There is routine in farming but it is often not routine.  The other day during the evening feeding,  we discovered two piglets with quills in their snout and one momma pig with quills in her leg.  I forgot my phone but Brad Schlegel came to the rescue and loaned his phone to call  Isaac and Ken, our field medics.  Pigs use their noses to find their food so it was a serious problem for the piglets.  Isaac scooped them up, one at a time, in his strong arms and held him firmly to his chest then leaned them on the hood of the pick-up.  Ken used a needle nose pliers and removed the quills.  The piglets never like being held so they squealed loudly even when the quills were not being removed.  The Kline family was a big help. The kids stepped into action. Cameron retrieved a barrel that we thought we might use and Kani threw corn to the momma Pig to keep her distracted while Isaac pulled the quills from her leg.  Carly  did not like the pig squeals but she was much happier when the pigs were released to their pasture with noses that did not hurt.

Once the piglets were relieved of their quills, we fed the momma pig who did not seem bothered by the quills. While she was eating, Isaac deftly removed all the quills from her leg.  We are hoping the porcupine did not feel welcome in the pasture and has moved on to a new location.

Quill-nosed-teary-eyed piglet