All was well, then our New Pigs Started Shivering

It was a big day, a day to get pigs. We're excited, but always, always, it's, it's, it's a weird day because you're excited but you're also certainly nervous. You're bringing— where are you going? The cows are to be up there. She's walking them off somewhere else. Look at this winter garden.

Looks good.

Looks real good. It's exciting because you're getting new animals, but it's also nerve-wracking because you're getting new animals. I mean, these are lives. These are more chores. These, uh, could die. They could get sick. Uh, they're certainly going to be stressed out. And to give you some background on some of our experiences with getting pigs, we got our pigs from Cliff Davis. First time we had somebody pick them up, they came in shivering. Goodness, y'all couldn't lay down and get warm? That's pretty bad if a pig is shivering because they're so fat and they're so stout and they're so hardy.

A pig shivering, they are shivering.

Poor things. They're probably stressed out.

The second time we got pigs from Cliff, we went but our car broke down and we had to haul our car back with a U-Haul with our pigs inside of the van on the trailer behind our U-Haul.

Whoa.

I know, right? We gotta lift them high. Oh yeah, so this comes down.

Yep.

You don't think they'll jump over that board, do you?

Oh my gosh, there's no lid.

That'd be interesting. 5 pigs inside of a minivan on a trailer behind a U-Haul truck, 15-foot U-Haul truck. So this was going to be the third time, and this time we have the Suburban and the trailer. It's probably promising to be less dramatic. When we get to Cliff's, he's not there yet, and I see a trailer and pretty sure that's where the pigs are. If the pigs are in this trailer, they are quiet. There they are. You sure are cute at this age. Look at them little guys, they're so little. Oh man, my initial impression was like, oh, they're so little. We've never gotten them that little from Cliff. This is exciting. This is magical. This gave me like a You know, I've done— this is like our fourth. This is the fourth receiving pigs. But yeah, it's still nerve-wracking, but, but being smaller made it a little bit less so. Oh, we wait on Cliff. Let's get him his check. Back of the cutest little pigs.

Are they?

Yeah, they're tiny.

Really? Okay.

Hey, we got you a shirt, Cliff. You're living—

I love it.

You're living that mantra.

That's right.

Do you want large or extra large?

A large. Okay, pigs for everyone.

I'm not extra large yet with the, uh, I don't, I don't want to insult anybody, but I don't, I also don't want anyone to— I'm a pig farmer, it's hard to insult the pig farmer.

So there you go, we bought you a shirt.

Thank you so much, I appreciate that a lot.

Okay, Cliff, now this, this isn't going to be as exciting as last time.

I don't know if it's going to be too easy for you guys.

This is too easy, isn't it?

Wow, that's nice.

You just leave them in here for the rest of All right, how do you want to do it? Well, I guess we're just going to pick them up.

Yeah.

Okay.

Aren't they cute, Rachel?

They are adorable.

They're cute at the face. Really? They are very cute.

Hey guys.

All right, all right, you're under enough stress. I'll leave you alone. I like the red one, fun. Well, there's the mom. Thank you, appreciate it. Cliff, people are going to want to know what kind of pigs are those.

What breeds are crossed between an Old Line Hampshire and an Old Line Duroc?

50/50?

Yep.

Okay, and so who's that? That's the Duroc.

Is it?

Oh yeah, that's the Duroc. Your pork is delicious.

Hands down the best yet. This is some of the best pork we've ever grown out here. And that— I like them at about 7 or 8 months old.

Um, that's what we did.

Okay.

Yeah, if they can get up to 280 to 300 pounds, um, that's when the marbling's like— I'm talking 12, 13%.

How can you tell in there how much?

It's like the wagyu. You'll see, it's amazing.

How can you tell how much they weigh? Um, is that measuring?

Does that work?

I think it does.

Okay.

Yeah, I just do a girth measurement. I can send you a, um, like a little cheat sheet.

Yeah, that'd be great. Yeah, I know in cows you can do that. I don't know if you could do that with pigs.

It gives you approximate at least. Yeah, you know, you're not going to get it exact, right? But it's really hard to do the back and the round and and then divide all the numbers. So I just do the girth. I found one that just does girth. Okay, I don't have to remember all the equations. Yeah, anything I can't remember, I just take a picture of and keep it on my phone.

Yeah. All right, there it is.

So even with the pigs, I just take pictures of them when they're born, then I just go back through this. Oh, they're that old? Okay, I can write that down in my notebook.

How long has it been since they've had water or food?

Uh, since last night.

Okay. You think they're good, or do you think they would actually drink something if we stopped?

Without drinking? Yeah, they'll drink, definitely.

But I think so.

I mean, they'll be fine.

Okay.

Do they eat hay?

They do this time of the year. They love hay. Yeah, yeah, I just threw 2 or 3 bales down there and it's half of it's gone.

It's not going to be very exciting. I can back up. I can back up. It's like we gotta have some drama somewhere, Cliff, right?

That was boring.

All right, you didn't even hit anything.

Pulling out of Cliff's. I still— I say I had to apologize for Cliff. I'm sorry, no dramatics, no excitement, uh, totally boring. And we went on our way. See you, Cliff. See y'all. Thank you. Sorry, no excitement this morning. Sorry.

No, something will happen.

Okay.

On our way home, we stopped by our friend's house, Rory Fiek, to tour his amazing farmhouse and one-room schoolhouse. What do you think, Rory? Oh, aren't those adorable? They're precious. We need to show them to the kids. I was thinking, does Indy want to see them? And her friends would love to see them. I plan on showing you that tour in a whole nother video. Like, it deserves its whole other special video, like this weekend-ish bonus video this weekend. But I do want to show you— we got to show his daughter and her fellow students the piglets.

And don't be next, uh, it's gonna kick you.

Do you know what's in here?

No.

Any guesses?

Nope, no guesses.

No guesses. It could be anything.

I think it's a unicorn.

I think it's a duck.

A cow. A duck. A duck. I think it's a chicken. This is actually a horse trailer. Do you think there's a horse in here?

Yeah.

What about a pony?

Yeah. Oh, horse.

Okay.

Don't be by the horse.

Okay. It's the most delicious food you've ever tasted. Somebody call it out.

Pig!

Pig!

Pig!

Baby piggy!

Baby piggy!

Aww, that's so sweet!

Piggy!

Aww!

Yeah, they're little tiny.

Hi cutie!

They're big fans of the pigs.

Oink!

They don't want to come out.

One animal we haven't seen in person, right?

Oh good.

They are so cute.

Yes, that was so fun to show those piglets to little kids that have never— well, maybe I've never seen anything like that. Oh yeah, the teacher said that was their first pig visitor, so that was fun.

Now it's time to go.

Just finished the edit. How you holding up, Rebecca?

Good.

You're doing good.

Just waiting to—

What about your assistant chauffeur? She doesn't need a job?

Yeah.

You're going strong?

I'm doing good, but I'll be honest, I'm a little hungry. You guys don't eat very much when you travel, and I, I'm losing weight by the second. I can feel it. Like, my stomach's got— it's smaller since yesterday. All right, well, we're waiting.

We're gonna get some soup.

I mean, if you guys want— if you want to eat soup in this bumpy ride. Okay, never mind.

So we're gonna get food here in about, what, an hour?

Less? When we run out of fuel? I'm so sorry, Rachel. You want some peanut butter? You want some, uh, you have an apple? Nobody's going for that orange. We do have an apple with peanut butter.

Okay, cool. I want to eat the orange, but have you ever eaten an orange while driving? It'd be a little messy, especially that orange.

A couple hours into it, we went and checked on the pigs. And they were shivering. How are they doing?

They're acting like they're shivering. I don't know.

There's 2 hours left. They're shivering a little bit. I didn't think they would be shivering. I gave them a hay bale. I gave them a closed trailer. They were shivering, the poor little guys. Maybe it's stress.

Put their water bowl over there.

But it's really not crazy cold and they knew they were in a closed trailer. This could be bad because if they're cold, they could get sick. Combination of stress, this could be bad. Like bad. They could get sick and maybe even eventually die. I mean, I wish they would get over here in their nests. Would you guys get in your nest? Hmm? Here, you're laying right there. Oh good. That's a good sign, Rebecca. You might get them some more after that guy gets it. Guy? They're both girls. They're both females. Oh good, they're both getting in it. They're not scared of you, are they?

I mean, they spilled a bunch of it, but yeah, they're very thirsty. We didn't bring—

they had food and water last night, but you don't know really the last time they drank. We didn't bring a pan because I guess we never have. It's been fine, but I guess—

well, I gave them water earlier. I gave them water earlier. They didn't drink it.

We're gonna hope for the best. We've had great history with Cliff's pigs in the past. Pigs are hardy animals. I wish I could just convince them to lay under some of this tarp, and they're laying like back here where the wind would be.

I know, right?

Nice. Get up front. Oh, he's digging. She's digging. I think a pig's just—

I know, right?

Come on, come here, come on.

Break up a hay bale for him. That water really seemed to help. They really seem to need it. They seem to be thirsty. I think that was a great idea. Go that way. That might have did it, Rebecca. Boy, I scared them into that corner too. Trying to give them a nest. And up at the front of the trailer, it won't be as windy. There you go. Yeah, I like it. Oh yeah. That's much better, right guys? They're cute. All right, stay in the nest, guys. Stay in your nest. How's the broccoli soup, Rachel?

Broccoli soup is very healthy. Let's look at it together.

Okay, it's actually really—

it's not that bad. It's not that it's bad. It has a hint of cheese and a hint of mint and a whole lot of broccoli.

That's good for you.

What are you eating, Beck?

Baked beans.

Baked beans.

Where do I—

We are home.

Just right in front of the mailbox.

Pull up for now so the kids can come out and see and figure out where to park.

Little giddy.

And it was so good to be back with the family, back on the farm. That 2 days felt like a week. Uh, it just felt right to be back and back with our children. Hey, hey, hey, my people! These are my people right here. These are my people. No, we're gonna let them stay in the trailer all night. Okay, we do need to get them water and feed. They're tiny, tiny. Quiet, everybody quiet, quiet. They're not used to people. Rebecca, did they get in their nest? Yeah. So once we got them home, it's always nerve-wracking to open the door, like, what am I going to see in here? Well, I opened the door and they were nestled into their, uh, little hay nest, asleep. Asleep. They're not shivering anymore, are they?

They're sleeping.

Guys, we'll see them in the morning, okay? We'll put them up in the morning too. I figured we'll just— it's almost dark, they're asleep, it won't hurt them. We will put their feed and water in there though, okay? Okay. Y'all back right there. Hey kiddos, we did get you something for the vacation. Mostly we're going on vacation next week.

Um, Patagonia bars.

Yeah, Patagonia bars, 2 boxes. The sign of rest is coming for all of us. First vacation, vacation, vacation. No editing ever. Lily's making us a smoothie. It's good to be back eating lots and lots of food. Hey, you guys want to go— Mom, should we, should we get the pigs food and water first or unload the truck?

Where are you going? Where are you going?

We're gonna go feed the pigs.

I know.

Yeah, will you go put that mom's night back on her bed?

Can you wait for me?

Sure. Look at this, guys. We have a home for this. This is probably 15 pounds of food scraps.

I have a question for you.

Yes.

Honey. All of this stuff. I know there's one thing missing, but it doesn't go in Mom's smoothie.

Yeah, are you asking me what's missing?

Yeah, what, what does— what doesn't go in, um, oh, in Mom's?

Mom gets this.

Okay.

And she gets honey, and she gets yogurt. She does not get vanilla.

Got it.

So she gets these three, and I already called it, and she gets coconut oil. Do you even have shoes, Mr. Brown?

They're outside.

Okay, good to be back. Feels like we've been gone a week. It's been like 2 days. Jonah, did you get the feed and water together? Here's what we got. I like these plastic pans much better. They're easier to clean. They're low.

But I would like to buy a 2-person dog sled.

I couldn't find this the other day. Where's my bamboo brush?

I used it.

Can you please go find it for me?

This is not it.

I like my bamboo brush. We have some scrap foods right here. Listen, a lot of this would have been good to swill, like this chicken bone. We don't got time to swill tonight.

What?

And I'm not gonna give it all to them. That's plenty.

Papa, one cup's pretty for the little pigs.

Well, that's plenty. Wait till you see how small they are. They're tiny. Let's do just a little bit of skim and let's get some water in that. Hey, Mr. Brown, let me see your shirt. I like that shirt. Pigs for everyone. This is gonna be their water. Be quiet as possible. If they're asleep, let's keep it that way. Rebecca, in case you're wondering, the pigs are still sitting in the same spot asleep. It's good to be away from the children sometimes because then I think you come back with a new appreciation. It's good to be away from the farm for that matter, and you come back with a new appreciation for everything that you do have. Oh man, you guys got the blue blocker glasses on.

All right guys, that's our new time routine.

Start blocking the blue light, wind down.

Helps us sleep at night.

You might look okay.

Oh, we're not winning any fashion awards, honey. Once you enter blue blocker glasses, you're making a statement of a different kind.

Blue.

You look handsome.

They make everything a lot smaller.

I think I'll pee, Mama.

I'll wait. No, you gotta wear them till bedtime and then we'll take them off.

How's it?

They look better on you than on Rebecca.

Duh, Gus Kitty. How's it work?

Hey, we can do this or go to bed when it gets dark. Oh. How long you think they'll keep these without losing them?

Oh, um, a week. A week. Okay, see, I got your size.

Oh, there you go.

Do they look okay?

They look orange.

Thanks, but look, I'm going—

you make them look wonderful. You and your crazy blue— you're the crazy blue walker lady. You just get crazier and crazier every day, but we're gonna live long, healthy, happy lives.