starting 4-h soon need pig help

[gaited horse]

i need some pig help i sign up for 4h on the 9th of this month and get my butcher hog in january.
on the nineth when i sign up for dog showmanship and obedince. And I need help with this Q: what kind of supplies do i need and yes i know to by feed and fence. But what kind of fence,what size pen,what size shelter, how to build a shelter, what kind of pig feed, what type of feeders, what type of waterers, how big of a pen, can i get only one or do i need more then one so it does not get lonley, and what kind of show supplies do i need for 4h meat hogs? pics of your pig pen would help.

 

[gaited horse]

anyone

 

[shmooborp]

my friend did pigs, she said it wasnt to hard, sort of an art with exersising them, dont want to much muscle or to much fat. keep them on a good feed and u need special waterer things. they do stink, and anything u tuch them with will stink of pig forever. im notmuch help, but i hope it all works out. oh and dont dont forget to document everything too! pictures and dates and receipts!

 

[gaited horse]

thanks for your help do you think you could ask your friend for pen size best waterer best feed and any thing i will need

 

[Kanchii]

I know lots of people raise pigs on this forum. Try editing your title to include something like "i need help with pigs" at the end, that should draw them in.

 

[gaited horse]

any one i need the help

 

[justusnak]

My advice to you would be to ask the person you are getting the pig from. They will be able to help you with the needed care of your little piggie. If you are getting a young pig, so early in the year, you will probably need to have some sort of heat source. They do tend to get pneumonia fairly easy. A draft free hut, with plenty straw to snuggle down into. You will be raiseing your hog to about 200 pounds I believe, for show. Keep your pig socialised...you can train it to walk with a stick fairly easy. Lightly tapping it in the shoulder. I dont raise to show....we raise to eat...so our pen may be different than what you need. Ours is 15 x 30 I believe. A Lone pig will get bored, and try to dig out, so be prepared to check your fenceline every day...and several times if possible. Check with your 4H leader...I am sure they will have all the info you need.

 

[wyliefarms]

Pigs are social animals so purchase two. this also promotes eating more since they will fight some.

Use hog paneling and t-posts. 4 panels should be plenty for 2 hogs. They need a lean-to type shelter (if cold out a draft free shelter)with straw, cause pigs can sunburn. Pigs enjoy the mud so have a mud pit too. They are clean animals, they will mess in the farthest spot from the food.

Rubber feed pans will work to feed the pigs. There is also metal feeders where you can put 50-100 lbs of feed at a time so they can eat when they are hungry. I have feed both ways and prefer the latter.

the best way to water is to purchase an automatic waterer. You can get one at TSC. Pigs will constantly dump a rubber water bucket. You will need a T hooked up at the water hydrant so you can spray water in the mud hole and spray them down too if needed. (some pigs like it some don't) Don't spray water in their ears.

We always walked ours when I was in 4-H. It promotes muscling and judges like that. If you make a larger pen you can work on walking them inside the pen and not have to take them down the driveway or road. (you will get weird looks from the neighbors!) Your 4-H leader should have all the information on showing a hog.

I hope this helps. I am assuming that you live where it is warm. I am in Michigan and we don't raise pigs through the winter. It takes more feed since they are trying to keep warm

 

[ams3651]

my sister did pigs when we were kids, you should get alot of info when you sign up, call the office if you would like more info. Its all about learning.

 

[gaited horse]

i sign up tonight wish me luck would a dogigloo work as a has pig house