The Pigs
Pepper and his younger friend Sidney are black Vietnamese Pot-bellied pigs. Pepper was the first (very) large farm member to come to live with us. He previously lived with a family with 2 young children and his Springer Spaniel friend but due to unfortunate circumstances they reluctantly had to part with him and asked a mutual friend if we could take him. Pepper missed them a lot and started to become quite a recluse, only venturing out for meals and then he’d amble back to bed.
He was quite overweight when he arrived but lack of exercise meant he was putting on more weight which was not good for his health. After a lot of searching we were asked by someone who breeds Vietnamese Pot-bellies if we would like to have a piglet as a friend for Pepper and so that children who visited the farm could have the chance to learn about pot-bellied pigs. We jumped at the chance and so Sidney came to join us too. They took a bit of getting used to each other, with a lot of pushing and shoving and lip smacking to start with, as this is how pigs fight, but Sidney stood his ground giving as good as he got and now they are good friends. Sidney makes sure Pepper has a wander outside every day (except when its raining or snowing!) and the exercise has done him the world of good and slimmed him down to quite a trim pig. Pepper makes sure that the sheep from next door, who share their paddock, don't bully Sidney too much. Vietnamese Pot-bellies are black and don't have a curly tail but a long one with a tuft of hair at the bottom which they wag when they are happy (usually when they are eating), just like a dog. We rub them with baby oil when their skin gets dry which makes them black and shiny. Pigs will make themselves large nests out of straw to sleep in, they are very meticulous in doing this so it makes them quite upset when its time to change their bedding as they have to start it all again!