Hey ODD,
here is something else I found and thought you might like, it even has chickens and ducks in it, I get these from one of my other forums, I would like to try this myself, had a friend that used to trap wild potbellies that got loose and went wild down around CarneyOkla, and he loved the meat, Lynn
I am using small Pot Belly pigs for my homestead. I have had them for
about 3 years now and love them. Previously I had raised a few
batches of weaner pigs, but I always had to call the processor when
the pig got to a certain size and I could no longer handle them.
I got the regular weaner pigs at the auction, where everyone says you
should never shop... but I had good luck.
Also, I used to sell at the auction, and I knew others who sold
there, too. I raised Speckled Sussex chicks and Muscovy ducklings
especially to sell there. I LOVED putting quality babies out there
for everyone to get. The fun part was seeing how much I would get
paid that week. So, not everyone takes poor stock to the auction, and
they refuse any animals that appear ill or injured. But, it is an
auction, and you do have to look the critters over closely first
before bidding.
The small pigs I have are VERY friendly and easy to care for. They
provide me with wonderful meat for my family.
As a bonus, I can harvest the young pigs all by myself, so I'm not
paying a processor to harvest, cut & wrap.
I don't sell the meat, I just raise for my family.
They also are clearing new garden space for me in their semi-portable
pens.
I use hog panels and t-posts to construct my pens on the tall Reed
Canary grass I want them to take down and till for me. Once I get the
grass down and manageable, I'm hoping to switch to electric wire and
no more pens.
I got these pigs to practice on as I was considering Guinea Hogs.
Well, 3 years later I'm still with these! They are just so perfect
for me, and they have a nice variety of markings.
You will here things such as "They are Pets! You can't eat them!"
Well, some folks make pets out of Turkeys... like me... does that
mean no one can eat turkeys?
Then you will here... "They are ALL fat! There is no meat on them!"
and I always want to ask... how do you know? if they are pets and no
one eats them... So I ate one, and found out they are perfectly
balanced with meat and lard. Sure, if you take one in your house, let
it hang out on your sofa, bring it all of it's food so it doesn't
have to walk to find anything... overfeed it, which is very easy to
do as they don't eat much... yes, the overweight pet pig will be more
fat than meat.
If you raise the pigs like pigs like to be raised, outside where they
can root and get the grass roots... they will be perfect. I don't
have anything bad to say about these little pigs. Mine weigh around
60-100 pounds, I estimate.
Julie in NW Oregon
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