Getting pigs next week!

[Deberosa]

We will be getting pigs next Friday! Three weaner pigs to help clear the brush. They will come castrated and wormed. He is also going to put rings in their noses so they don't dig big holes. He says they still will root out things like blackberry roots, just won't dig big holes with the rings.

So now we will set up the shelter for them this weekend - I have one long pallet and two shorter ones, will put them up and then put a piece of plywood I have on top for a roof. I'll put a tarp on top of that to keep the rain out. Throw in a couple of bales of straw and I should be ready.

There already are a couple of pig troughs laying around the place from when there used to be pigs here. There is actually another pig barn in the woods but it's a bit close to the neighbors so they probably would not appreciate them there. In this place they are only near the salvage yard which won't matter at all.

I'll put a kiddy pool in there with water for them too.

Anything I am forgetting?

I can smell that bacon cooking now!

Debbie

[MadTripper]

We have been contemplating pigs this year as well. They are pretty low maintenance and can be a bunch of fun. As long as they have water and shade, they manage. I have also found that if you give them enough area, they don't smell nearly as bad. Our neighbors put their pigs in with their sweet corn once it was tall enough. The pigs didn't bother the corn at all and of course aerated the soil as well as fertilized. We plan on mocking that at our house but possibly next year instead of this year.

Tripper

[Deberosa]

They will have lots of shade - most of this acre is brush and small trees, a few larger trees. It was logged about 17 years ago. Kiddy pools will be there for water plus a regular water bucket they will share with the cows. I have a float valve for on it.

[sbemt456]

We raised pigs for several years and I used lime on the area they use most to do their business and never had a problem with smell. It never hurt the hogs either. This is a big help if you have flies in the summer time as they wont detect the odor and wont bother coming around.
Pigs do need a good shade as their skin will sun burn and they dont sweat. They wont root much with rings in their noses but keep an eye on them because if the rings get pulled out you will need to ring them again or they will rogue through everything.
Ahhh, nothing beats good home cured ham and bacon and sausage and .........
I'm jealous.

stella