| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 09:28:51 AM
I'm starting to think about getting a pig. I don't know why but I am. I am getting lots of milk now and need more ways to use it. I am dreaming of good natural bacon and porkchops and ham. I am almost out of all that. And good nitrate free bacon is hard to find and very expensive.
If I do get ONE I will put a ring in its nose so I can put it in the pasture with the cows. But really, I am just thinking. I know my hubby will slap me. I said something this morning and he just looked at me. Didn't say a word.
But it would be nice.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Rea231 |
Posted - Apr 26 2010 : 06:20:51 AM
Ya gotta have at least 2! They compete for the food and grow better!Besides you can sell one to off set the cost of feed!
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 26 2010 : 05:19:43 AM
I just cooked the last pork roast yesterday for dinner. Just down to some ribs and lots of sausage. A few hams. I had nothing cured so it's just like big ole pork chops. So it's about time to do something!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 9:33:26 PM
kris if you can do a chicken you can do a pig. if you can get it in the air its easy. size matters. i have done BIG pigs and smaller. i prefer smaller. we used to butcher all our own meats and cut it up in chops. i have 2 knives a hand meat saw. i followed the directions in storeys guide to pigs book. i do not always have the power to do big kills any more. my favorite knife for skinning is a small paring knife with a thin blade. i wear them out i do so many chickens and turkeys. i get them at goodwill. sharpen often and keep the grease off your knife.i know you could do it. it is 75.00 dollars here to have it killed and skinned. then 65 cents a pound cut and wrap. so we started doing more of the kills. we take it in to hang and get cut up these days. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 9:04:53 PM
Sherrye, I would love to home butcher. I do know a guy who will do it. He was going to do the goats last year but I ended up selling them. I may end up doing a few of these bucks soon. But he could do a pig I'm sure. I think we could do it.
Gena, I am so sorry your mom is having problems now. But she'll be fine and you go and have fun with your hubby. You need a vacation. Where will ya'll be going? And tell him happy birthday. Have fun.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 5:08:35 PM
Dog gone it! My hubby's 50th birthday is Thursday. I want to go camping this coming weekend, so no matter where that farm in TN is, I won't be able to go.
Good news is I GOING CAMPING!! Bad news, I can because mom is in a rehab place trying to get back on her feet after pneumonia.
I am taking advantage of the free time. She should be there 10 days.
I will still check out how far Jasper TN is from me!
Learn alot and keep us updated.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 08:12:24 AM
the duroc crosses are red. i have a fondness for them. the hamp gives them a little length too i think. i am going to butcher small this year and do it myself.we use the tractor to get them in the air to skin etc. let us know when the day arrives. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 07:08:51 AM
Gena, it's Sequatchie Cove farm near Jasper Tn. off 24. They are having open house or farm May 1st. I love it there. It's beautiful. ANd they raise all their animals on pasture. But they are very expensive too. But well worth the cost to get good fresh pasture raised meat. I will ask about the heritage breeds.
Sherrye, I thought the one I had was red and white but he was black with a white band across his shoulders and front feet. I think that's what you have?
Michele, we have a low spot at the bottom of the pasture and when it rains it fills up. They would have a ball out there. But out back where I want to put one this time has a little stream that runs when we have rain. We used to have the washer line run out that way but it stayed too wet. For a pig that would be great but not for goaties.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 06:50:52 AM
i like duroc hamp crosses. they seem the easiest to raise. i found with the more older breeds they tend to root more. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 06:36:56 AM
Kris, when you go to that farm, ask them about the Black pigs. It is not just the color, it is a breed. I had read about them awhile back.
People were really talking in favor of that breed.
If you are like me though, I'll just take what I can find!
Where in TN is the farm? When are you going?
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| windypines |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 04:22:31 AM
Ah they do make some nice holes, but they sure do enjoy them when it has rained! We were dry last summer, and I would hose the pigs down, and make a puddle for them. Lucky we had a water hydrant close to their pen. Always fun to talk to others, and find out how they manage their place.
Michele |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 24 2010 : 05:27:17 AM
Michele, I just remember all the huge holes they made and I still have big ones from the last 4. It was just a thought. I know that's what they are made to do. I am going next week to a farm in Tn. that raises pastured pigs. I am going to ask lots of questions. But that's what I did with mine was raise them on pasture. I might not have had the right kind of grasses though. Or the right kind of pigs either. They were the white pigs. One was a Hampshire? Red with the white middle. Anyway, I would like to find the old red heritage breed pigs that were made to live off the land.
Or do like Gena suggested and find someone who is raising them more naturally and just buy one from them. That's a good plan!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| windypines |
Posted - Apr 24 2010 : 05:05:53 AM
Years ago my dad used to put hog rings in their noses to keep them from rooting. They still rooted. I would never do it to them. It is the pigs nature to root. Having good fencing is the key. An electric wire is a must. And not hard to maintain.
Good luck
Michele |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Apr 23 2010 : 02:39:45 AM
Kris, GET THE PIG(S)!
I am going to try my best to get Hubby to agree, and get 2 pigs. The biggest problem is that the pigs ruined their fencing, and it will all have to be replaced. Hubby is working 12 hrs a day, and no time to do it. Fencing is sooo expensive too. I may have to find a local person that is raising pigs and try to buy from them at butchering time.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 8:17:19 PM
Kris:
I say: Get the pig, or get two pigs. LOL. Let us know what you name him or them.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 8:08:04 PM
kris just wanted to say folks around here that feed the barley grain from the brewery swear it works great for pigs sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 3:37:35 PM
Hi Cris. Welcome to the forum. I'll have to check out that book. It sounds good. Around here it is against the law for restaraunts to give people the left over food. They have to throw it away. If they get caught they could be closed down. But I did go to the Merrita bread place and got a few truckloads of day old bread. But I feel bad about doing that because I don't even eat that bread. So I will have to come up with some other places to get food. There are a few breweries in Chattanooga that give their used hops and barley to some pig farmers.
Oleta, I will definetley tell the truth. It is hard work. And sometimes downright scary too! I had visions of falling in the pig yard when I had the 4 huge pigs and them eating me! It could happen.
Sherrye, I would love to find some of the older breeds that could be raised better on pasture. Not all pigs are bred to do this. The older hardier breeds, like the red pigs, can survive on forage and nuts and not grains. So I may have to look on line for a heritage breeder. And they can be pretty pricey.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| chickenladycris |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 12:11:08 PM
Hey there! SO funny to come across this--just finished reading Farm City by Novella Carpenter. A great read! She is a farmgirl in the middle of Oakland, CA who raises chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, bees, rabbits, AND pigs. The pig section is a hoot. Regarding feed, she and her boyfriend?husband? go around to the dumpsters behind restaurants, bakeries and greengrocers and haul away buckets of slop for the pigs. They didn't spend a cent on pig chow, just used what was "fresh" from that day and was going to be tossed anyway. And in Michael Perry's book Coop, he goes to a large bakery in the Eau Claire, WI area and gets an ENTIRE VAN stuffed full of throw-away bread products to feed his chickens and pigs. Around here, I know of people who go to the dairies and food processing plants (like OreIda, local meat lockers, grocery stores, commercial bakeries) and load up on the food that is going to be tossed or the food-industry byproducts that are going to be tossed but are good for animal feed. If you have some options around where you are, it might help save a little on feed costs. Myself, I supplement good commercial feed with "fridge leftovers" and weeding from the garden for my flock of poultry & rabbits. No pigs here, as my 3/4 acre farm just isn't big enough for one of those babies! Good luck--and I vote, get the piggy!
"A farmgirl can never have enough chickens!"--me |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 08:08:11 AM
kris glad your getting a pig. i love our pork. especially when we are in milk. they are the easiest on our place to care for. fun on the farm for you. we have 3 ordered. not weaned yet. they are duroc hamp cross sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| vintage saver |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 06:55:21 AM
Oh boy! What fun you're going to have!lol. I want to see your posts, too. Just tell us the truth,lol We trust you to do that. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 06:48:35 AM
Gena, after last night watching Food, Inc. I will be getting a pig! And meat chicks too. I will not eat another thing unless it is raised or grown here or at a place where I know they are good clean organic grass fed creatures or produce. That is my pledge.
I do have a good place to put it when I get it. In the goat barn to mulch up all the good stuff out there for me. I have been thinking about it now and think I will do it. And nows a good time because I will have lots of goat milk and starting to get produce. And I won't keep them too long either. Just maybe to about 200 pounds. That's all we need.
I'll be sure and post about all the fun I'll be having! Yee haw!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 02:59:33 AM
I didn't. Our pigs were mostly in a wooded area, so I didn't mind them rooting.
I have changed my mind. I think you should get one. I want to read about your adventures! LOL!
Hugs
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 07:07:30 AM
Has anyone ever put rings in their noses to keep them from tearing up the ground?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 07:05:41 AM
i would have to say that electric as long as it is working will keep them in.i have been known to have pigs running down the road.lol the grandkids were here from miss. katrina had destroyed their home so the kids were here. they chased those pigs and ran them back home. i was totally freaked out. they thought it was grand.if you train them to a food bucket like cows and goats at least they will follow the bucket.i need to clean my pig pen out soon. we have 3 coming. one is going to be a breed sow PET. i am going to train her to a halter and lead. since we may be on the big rock out off the grid i thought i need my own sow. we will see if i change my mind sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| mellaisbella |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 06:14:13 AM
what about an electric fence to keep them where you want them? we have some in our woods, some in a back field and some in another field. Just put them where you don't mind if/what they root up.
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 05:58:55 AM
Ha ha, Gena. I think you know me too well now. You are so right. Once I get an idea in my head it's hard to stop it. I will probably have to chase it some. But back there in the goat yard is electric fence so I hope that will hold a pig. But the front part is chain link. And we had 2 pigs back there before. We had to use the rebar to keep them from going under. It'e pretty much all still there. But I have not gotten one yet.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
