As the Feathers Turn: Life With Pigs’ Latest Drama Edition

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in a peaceful, harmonious animal sanctuary where everyone coexists in perfect serenity… we can confirm that we have no idea.

Because lately, Life With Pigs has been less Little House on the Prairie and more Real Housewives of the Barnyard.

​Let’s start with Sherman, who has apparently decided that the pigs are his mortal enemies. To be fair, he doesn't seem entirely sure why.... he just seems to wake up every morning, puff up his chest, and declare war on anyone over 50 pounds. Our working theory is that he sees himself as the superhero savior of the yard - but without a villain to allow him to fully achieve greatness. So he’s found one in our poor pigs, who were simply minding their own business.
​
Meanwhile, best friends Louisa and Charlie have hit puberty and seem determined to embody as many angsty teenager stereotypes as possible. Louisa appears to have entered her “brooding villain” phase. First, words were exchanged during one of our tours, and they haven’t been able to be in the same room since. Louisa confirmed the puberty theory by laying her first egg. 

We would have thrown a little party, but she gave us that look that said, “Don’t make this weird.” So ever since one of our ordinary sanctuary tours turned into a turkey Jerry Springer episode, tensions have been high. There have been side-eyes. There have been cold shoulders. There has been kicking and pecking. There may have even been an attempted wing slap (we’re not naming names, but we have footage).  

While all of this unfolds, Quincy, the resident patriarch, has been watching from the sidelines with the patience of a man who’s seen too much. He occasionally intervenes, but usually just sighs and walks away dramatically, which is exactly the level of involvement we aspire to in our own family disputes.

That was, until fall molting began. Now Quincy has gone full "get off my lawn" dad mode. His feathers are falling out, his patience is hanging by a thread, and he’s started pecking at anyone who so much as looks at him wrong. 

In short, peace has left the building.

Between Sherman’s brawls, Louisa’s big life milestone, and Charlie’s quest for drama, the turkey yard has turned into a live-action telenovela. We’re just waiting for someone to start a confessional booth so everyone can explain their side of the story. 

But that’s life at the sanctuary - beautiful chaos, endless personality, and enough drama to keep Mallory up at night, every night.