boisdevie1
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More pig questionsI might have almost convinced Madame that pigs would be OK so I have a few questions that I'd be grateful for any help with.
Housing: would a shed made from pallets, straw bales and a tarp be OK?
Space: here I could give them between 100 and 200m sq for a pair or pigs. Would that be enough?
Coexistence: if the chickens got into their run would that cause problems?
Food: how much do they eat a day? I'd aim to supplement their food with stuff like excess potatoes and courgettes.
Many thanks for any help.
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Bebo
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Re: More pig questionsHousing: would a shed made from pallets, straw bales and a tarp be OK?
Should be, provided its waterproof and not too draughty. Be aware that the are strong animals and if the construction is flimsy they will knock it down easily.
Space: here I could give them between 100 and 200m sq for a pair or pigs. Would that be enough?
I've got three in about 200sqm and they are happy enough. Be aware that if its grassed it won't last long.
Coexistence: if the chickens got into their run would that cause problems?
Friend of mine has his chickens free ranging in a field with pigs with no problems, but one of my 7 week old chicks got into the pig pen here and I think they must of eaten it (didn't actually witness it but the chicken is gone - suppose a fox could have taken it).
Food: how much do they eat a day? I'd aim to supplement their food with stuff like excess potatoes and courgettes.
A pound of pellet feed a day per month of age up to a maximum of 6lb's a day. You can supplement with other stuff, but be aware the pellets have the correct mix of protein etc so if you replace with courgettes weight for weight they might not grow as quickly. Ours have a few potatoes (ones that the slugs have got at) but I've read somewhere that they shouldn't be a staple part of the diet as they don't digest them well.
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Oxford-Sandy-Man
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Yes a shed made from bales and palletts would be ok for a couple of porkers, You may need to beef the roof up though, a tarp wont provide any insulation over the winter, thus leaving your pigs open to the elements/cold - you risk pneumonia and a poor daily weight gain.
200msq is fine for a couple of perkers - although it will needed resting inbetween batcches of pigs.
Some that i have seen do allow chickens near there pigs. In my view its not acceptable - our pigs in the field will chase pigeons etc and given a chance i'm sure they would kill and eat them.
The last thing you want is a pair of pigs unfit for humum consumption because they have been eating chicken!
Good luck - i gaurantee once you had a couple you wont look back!
OSM
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Oxford-Sandy-Man
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Sorry forgot to say about food as 1 lb per day per month of life give or take, untill the age of six months leave them on 5lb per day.
You shouldnt really be giving the spuds though, There too starchy uncooked for pigs.
I know people do feed them to pigs uncooked but all you achive is a lesser daily weight gain as all the pigs efforts are going into digesting the toxins caused by starchy spuds!
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Shan
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Ours free range with our chickens and we have not had any problems. We have even had baby chicks with mum near the pigs.... although I shouldn't chance the last bit again. It was an escapee situation.
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RichardW
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We have had them in sep fields & have def had chickens go MIA with older sows.
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dpack
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i like pig midwifery me
pigs are ace
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