Ok pig people...I just found a stray piglet!!!! (NEW Photos pg 21)

[freemotion]

When clearing my land to make my pasture, I burned and burned and burned. When everything cooled down, I would let the critters back out into the (somewhat) fenced area. My horse and my two goats would eat the remaining coals and ashes. They obviously needed something.

Trees contain more minerals than smaller plants in part because their roots go deeper and they are alive much longer than, say, spinach. I imagine that burning the wood concentrates any minerals in it.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

hey free - great thoughts on the coal/charcoal

since our hens were trapped in the coop for our Big Freeze we dumped a (very cold and completely dead) bucket of ash in the coop. not only did they roll around in it as we expected... they also ate it! we were kinda freaked out when we saw all the ash-poops... but they seem happy as clams. we havent added anymore but yep they must have been lacking something.

and now i need to start typing for Free's post on piggies...

 

[big brown horse]

WOW!! I am soooo glad I asked!

I have one sugar pie pumpkin left and I was going to bake it up today! I'll crack it open for the little guy right now!

Hardboiled eggs, check.

I also have extra pumpkin seeds in the pantry that I'll give him too. Oh, and I'll put some burnt logs in there too from the fire pit. I don't use any chemicals to start the fires out there, so he will be safe.

THANKS for all the advice!!

This morning he got some of the good milk and a bit of cracked corn. I also got some hog food too. Chickens are eating it also.

I just borrowed my neighbor's bolt cutters so I can begin to put his pen together.


Now, one last question (for now), how soon will I have to castrate him?

 

[sylvie]

Black charred partially burned wood as a soil amendment, is unparalleled. Biochar carbon aids in the process of the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into plant usable nitrogen compounds.

 

[Farmfresh]

I agree on the worming. I would try the pumpkin first, but if you HAVE to pay for chemical wormer at least you can reassure your self by the thought that a worm FREE animal will eat far less feed and grow much, much better! You will save money in the long run.

 

[justusnak]

WOW!! I am soooo glad I asked!

Now, one last question (for now), how soon will I have to castrate him?

As for castration....as soon as possible. Usually they are done at just a few weeks old. You want him done, before he gets hormonal.

 

[big brown horse]

I'm not sure how old he is, but when will know if he is or isn't castrated?

eta: Free, I'll contribute what I'm learning to your thread too, so it will be full of useful info for anyone to reference w/o having to read about all the fun we had with this thread.

 

[justusnak]

Do you plan to castrate him yourself or let a vet? All they do is take a scalple, slice along the line from the bumhole, down about 1 1/2 inches.....and reach in there and pull out the little tiny sack, and whack it off! No stitches...just stop bleed powder

 

[Beekissed]

We used to do our own. One person holds the pig with his back on the holder's chest, hind feet grasped and held high and tight up by his little piggy head. Quick incisions over seeds, work seeds up from skin, hold the other hand firmly on the abdomen to prevent future rupture, snap seeds firmly off or even shave vans deferens with razor blade until thin enough to snap. Blu-Kote spray and pig is set free.

Takes all of 5-10 min.

 

[Farmfresh]

I actually read somewhere that it is better to REMOVE the lower 1/3 of the scrotum when castrating. If they do the slit method they can sometimes get infections.

If it was me I would call a vet the first time or two and to some HARD watching before I tried it myself.