Letting Strangers onto the farm ?? What to do ?

[ArkaFarmaMama]

I agree, if they insist, take the pigs to them, or find another buyer. Too many people
are preying on households or craigslist sellers, what better way to get a good look at
the "goods"? I feel for you guys and your hog! We really need some major fencing
done for our horses but we do not trust ANYONE unless they are family/close friends.
Also the temptation of stealing is always worse when people see something they want/need.
Some people would not normally steal, until something is dangled in front of them... Sad.

I'd take the picts of you holding the parents with the baby, get/make a large yardstick
and hold them next to you and them. If that does not work, I don't know what would.
I've been to several farms for dogs, horses, etc and I don't know how they do it.
Especially the ones where the woman is home alone all day. It's sadly a different world
today and seems to be getting worse.

 

[Mattemma]

I would offer video then meet somewhere else for the purchase. You already experienced a loss.Sure it is probably unlikely to happen again,but I would not change what I am comfortable with to satisfy a buyer.There will be other buyers.

It is not just the purchase,but you will always be fearful down the road that someone might come during the night.Do what you are comfortable with.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I should think pictures would be fine. If these people pass up the piglet, I'm sure there will be others who would love to buy the pigs. Unless there is some way you could transport the parent pigs off property to show the people.

 

[Okie Amazon]

Quote:
Some people, that's ALL they do.... scope out people with anything for sale, not just livestock. After you give out your address and directions, they may just "not show up" until later, when you aren't home. We NEVER allow anyone out to see our pups or pups' parents, until they have put up their deposits, etc. We have training sessions at our house with pup buyers AFTER we get to know them, but NOBODY is just "coming out to tour our kennels", etc. Not Happening Ever!

 

[EmAbTo48]

Quote:
Some people, that's ALL they do.... scope out people with anything for sale, not just livestock. After you give out your address and directions, they may just "not show up" until later, when you aren't home. We NEVER allow anyone out to see our pups or pups' parents, until they have put up their deposits, etc. We have training sessions at our house with pup buyers AFTER we get to know them, but NOBODY is just "coming out to tour our kennels", etc. Not Happening Ever!

I can totally understand your concern.. I was in no way in implying that there aren't some people just looking to rip someone off.

I am not sure where you are from, and can see why a person would have concern if living in a highly populated area. We on the other hand live near a town that has 250 people that’s it!

The breeders I have bought my 2 pugs from let me visit them without a deposit, and I have always been more than willing to show my pigs or piglets to people that are interested in buying. It's just what is the norm for us and for this area.

I think I feel more comfortable, because we always have people on our property or stopping by to see things, because we run a small local shop, where we sell groceries, convenience items, and our own items: maple syrup, eggs, chicken, beef, pork, duck, vegetable, pumpkins, Christmas trees... We also co-own a pasture and stall boarding facility, trail rides, riding lessons, horse training. So with all this going on we are always around (well my husband is and his friend we co-own with) I work full-time. Like I said its your own comfort level with strangers. But I also find it more comforting to meet the person I will be selling to face to face in my own comfort zone, if I was to drive 4 hours and meet at a gas station I would feel like its a grab and go type of sale then you really feeling out this person. My husband has actually refused a sale to one man in the last 6 years we have sold our pot belly pigs, and he to this day just tells me he had a bad vibe from the guy (I wasn't home so I couldn't say what happened)

I think you can’t always go around thinking people are going to rob you, that’s no way to look at other people.

 

[mhwc56]

Quote:
X2

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I have a couple opinions to share on this topic.

First, as a consumer of animals, I would difinately want to see the adult pigs you keep. I would not buy from someone who won't let me on to their property, because there are too many people that sell animals out of the back of their pickup that allow their breeding animals to live in filth, and are not kept generally healhy. Second, if I was buying a small sized pig, I would want to check the sizes of your adult pigs to get a good idea of what the piglet would turn out as. I got a good tip from someone who sells rabbits on craigslist a lot. She only gives her address to a buyer when they are on their way to her house, are stopped at a gas station near her house and only then she gives the rest of the address. That has helped her feel more safe and weed out the flakes or theives.

IMO if you want to have a good selling rate on your stock you are going to have to allow people on your property, or deal with people like me who would no longer be interested in buying if I wasn't allowed to come see how you keep your animals. There are ways to stay safe and keep your animals from being stolen, you just have to creative and keep pens, gates and property carefully locked up.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

If you are going to sell living stock to people them getting a real good look at the parent stock is pretty much required.

Bio-security is an issue but it has to be worked with to show the stock to buyers.

If you keep people off your farm because of fear of theft then you have most likely doomed you livestock venture to fail. Theft should be handled by security(cameras, alarms, signs, fences an guns) not fear or you customer.


Think about it. If there are two stores across the street from each other. One has an open door policy an is fill with security cameras. The other just has a window to ask from the parking lot for what you want an locked doors but no security past that. Which is more likely to be robbed. Which would you shop at?

 

[hollyclyff]

I have to agree with Jamie. It's your home and your choice whether to allow visitors to see your pigs. I also understand your concern. My house and my truck have been broken into on separate occasions, so I know how it feels. But I wouldn't buy from someone who wouldn't allow me on their property. I would wonder what they were hiding.

 

[LMEggs]

I can understand the concern too as to if I would be trying to hide something but often I even go on live webcam with my pigs I honestly enjoy owning and talking or just anything to show people without just having them right here on the farm. I have family visit often from IN,MO,AR all have seen and petted and held the pigs I even took them to a family reunion and several places such as the feed store. It's just having strangers over AT my home that worries me. I suppose I could put out Security cameras on the drive way and all it wouldn't be that hard to do as I did it with my mare I had foal once but it was a borrowed cam. So i'd have to buy one. I can make Videos with my voice talking I never thought of saying a time and date but I can! Most often I call out the pigs name so I can be heard saying their names and they do come running when called. I'll start stating a time and date in the video. I have photos of me holding my pigs too
My sow as a yearling and me holding her. Shes now 15 inchs tall and 50 pounds at 3 years old (Without being pregnant or nursing pigs)

Her now (While preggers and in labor too sorry she was in the mud a bit due to being in labor and having a rasie in temp

This is Millie two months along and with my boot (Ignore the paper wads I brought fresh apples out and fed her and laid down the towls there but picked them up after I finished out there) as you can tell shes a well bodied adult pig compaired to her 8 month old daughters below Sunshine and Savanna. Millie is a pig that has a sow that is Juliana/Miniature pot bellied and a Boar that is a full Juliana so as you can see shes a thicker built girl then her daughters who are by Millie and my full Juliana boar Little man who is below. this is what I call a Juliana percentage. Hopefully I can get back to the full Julianas some day although the breed is rare I am working to preserve the breed these are my first bloodlines and starter pigs I've not been doing this for long although i've been around pigs/hogs my whole life i've just been working on the Julianas for three years. I am having alot of spotted pigs come from Millie and Little Man and I hope to add a spotted boar to my herd.

My Boar Little Man 2 years old 45 pounds

This is my pig pen, It stays half dirt half grass with one mud hole the piggy shed and house is to the right of the photo it's a pretty big pen.

Sunshine 8 month old gilt

This is Savanna 8 month old gilt she is about 15 pounds Little shorter then her sister sunshine

I have tons of videos but i'm at work and can't post them at the moment but I will tonight.