| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| paula |
tamworth weaners for salewe have a few tamworth weaners left, all birth notified lovely pigs make great pork,sausages etc, email me if interested in norfolk can deliver within reason at cost |
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| Rob R |
How much are they? | ||||
| Penny |
Now are you sure you don't have enough piggies already Rob?  
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| Rob R |
Too many but it's always useful to know, when you get someone ringing up wanting some.
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| Penny |
How much land/experience do you need to have a weaner? | ||||
| Rob R |
In real terms, none whatsoever, they're certainly no more difficult to take care of than a dog & as long as you know the basics about general signs of health & husbandry you'll be OK (though it always helps to have someone experienced who you can consult if you need to, in fact for a rank novice, this is pretty essential). As for space, a large garden can accomodate two (two minimum, for welfare sake). |
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| Penny |
So a bit of one on the feilds opposite us would be no problem? (That's if I can get the farmer to let it to us ) How old are they when they get the chop?
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| Rob R |
Any time from 5 to 12 months, depending on how you like them (I certainly think the older they get, the tastier they are) | ||||
| Penny |
Hmmm ... now, how to persuade the DH:D How much do they usually cost - approximately - and is there a link to a good website about keeping them? Sorry - you didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition........... 
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| Rob R |
It depends, if they are good enough to breed from, a little more, but around £30-35 @ 8 weeks for meat pigs (Some say £5 a week). | ||||
| paula |
Rob, these are pedigree stock birth notified weaners £45.00 each
at 8weeks reared outdoors |
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| Bugs |
May I suggest an excellent article by a super young man by the name of Nicholas (presumably) about his first pig keeping experiences I think several people have been on courses with these people: http://www.pigparadise.com/ and I've found them really charming to speak to when I've made enquiries. I suspect Mochyn, who has fairly recently started her little herd and is hopefully going to do us a diary or a summary of her own experiences, might have been with them. I might be imagining that though. unfortunately they were the only piggy link I found in our weblinks section so as Penny says any good resources whether web, book or, Heaven forfend, real life would be really welcome.
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| Rob R |
Thanks, I'll remember them if I get any phone calls/e-mails from out your way 
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| mochyn |
Do bear in mind the amount of digging a couple of young pigs WILL do. My two have turned over every scrap of earth in their range, creating a re-enactment of the battle of the Somme in the lowest part. They've also done an excellent job of uprooting the dead trees and have great fun chewing my wellies when I feed them.
They're noisy, athletic and adventurous. In fact, all the stuff you've probably heard about Tamworths is true. Having said that, I've found that, with the help of an electric fence, they're no trouble. They get fed/watered twice a day, but most of the time I spend with them is chatting! It's tremendous though, and I'll never again be without pigs! |
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| Rob R |
Oh yes, they love rooting- it makes you realise how awful it must be for a pig kept on concrete all its life 
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| Nick |
I'd add my encouragement and enthusiasum to keeping pigs. Tamworth's I know little of, except by anecdote. But, I've had a couple of different sorts of weaners and they've all been great. Trouble free and easy. Have some relative experts on hand (there's a ton on here), and the number of a vet for rare emergencies (I've not needed a vet in three years). Rent a patch of land, be prepared to commit to a daily (flexible) routine and have some great fun.
I think I've put costs in that article, but if not, it's about 30-50 quid a weaner, a similar amount for slaughter, and butchery about 35p/kg. Expect about 90-100kg dead weight at the end. Food here is £5.50 for 50lb sack, so averages out at about 50-60p per pig, per day. If you can get free food (waste veg, etc), then costs will fall. I reckon on a cost price of about £200 per finished pig, spread over about 8 months. Regional costs for slaughter/butchery do appear to vary, however. |
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| mochyn |
 Why does anyone ever buy a rotavator?
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| Rob R |
Because you can put a rotorvator away in a shed & it doesn't want to continually work
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| mochyn |
Does that make pigs living embodiments of the Protestant work ethic? Does that make Ian Paisley a pig? |