tagged onto the poultry lines. So there were three people watching.... I got half, a dealer got a couple and a decent looking family had two. These were mainly sows, nothing special but healthy enough.

I bought the marked baby from the dealer afterwards, and a couple of other babies. Also two from the 2nd dealer that looked in need of tlc. It's tough as I want to take them all back, but it's just not possible or advisable.