Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

We are all just a day away.

 

[ozexpat]

We are all just a day away.

No piglets yet. After recalculating, discussing and recalculating, it should be today. I need to get to town tonight so it better be lol

 

[vehve]

Do you have the cigars waiting already?

 

[ozexpat]

Do you have the cigars waiting already? 

I have the ear notcher waiting.

 

[dpenning]

I have the ear notcher waiting.

What is the purpose of ear notching? I've noticed it but never knew why it was done.

 

[vehve]

It's done to mark the animals, you number them. Sort of the same idea as tattooing or microchipping a dog, or tagging sheep.

 

[dpenning]

Gotcha, I was thinking about the numbered tags you see in cow ears....seemed more of an identifier. Thanks!

 

[scottcaddy]

Pigs rub things real hard with their body parts, I have seen pigs rip a number band right out of the ear.
Clipping or notching ears work real well for people with less then 50 head or so to keep track of.
Scott

 

[ozexpat]

For piglets I will use notching as its fast cheap and permanent. By putting the litter number in the right ear it let's you quickly tell what batch it is when you have piglets from multiple sows in a pen and you want to cull for sale some of the pen.

I use ear tags in sows and yes they rub the numbers off. It amazes me what a pig can do with a snout or concrete wall

 

[ramirezframing]

It is amazing what a pig can do with a concrete wall. I had one a few years ago and it flat broke lose and moved two of the concrete blocks that were cemented in place. I'd love to do another pig as that was the sweetest pork I have ever had, but the DH says no.