Gonna try pigs again

[Dunkopf]

Had pigs 8 years ago and they didn't work out so well. We had just moved in and were new to country living. We put the 2 pigs in a dog run the prior owners had and they stayed in for about 5 minutes. At any rate we ended up with a 16 x 24 pen and it was a horrible nasty mess. We now have an area about 80' x 160' with good drainage that we would like to raise 2 of them in. DW is looking at a couple Duroc's. My question is will regular livestock fencing hold them in. The kind that is heavy gauge and has the small squares at the bottom graduating to large squares at the top. Usually comes in 320' rolls. It did a good job of holding goats in. I usually run a strand of smooth wire the same gauge as barb wire along the bottom and top and stretch it real tight. I'm concerned they might try to dig under. Also need opinions on the best feed. The whole area is covered in field grass right now. Last time we fed them cracked corn and table scraps. They came out being pretty fatty and didn't grow as much as they should have per the butcher. Hoping to have better luck this time.

Also would like to know about the manure. In a larger area like that will the manure dissipate on it's own or will it need to be cleaned up. There won't be a bunch of water pooling because of run off, but of course I know how they like to dig, so there will be pools of water around. Or at least I assume there will be. Will they attach chickens or turkeys if you allow them to mingle? Will DE in their diet help with flies?

Responses appreciated.

Thanks. Alfred

 

[arabianequine]

I used hog panels when I raised pigs one each time. I have done it 2 times now. I would burry the hog panels 6 inches down at least. You best would be hog paneling with electric wire at the bottom. That is what I am gonna do next time.

I feed mostly grower/cracked corn 50/50. Scraps too....and alfalfa every other day I would throw half a flack out for just the one pig. Both my pigs love bread and milk, yougurt, find it cheap and freeze it. You can get a cart of bread that is old at our bread stores for like $3-7....it is pig feed.

Last month switch from grower to finisher....it helps lean them out for butcher among other things.

My pigs I noticed were very clean and always pooped in the same corner never where they eat/sleep.

Some pigs will kill birds and eat the raw meat.

I have no experience with DE.

Good luck!

 

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
Thanks for the reply. At least I got one. The alfalfa and finisher sound like a good idea. Last time they were so stinky that the dirt in the pen still smelled after 3 years when I tilled it up. I'm sure it was because they didn't get enough roughage. I think I'll let them glean the garden in October and grow some pumpkins to feed them too. I read some stuff on the Herd forum.

I'm hoping if they have more room they won't be so messy. They are going in an area about 100 yards from my neighbor and I don't want him to get stunk out or fly infested. The flies get bad enough already.

 

[arabianequine]

I'd rather have pigs any day over cows.....pigs are actually so clean compared to other animals IMO.

They do need a wormer too. Our first pig was so lean the butcher shop kept complimenting on that pig's leanness. The same butcher shop did the second pig too but they did not say anything about the meat being so lean but we asked on the leanness because of what he said on the first pig we did and he did say at that time the 2nd pig was not as lean but still pretty good.

Got the 2 we did at different places the first one was free. Wish I could get more of them but I don't know where it came from. We got it from someone we knew that went and got it for us from someone they knew.

They really love the alfalfa too. Ours liked pumpkin and watermelon too. Played with the rind a lot too.

 

[elevan]

You might check out the sister site: www.backyardherds.com

 

[Dunkopf]

We didn't worm the last ones. Maybe why their stools were so soft. I've read pig postings on here before and heard the sentiment about them being clean. That of course went in the face of my experience. However enough people said it that I am willing to try again using different methods. Thanks for the input. I am going to follow the other site to glean more info.

 

[gmendoza]

What can pigs do to contribute to the farm while still alive?? not much.I am not bashing people who have pigs,but noone has solved this for me.

You cant ride a pig to the store,it will throw you off.
you cant get a pig to haul stuff around your farm.
you cant dring piggy milk.

ok,ok some of you bycers will try these mentioned things,and might have already.

A cow can give milk,and if you have a yolk,it will haul a cart for you.

on the other side of the coin,my bro in Pelion,SC has a dog that plows his garden,but I yet to see if he drinks doggy milk..especially since the dog is a boy.

and I dont think he will eat him.

So to sum up,a pig is only good after it dies.But one bycer on here has a guard pig that scared off squatters.Just not my cup o tea.Its my DW'S cup o tea.She adores pigs.

When we were first dating,we went to the ventura county fair.She went to the hogs and was about to pet them.I said "dont do it,they bite".She said they dont and proceeded to reach her hand in there.At that moment,I grabbed her and said " owwmph!" really loud.She backhanded me on the mouth before I even knew what the heck was going on.She had a bruise on her hand for months after.

Still to this day it was worth having two bloody teeth.

 

[Wifezilla]

freemotion over on BYH does feed pumpkins to the pigs. I think she has a farmer near her that lets her glean a pumpkin field. If you have access to acorns, that is a great thing to feed pigs. Pigs finished on acorns are supposed to have the best flavor.