TanksHill...Roll on!!

[TanksHill]

What the heck are all of you doing up so late.

My hill is sloped, I was hoping to make a 16 x 16 foot pen out towards the middle of my orchard area. I actually had a little tree that got eaten by gophers and figured there would be space. Now remember I am just rolling this around in my head. Not sure of anything.


gina

by the way how bad does a pig or two really smell???

 

[Farmfresh]

The ones at our TSC ARE 52 inches tall for $20.00. I sold some Saturday. (TSC is my job # 2 that I have to quit ).

If you don't have one nearby than perhaps your Craigslist ones would be a good buy, if the are not all bent up. (gas is expensive too) I am sure they are tall enough for goats or pigs, but I would probably put an electric wire inside as well to keep the animals from climbing or pushing on it.

 

[Farmfresh]

What the heck are all of you doing up so late.

Laundry.

 

[TanksHill]

Thanks yo for the help. The lady does live kinda far from me and can not deliver. I will need to see if my dh can borrow a trailer from his office. Not sure how that works these days with the whole change in ownership thing.

I am going to keep working on it though. gina

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

by the way how bad does a pig or two really smell???

i had an old hog farmer say to me that when people complained about the smell he'd take in a big sniff and say...... smells like money to me

hee hee hee

if they are in the middle of even a small orchard you will be fine. you can keep the smell down with straw and keeping it dry. i think i read somewhere that you want to keep them 100 yrds from the neighbors to ensure a peaceful existence.

when you get your hog panels make extra sure that you secure the bottom on the t-post TIGHTLY. once they start growing out they will get their piggy snouts under it and kind of toss their heads. if its not really secure they will throw the panels right off the posts. but you've got a while for that

yay you!!

 

[TanksHill]

Yes that was my next set of questions. What is the best way to secure them and what type of post? So heavy duty T post are sufficient? I was planning on putting up some fencing for my hens. This will simplify things if I can use the same post for both.

100 yards huh?? I think I will be good there. Maybe I will take a picture and post it.

How deep do the pigs dig?



Thanks gina

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

they just kind of snuff around. however if you want them to dig up that tree stump they'll do that if you either drill holes in and fill with corn, or dig a few holes in the dirt around and put some corn in.

for all my bellyachin' about them they can be useful
;-)

you can use those clip things that come with the panels or with the field fence - or i used some heavier wire and really twisted it around..and yes HEAVY duty posts - really pounded in. if they get out the worst thing that will happen (aside from the damage to your garden, trees, etc) is that you have to chase them back in - but if you shake their feed bucket and teach them that means food, they'll come when you call them.

yes yes pix!!

i think i might have said this before - and i think someone else did too..but you need to be careful with the hens. the pigs may find out they are a food source and then its nothing but work work work to restore order. mine are separated from the hens by electric. so far just the Buckeyes pop over and share the pigs area but they are pretty speedy so we havent had any losses.. but be on the lookout if your favorite hen starts to be over interested in what the pigs are doing. likewise, hogs will walk thru anything to get to food if they really want it...so we feed the chickens out of sight of the pigs. we have ours behind electric now and its working really great.

 

[TanksHill]

Ok so that might present a problem. My coop would be about 20 yards from the pig pen and my hens free range.

I do have another location that may work. It's a lot further from my house, About 3/4 of an acre toward the north. The problem is getting to it. The spot could be smoothed out with the tractor. It is closer to another neighbor. I would probably have to ride my lawn tractor down there. Ugggg....

Ok maybe I don't want a pig.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

OH yes you do.... just keep an eye on those silly chickens. if mine get too close i spray them with the hose
;-)

or if you choose a further away spot once the pigs get to be 'big as a collie' size its not like hawks are going to carry them off or anything.. they dont need a lot of babysitting



but take your time deciding - you'll work out the logistics

 

[TanksHill]

Well my hen is still setting her clutch but we had a bit of a hiccup today. An eggsplosition. I am not sure if she was on the next when it happened but I feel for her if she was. There were a few eggs I could not see through because of the dark green shells. So I left them in the nest just in case. The eggs are due in 5 days. I went down to collect eggs and feed the ladies and I saw they were all in the run. I checked the nest and saw one egg blown up. I removed the mess and hoped for the best. I went back out at dusk and she was back to work. Poor girl I hope thats the only one.


g