raising pigs

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About 4 years ago we raised 2 pigs. What a process. I loved the pigs dearly. They were in a moveable peg and we had planned on moving it every 2 weeks, which was fine until it started raining. After about a day of rain they were in up to their necks in mud and they couldn't lay down. My husband and I got the tractor out and tried moving the pen but the ground was so soft the pen started breaking apart. We did get it moved and the pigs were able to lay down -- at least until they dug that pen up! I said I would never raise pigs again unless I could do it on concrete. Now, of course, we are thinking of getting pigs in the spring. My question -- How do others raise them? Any tips about the pens? the pigs? Can I raise them outside without a concrete pad and so they aren't up to their cute little ears in mud?

Mary

-- Mary R. (cntryfolk@ime.net), October 29, 2001

Answers

We raise ours on a wooden floor off the ground, but I still think a happy pig is a muddy pig, as long as they have some place dry to get in too.

-- Vince Redinger (redinger@southwind.net), October 29, 2001.

I move my hog pen every 2 days (less when they are small). I use Stock panels, Metal T Post and Zip Ties. I use 7 16' Panels and build 2 pens side by side, once they tear up one side I move the pigs to the next pen and take down the first pen and move it to the other side of the 2nd pen and so on. It usally takes me about 15 minutes to do it by myself.

-- Mark in N.C. Fla. (deadgoatman@webtv.net), October 29, 2001.

We raise ours in a pen that's about 1/3 of an acre, enclosed in stock panel. They have a port-a-hut with straw for shelter. There is also a pond in this enclosure. They run around happy as larks, and are the simplest creatures to raise this way. If I could afford to fence off more area this way for them, I would! CJ

-- CJ (cjtinkle@getgoin.net), October 30, 2001.

Mary, if there's any way you can do it, just put them on more land. Pigs need a large area to run on. Right now, we have 5 medium sized pigs in a pen that is just over 1 acre. They all use one corner for their bathroom, and the rest is for running and eating grass. They stay leaner this way, and are much cleaner. There's no bad smell at all - no fly problems, nothing. I know it isn't always possible to have a large area for your animals, but if you can, this is definitely the way to go.

The area that our pigs are on right now will be our garden area next spring. They are tilling it up for us! :-)

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 30, 2001.


i am thinking about raising pigs , mainly for our use and for a couple of friends who work with us as CSA, my question is this , i read differing opinions on wether or not the manure is usable for home gardens, is it , and how long do you have to "cool" it , so it doesnt burn your garden

thanks any advice appreciated

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.



Let them have more room, so they can move around, but let them have a mud hole. Pigs train easily to a hot wire, which is an effective and inexpensive way of keeping them contained. Once they are trained to the wire, and if you keep the wire hot, they will not cross it.

-- Phyllis in the Texas Panhandle (tmblweed@wtrt.net), October 30, 2001.

Our last ones we raised we used an old stock trailer. It was eaisly hosed out and moved every weekend. Where the pigs were the previous weekend I would throw out bird seed, the hens and birds would scratch the place clean. No smell, no flies, and not one escape! We butcher ourselves, but if you had to trailer them to town to butcher, they are already in the trailer :) A trip through the car wash for a pressure steam and you can start over. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

Hi Mary!

We are raising 2 pigs as an expiriment this year. We made a strong pen out of fencing with small hut to keep out of the rain and weather. We put the pen where we want next year's garden to be. When we put them in at the end of June, the grass was waist high. Now we are ready to butcher and the plot is tilled up, fertilized and totally eaten and rooted clean. I am amazed. We plan to butcher one and train the other for electric wire and turn her out to be a pasture pig and breed her for a litter in March. Good luck!

-- Darlene (tomdarsavy@cs.com), October 30, 2001.


Hi Mary, I am taking my pigs to the butcher today. We have raised 4 pigs this year. I have been raising pigs for about 7 years now. We have always been very successful. They have always been very lean and delicious. I try not to get to attached to my pigs for I know they will be in the freezer in a few months. We usually raise extra for friends and family. Our pen is made from split pine lodge poles and is not moveable. The pen is not really huge. It all depends if you are just growing they for food or to be their best friend. If you plan on keeping them longer I would suggest a larger pen. We have about half of their pen covered with the same logs(sort of a leanto). The roof is about 5 feet tall just enough for them to go in and ventilation. Have enough room to have an area for them to "do their business" Keep their food far away from that area. Hope all goes well. If you have more questions email me.

-- Toni in Utah (tmevans66@hotmail.com), October 31, 2001.

We did two pigs in a portable pen this year and next year are talking 4 pigs in an enclosure like CJ's only without a pond. Should be fun!

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 31, 2001.


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