| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 09 2011 : 6:52:55 PM
So they have til Monday morning. I have been giving them lots of acorns and pecans. They have been getting lots of clabbered milk. I made a cake today and will give them half of it tomorrow. I have been mowing the yard with a push mower with a bagger and giving them the grass clippings. I will run out of the hog feed and the cracked corn probably tomorrow night. My hubby's here so we'll go get my friend's trailor Sunday afternoon, then load them up at feeding time Sunday evening. Then they will get biscuits and gravy and some other goodies Monday morning. Then they are off to the butcher. They really have been good pigs. For just being here a little over 3 months, it really wasn't that bad. But I will be glad to have this done. And t get some good sausage and bacon and pork chops.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Apr 17 2011 : 12:53:46 PM
I've read that the best way to do pigs is to put them in a pasture you're planning to till next year and they'll root it up and fertilize it nicely for you, and you offset the cost of feeding with a surplus of natural scraps. If you don't produce enough edible waste routinely and don't have the space I don't think it's worth the trouble, at least not to me.
After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 15 2011 : 8:18:21 PM
I'll bet it will taste really good! Enjoy it1
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 15 2011 : 4:49:14 PM
So the butcher called. SHe said it weighed out at 95 pounds. Man, all that feed and I just egt 95 pounds. And it's just going to cost $55.00. I will pick it up next week when the hams are ready. Can't wait to see them. She said the pig didn't have hardly any lard so she gave me some from another pig.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 14 2011 : 6:45:01 PM
Cute little piggies Kris. Now you can stop worrying with them and about them. But, they are really cute. I think I would miss them too.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 14 2011 : 6:43:23 PM
very cute kris. i bet your glad to have things settle down some now. your gonna love that pork. all those acorns wow. happy days for you babies and the piggers are gone sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 14 2011 : 4:19:48 PM
These are the pigs.
The other one just left the building!! She is at her new home up the road. So I am pigless again. O will miss them for a little while. But I was getting a little nervous that the last one was going to break the stall door down and eat the new baby goats.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 12 2011 : 2:25:11 PM
These pigs are very friendly. They will follow me and I pet them all the time. I did give them hay also. And they were let out a few hours several times a week. And these were 5 1/2 months old.
I just went out to feed the other pig. She's so sweet. Waited for me to put the food in her bowl. Then I petted her awhile. I am not saying I will NEVER get pigs again. Just that winter is not a good time. Spring and summer are great then buthcer in fall. And maybe just one pig?? I wouldn't have to tell hubby, would I? He'd never see it anyway since he's hardly ever here. Hmmm....
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Sheep Mom 2 |
Posted - Apr 12 2011 : 2:06:52 PM
When we did pigs we kept them at least 6 months. We fed them a pellet free pig food made locally in self feeders just like Sherry. I also fed squash from the garden and milk if we had it. Apples are great for hogs too - a friend has an orchard and used to give them to us. I never had any trouble with the pigs as long as they had enough to eat to keep them busy. We always had the butcher come and kill here and then transport as loading pigs is difficult as you well know. I miss having them but the feed has gone out of site around here - around $19 per bag and just about everyone we know that was doing it (outside of the 4-H kids) has quit. I so miss the pigs as they are great, friendly animals. I used to feed them strawberries in my hand when we were picking through the fence.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 12 2011 : 1:39:29 PM
well its kinda sad you dont want to do it again. we used a hot water heater tank and cut it long ways. then we pinned it to the ground with stakes. these were food bowls. we used a 50 gallon barrel in summer with nipples for them to drink. we have hog wire up and electric inside that. we teach them to load the trailer when they are little. when they get big no problem loading. kris is right. if you are not set up for them they are hard to handle. so very strong and determined. we have an auto feeder. they get a 14 percent protein pig pellet. it is made here locally. no gmo it is free choice. the feeder holds 150 pounds. i then give milk and other food in the water heater bowls. we feed alfalfa and many things to them while they grow. only they are never out of the pellet free choice hog food. we raise ours till they are about 6 months. so we get them at 2 months carry 4 months on a high protein natural food and jersey milk diet. they usually hang between 200 and or 180 pounds. i love our pigs. we have 4 coming in about a week for our summer hogs. since we have a new milk cow coming tomorrow pigs are a natural for the waste milk and whey. so happy pigging here for us. it is work but i do make a little profit for my work and my meat ends up being free excepy my labor. so happy days here the sun is out yipee just my thought on piggers. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 12 2011 : 12:29:18 PM
I had a little kiddie pool for my other pigs. They loved that thing. I had 4 pigs and only 3 could fit at a time. It was so funny to see them root each other out. They do love a big muddy place to waller in. But they also like clean water to drink.
And there are specific water troughs just for pigs. They have a continual supply of fresh clean water and they can't get in it or knock it over. So if you were to have pigs all the time that would be the way to go. I always had to make do with whaterev I had around here. As well as feeding pans. Plastic is not good for pigs. Something heavy and metal is best. Anything else they will tear up very fast.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 12 2011 : 10:28:10 AM
Those turtle things would be hard to turn over for sure!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| amomfly |
Posted - Apr 12 2011 : 10:13:01 AM
I actually use a green turtle pool/sand box thing in the pen for my pig.he drinks from that, in the winter I use a low heated water bowl. Otherwise, yep they knock it over and make a big mess! Other then that, my pig gets fed so much scrapes it is not funny! He is a huge potbellied pig. He probably weighs near 100 lbs.
But Kris, I do understand your frustration. I would never get another pig! He is a pain! He will grow old and die here!
Good day!
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 8:07:17 PM
I get it. You got me at the water trough. I'd go nuts trying to find enough scraps to feed two hungry pigs! I can just see me dumpster diving behind the grocery store at midnight cause i feel guilty the pigs are hungry! I'm with you on not just feeding pig feed. I'd want my pigs to taste like old time pigs. Might as well buy pork at the store if that is all you feed them. Thats just my opinion pig people. :) I work hard to be sure the chickens have enough good organic grain to eat along with free ranging. I'm worried about what to feed my goats if/when i get them. I'm really concerned about what is in commercial feed.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 7:55:09 PM
Well, lets's see. they are messy to start. They are always knocking over the water trough. I am constantly filling that back up. Trying to feed them good food and not just pig feed and corn. So I am constantly trying to come up with scraps and asking friends and family to save their scraps for me. Then I have to go get the scraps. Then mix it all up. I don't do that with the other animals. I can have all the chickens, turkeys, cow, goats, dogs and cats fed in about 10 minutes. Then to the pigs. It just seems to me they take longer. I guess because they are at the door and I have to wait til they get bored and walk away so I can get in. Then having to muck through all the muddy mess they have made because they spilled all the water. It's ankle deep. Oh, I guess I could go on and on. But to me, in my opinion, they are more work. And I am always thinking about feeding them. I don't with the others. Because I could actually skip a feeding and they would be ok. Not pigs. They get mad. They don't forget that I skipped their meal. But now most people just keep the pig feeders full and waterers that can't be knocked over. They just feed pig feed. No scraps. So I guess I make it hard on myself by doing all the extra. These pigs would not eat plain ole pig feed.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 7:27:39 PM
I just had a visual of your face when you saw those pigs! I'd love to have the meat too but I'm pretty sure I don't want to raise pigs. Maybe I can find some local raised pork. What makes them so much work?
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 7:10:24 PM
Connie, I really thought they were pretty big pigs til I saw the real thing. I know I won't be disappointed in the meat. Just the amount of it. And all that work and money. I really thought 3 months was a long time. I can't even imagine going for 4 more months doing this every day. I don't know how people do it that have pigs all the time. To me, pigs are the most work on a farm. Period. I can handle goats and chickens and cows just fine. Even the turkeys are no problem. But pigs are the most work for me. I like them but no more here. I think everyone should at least try raising pigs for themselves just to see. And you just cannot beat the taste of the meat either.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 6:17:34 PM
Living and learning on the farm. All I know about pigs is that they will chase you. Long story involving an old graveyard and searching for an ancestor. I'll bet you farm girls can figure that out!
Kris I am sorry you are disappointed. Thanks for telling us about it. Who knows, I might have decided it sounded like a good idea with out you to tell me better!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 6:10:53 PM
Well, one of them is gone. And she had to dragged in to the trailor. I still don't know how Allen got that rope around her neck. It happened so fast. So I went ahead and took her to the butcher. There was another truck in front of me so I got out and looked at all the other pigs. Oh my goodness. My poor little pig looed like a puppy next to a bunch of horses. Those pigs were HUGE! Then I got my poor little pig out. She's so small. But those other pigs were all way older. They were tall. Not really fat, but really tall and long. John the butcher, said I should take her back home and keep her another 3 or 4 months. I said nope, she's stayin'. I did call Allen and told him. He is going to come get his (which turns out to be the bigger one) in a few days when he gets a place ready on his property. I am done with pigs. No more for me. John said with a small pig like mine that he'd have a hard time getting bacon. SO I will call in the morning and tell him I'll take more sausage.
So now there is still one pig here. She's back in her room. I told Allen I have no more feed left. So he better hurry. I will feed her but it'll have to be what I have in the fridge, which they loved anyway. So I am a little disappointed about the size of the pigs. I had them 3 months and fed them good. ANd they were in the stall most of the time. But good grief, I cannot afford to feed them anymore. When we need more pork, I will get one that's ready to butcher. It's way too expensive. Even John the butcher said that's why he doesn't raise them.
So not a very good day. But I will get some pork anyway. And it should be good.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 5:35:38 PM
Hope you are busy puttin up pork! Let us know how the story ends please. :)
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 4:31:19 PM
well kris are the hogs gone? i hope it worked for you sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 6:11:49 PM
Well, that was a bust. So much for well laid plans. Those pigs have a mind of their own. I guess after being out all day they weren't hungry at all. They had not a bit of interest in all that good food. We had the trailor all lined up at the gate with what we thought were baricades so the only way to go was IN the trailor that was FULL of food for them. But no, they weren't even interested in food. Well, except all the bones in the holding area. No milk or cake or bread held any interest for them. I should have known. I should have remembered the last 2 times I tried to load a pig. The exact same thing happened. They get loose. They go. They were all over the yard. And my husband just stood there and watched me lose it. I lost it big time. I should have known they'd not go in easy. Pigs never go in easy. SO we will have to TRY to load them tomorrow. If not, they will be butchered right here at home.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 12:05:51 PM
Alee, I had lots of apples left from last fall that I have been giving them too. I just peeled some for a salad so they will get that and I have some organic apple juice I just poured over all the bread they will have tonight for dinner. They should love that. Plus carrots and other good stuff. Then lemon cake for dessert. Yummo!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 11:09:03 AM
I hear if you finish them with apples and apple juice the meat tastes amazing... but I think they have to be eating apples for about a month for it to really affect the overall taste.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 10:00:57 AM
Thank you, Michele. That makes me feel good to know that. I do love all my animals but also know that's why I have them. I thank them for their lives and for what they are giving us. There is a time for everything here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 09:55:01 AM
Your such a good momma to them before they head out. It shows me that you really care about them that they are not just meat on your table. I know with growing up we had so many animals we had butchered that some never got the special treatment But our pigs always did cause we only raised one at a time so mom would do them up a big special supper for them the night before as a way of thanking them. Thank you for sharing this, it makes me feel so blessed to know women like you...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
