| Author |
Barnyard Buddies:  raising pigs?  |
|
|
schoolmama
True Blue Farmgirl
70 Posts
Amy
WI
USA
70 Posts |
 Posted - May 05 2010 : 9:57:50 PM
|
now that we have a few acres,and a few outbuildings, we were thinking of raising a few pigs.
what do we need to get started?
|
|
|
willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 03:58:05 AM
|
Nose plugs! They STINK!!!!!! ;)
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
|
 |
|
|
1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 08:27:39 AM
|
1st you need a hog proof pen, they can and will walk thru a weak fence. They need lots of shade and in real hot weather, water misters. Their feed bin needs to be large and very sturdy (mine are on a cement pad, bolted down, same with their water). Are you planning on breeding, or just raiseing weiners for butcher?
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 3:22:54 PM
|
Lots and lots of food! I am actually thinking tha same thing. I am crazy. But I want 2 more to drink up all this goat milk. I am still thinking though. They also like a little shallow pond to get wet in and waller around in. The more room they have the less the smell but they do smell. Good luck!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
|
|
sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 5:06:18 PM
|
well i love pigs. i love pigs lol...we use a 2 part system for ours. we use heavy welded wire panels that are 12 or 16 feet long. we use t-posts deep.then we run an electric wire along the lower area. they respect hot wire. we use both solar and or plug in chargers. a happy pig stays in his pen. if he is water stressed, hot, hungry,scared you need secure fencing for that.i have chased my fare share of piglets running down the road. or in my beets one year. nose down in the cool wet garden soil. pop no more beets. just happy cool pigs. misters are a good thing for sure. for us i can turn on a sprinkler outside the pen. and spray them lightly. they love running through the hose stream. did i say i love pigs. just like all other farm livestock..be it dog goat cow pig chicken each has its fit. we will have about 12 gallons of milk a day when my jerseys freshen. i make cheese. they eat the whey. the dogs are raised on range fed beef, pork, chicken.i try to do the whole full circle thing here. just my thoughts happy days sherry
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
|
|
|
|
schoolmama
True Blue Farmgirl
70 Posts
Amy
WI
USA
70 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 8:10:08 PM
|
we just want to raise 2 or 3 for butchering- a short term commitment I suppose. will only 2 or 3 smell that bad?
dh keeps saying we need to pour concrete first. hopefully we'll get that done in June,and have our pigs by July or so. |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 06:36:17 AM
|
Amy, 2 won't be too bad if they have plenty of room to roam. And they will use the same spot for their "bathroom". You could shovel it up every few days and make a compost far away from the house.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 08:56:53 AM
|
Amy, raising pigs on concrete makes it easier on you, but not the pigs. Consider dirt. What makes pigs stink is too many in a small area, and not cleaning up from them, they need ground that drains well, you can add DG to the dirt for help with that.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
|
|
|
amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 6:42:16 PM
|
I have a pottbellied pig. At first he lived in a small area, I heard all the bad things he could do. I have learned to really love his big ugly mug! He has a swimming pool of his own, and he free ranges in the feild with the horse and llama! What a trio they are! I really do not smell my pig. He poops in the same place, so clean up is easy. And an eletric fence has taught him well!!!!
Good luck!
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
|
|
|
sunflowercritters
True Blue Farmgirl
1102 Posts
Debra
Springfield
Maine
USA
1102 Posts |
Posted - May 09 2010 : 6:18:51 PM
|
Teresa what is DG?
We raise pigs and piglets. You said to use DG.
farmgirl sister Debra
Kind HEARTS are the gardens.
Kind THOUGHTS are the roots.
Kind words are the flowers.
Kind DEEDS are the fruits. |
|
|
|
1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - May 09 2010 : 6:23:11 PM
|
Debra, DG is decomposed granite, it helps keep the dirt from turning to mucky mud and gives good drainage as well as good footing.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
|
|
| |
Barnyard Buddies: raising pigs? |
|
raising pigs?
