Questions re. keeping pigs

[Diddy]

Hi everyone,

We are making our first foray into pig-keeping. My children want to get some potbellies as pets, although I hope this might be a first step to keeping proper pigs that we can use for their intended purpose! I had a couple of questions that I can't seem to find the answer to and your forum seems the perfect place to ask if that's ok...

1 We were thinking of giving them a generous pen under some trees but assume it will get muddy. So would a hardstanding (thinking MOT?) in front of the ark be a good idea?

2 What should we do with the poop?! We take our horse and chicken muck to the local allotments but assume pig poo is much more stinky and not appropriate? Where/how do we spread it without stinking out our neighbours?!

3 As we are only getting small pigs, the standard arks seem pretty large (and expensive!) I saw online that someone has used a kids playhouse for pigs. Would that work or would they destroy it in short order? Any other ideas for something that we could use on a budget??

Thanks so much for your help. Just off to look into getting our pig number now!

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Much depends on the type of ground you have. If it is heavy, they will make a mess pretty quick. It would be best to have several areas that you could use on a rotation.

I'd personally avoid pot bellied pigs. You can't get rid of them if you are sick of them and they are pretty ugly IMO. Also avoid a kids play shed, it will look a mess and they will ruin it. You can pick up secondhand pig arks. To start with, you could get some weaners and rear them on a grow/finisher ration until they are ready to kill. Take them to the local abattoir and then enjoy the meat. Forget about making money.

You need to decide why you are doing it. Meat, pets, lifestyle or profit. Finding out you are attached to pigs that are due to be slaughtered will be a rude awakening. Especially for kids.

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Also if you just have a few, they won't really smell if they are kept outside, the ark will be clean inside (they don't toilet where they sleep if given a choice). There will therefore be no muck to get rid of

 

[Wink]

Basicalky exactly what @Sandpit Farm said.

Where abouts are you? I have second hand pig arcs for sale. No more than £50 for the very best of them. I would have thought you could find similar close by or knock something up yourself/friend etc. Don't worry about hard standing but you may need to move the arc occasionally. I would have thought if you get pot bellied you may have them till the end. I would advise a couple of weaners too and rear them and have them back for meat unless you want a couple of pets.

 

[spin cycle]

what about kune kune pigs....eatable or pets?

 

[Sandpit Farm]

what about kune kune pigs....eatable or pets?

Dangerous!!! Once they have names, they won't be going anywhere haha [emoji23]

 

[spin cycle]

Dangerous!!! Once they have names, they won't be going anywhere haha [emoji23]

thats why i don't keep pigs...i should think they can be very engaging characters

 

[unlacedgecko]

My garden pigs always had names. Still didn't stop me killing them...

I made an ark from scrap wood and a spare bit of roofing lead.

We had them in a very small electric fence pen, which was rotated round the garden. We mucked out the pen every morning, with a pair of rubber gloves and a bucket. Took about 2mins and was nice to have a chat with them.

 

[Diddy]

Thanks so much for your replies. They are very much going to be pets, if that's not too embarrassing to admit on a farming forum! Wink, unfortunately we're the other end of the country from you otherwise I'd be straight round. Have been keeping an eye out on ebay but the only arks that have come up nearby aren't a lot cheaper than buying new. We might go down the homemade route! Sounds like the pen idea might work if we can move them round a bit.

Thanks also for all the suggestions re. breeds. I liked the look of the kunes but understand they are much bigger? I'm hoping the pigs are as addictive as they say as they are likely to be here long after the children have all left home!

Thanks again

 

[Greenbeast]

We have micro pigs for sale if you are interested.

 

[Joe]

When wife moved in here she wanted pigs, I said no problem but only one rule they had to be 2 males. Just when she started getting attached to them they became male teenagers and that knocked that on the head

Made an arc out of an old cattle ring feeder, cut in half and bolt to half together and some old sheeting on top...