Happy as a pig in muck
This expression was first used in Britain around 1870. People had noticed that pigs seemed to enjoy wallowing in mud. Much later, they realised that pigs cannot sweat to cool their bodies and so wallowed to cool down. The mud was also useful for ridding the skin of parasites. A number of other animals enjoy a mud bath including the hippopotamus (remember the Flanders and Swann song, ‘Mud, mud, glorious mud?’) the rhinoceros, the elephant, and the warthog.
Pigs are intelligent, sentient beings, and can experience a range of emotions. They can become congenial pets but need companionship and careful handling and socialisation. If not properly socialised, pigs can become aggressive.
In UK, a person seeking to keep a pig must register as a pig keeper, report and record the pig’s movements, and acquire a County Parish Holding (CPH) number detailing where the pig lives. If the owner wants to take his pig out for a walk, he needs to carry a special licence.
Pigs live between five and ten years, though some might live for twenty-five years. Even small pigs can weigh seventy kilos, and some breeds weigh four times as much
When a pig is happy, it may smile and wag its tail. It may also give soft grunts and come to its owner for a scratch or a stroke.
My sister loved pigs when she was little. She was fifteen years older than me so I never witnessed the porcine interaction!
Nice on jabblog
ReplyDeleteIs that your sister in that photo?
That is my sister, yes.
DeleteI liked little pigs shortly after they were born. I didn't like adult pigs.
ReplyDeleteRed,
DeleteI love young animals altogether. But even the cutest puppy or donkey can become a bit rougher as an adult.
Like most animals, pigs can be dangerous, especially if they feel their young are threatened.
DeletePigs are fun! My husband remembers visiting his grandparents. They had a pet pig and he remembers the clickety-click its toes made on the kitchen floor. They had a homestead in North Dakota. I enjoyed this and the photo of your sister.
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DeleteWe once considered having a pet pig. I'm glad we decided against it, but it would have been fun.
Aww I like pigs. My parents had some property and they acquired two pigs. Henny and Penny.oh how cute they were. I knew dad wanted bacon ham,and sausage from them but I tried not to think of it. Then when the dirty deed was done I received butchered wrapped packages of bacon, sausage labeled Henry and Penny. I didn’t want the meat to go to waste and I have to say, best bacon and sausage I ever had.
ReplyDeleteAww, that's such a lovely story. Happy animals, well looked after, make good food, I understand.
DeleteI never had much to do with pigs, when I went to live with mum I was already 16 and got a job right away. I didn't do a lot with animal care until near Christmas when I helped with chicken plucking. The step siblings all had animal care jobs, mostly feeding them and milking the goats. I prefer pigs when they are called ham and sliced onto sandwiches.
ReplyDelete'I prefer pigs when they are called ham and sliced onto sandwiches' . . . 😂🤣
DeleteI grew up on a farm and my father kept pigs, among other animals. I remember them as quite inquisitive animals that were very "nosy" about things. I'm sure we didn't appreciate just how intelligent they are.
ReplyDeleteSo many of the animals we eat are intelligent. Sometimes I think they're more intelligent than the humans!
DeleteWell I never knew that there were so many rules about owning pigs. Did anybody tell the pigs so that they might take legal action when careless owners break those rules?
ReplyDeletePig ignorant, maybe.
DeleteI do love pigs - clever beadties. I particularly love weaner pigs - about that age they play, are fun and funny, their ears flapwhwn they run, everything about them is funny. Pigs love playing foorball too.
ReplyDeleteThey are very appealing, like most young animals. I love Dick King-Smith's story of the Sheep-Pig, which of course became Babe in the film.
DeleteI know little about pigs, but I know a bit more now.
ReplyDeleteA YouTuber in Scotland whose channel I watch was talking about obtaining the CPH number to keep goats.
I have seen a pig being walked and at another time, a goose.
I suppose humans can build relationships with almost any other species, with patience and understanding.
DeleteI had a piggy bank with exactly that expression 😅
ReplyDelete🤣😂
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Deletethank you! https://sintrabloguecintia.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI live in an area where lots of pigs are raised. A few years ago there was a particular pig that would come up to the electric fence and 'chat' every time I went past it. I was sorely tempted to indulge in a bit of pignap, but I think my neighbours might have objected to me keeping a pig in my small garden.
ReplyDeleteAww, that's so sweet.
DeletePigs really are remarkable creatures, and it’s lovely that your sister had such an affection for them
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose a small child would be allowed in the same space as a number of large pigs now.
DeleteAfter that, it seems rather sad to eat them 🫣
ReplyDeleteIt does, indeed.
DeleteI've never had the opportunity to be very close to anyone's pigs. But when I do see them on someone's Farm I think they're fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteThey're such interesting animals, but I've never got up close and personal with them.
DeleteI knew a woman years ago who had a little pig as a pet. We went to their house and the pig wandered around like a dog would. I could never quite understand the attraction of having a pig for a pet.
ReplyDeleteA pig is an unusual pet but they can be very affectionate.
DeleteHi Janice - I can't place 'pig in a poke' ... we had pigs after the War ...but they didn't wander around as far as I know ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteKeeping a pig or two if people had the room was sensible and provided food for the family and neighbours. Brewer's Dictionary gives some indication of where 'pig in a poke' originated.
DeleteI remember once visiting a pig farm and being told that pigs are intelligent and surprisingly clean animals. Unfortunately, we don’t tend to say ‘muck’ in that expression over here. Muck is accurate, the s-word isn’t.
ReplyDeleteYes, pig in muck is the sanitised version.
DeleteOff-topic perhaps but that pig at the top is the exact piggy bank that my father had a s a child and was sitting on his dresser eighty-some-odd years later when he passed away at 91!
ReplyDeleteThat is extraordinary. I'm constantly amazed at how fragile items survive for generations.
ReplyDeleteSomething so appealing about pigs but it doesn't stop me enjoying a bacon sandwich.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I know what you mean.
DeleteInteresting facts about Pigs. My grandkids have all raised pigs for their Ag projects and oh my goodness...many tears have been shed at the end of the year when they had to take them to the sell.
ReplyDeleteThat's hard for youngsters, but it's life and we could all learn from hands on raising and despatching of livestock.
DeletePigs are very intelligent. I suspect that's why they can become short tempered, having to be around silly humans.
ReplyDeleteToo many silly humans to count . . .
ReplyDeleteseems bad to eat intelligent pigs but ...
ReplyDeleteIt does, but . . .
DeleteI enjoyed reading the information about pigs. I have heard they are intelligent animals. I just can't eat pig/ pork any more. Reading about those pig slaughterhouses / seeing videos of them/ made it impossible. I haven't eaten pig in a few decades now. In face, hardly eat ANY meat at all. Fish, yes!
ReplyDeleteMy middle daughter has been vegetarian most of her life and periodically tries to convert the rest of the family. Some are dedicated carnivores, others not so much so. The funniest one is my vegetarian granddaughter, married to a butcher!
DeleteI had thought at one time to get a pot-bellied pig as a pet. They are small, but then heard not so reputable dealers might pass off a regular pig. The Dollhouse is too small. Poor piggy wouldn't be able to turn around at the end of the hallway. So we got a cat, Mitty, instead.
ReplyDeleteA cat is probably a wiser compromise. We went through the same thought process and decided against.
ReplyDeleteI love the sight of a pig wallowing in mud :-)
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense that one has to register as a pig keeper, but had no idea that if its owner wants to take his pig out for a walk, he needs to carry a special licence. How strange! xxx
One would certainly be conspicuous walking a pig. Pigs are not generally aggressive so it surely can't be for safety reasons.
DeleteWhere does the expression piggy bank come from? I was told its about round earthenware which looked like a pig.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
From Wikipedia:
Delete'The earliest known pig-shaped money containers date to the 12th century on the island of Java.'
I bought my house years ago from a real estate agent who had a small potbelly pig as a pet, And I learned from her how intelligent pigs are. On the other hand, while pigs have become a problem in various parts of our country they are large and very aggressive. And dangerous.
ReplyDeleteWhen my brother lived out in the country he had a pet pig.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting read, I've always thought piglets look cute.
ReplyDeleteI do like the image from Wikimedia Commons ... such a happy looking pig.
...and a great photograph of your sister with the pigs.
All the best Jan
Lovely photo. I really enjoy reading your posts. You dig up some interesting things!
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