Wannabefree...guess what I got in the mail today!?!?!?!?

[Wannabefree]

Yeah that's her "go to Haiti" look Everybody gets that look from her...like we're beneath her, and wholly edible

 

[pinkfox]

lol, thats because you ARE edible lol

but yeah pigs eyes in my opinion are very experessive, there incredibly inteligent animals and i think it shows in thier eyes...
piggies dont get neer enough credit

 

[SSDreamin]

OK, that officially freaks me out I really want pigs, but don't want them 'eyeballing' me all the time!

Hey - question- DH wants to ring the pigs, because he believes that will solve any escape possibilities, plus put in electric fence starting at 6" because he read on some website that this is a sure fire way to keep them in. I have no personal experience, but feel certain that there is NO sure fire way to prevent escape and also consider rings kinda mean. What do you guys think?

 

[Wannabefree]

My bacon pig has rings. I don't want a BIG pig without rings, because I don't want to have to do electric fencing. It's not any worse than piercing your ears, it's all just cartilage, stings a smidge, but no biggie The rings are to keep them from rooting and digging so much, but as long as they are fed, they won't go far anyway.

 

[pinkfox]

i dont like rings for pigs being kept and USED, as there designed to cause discomfort...the idea behind the ring is that when the pig tries to root, the ring gets tossled and nudged and while isnt "painfull" isnt realy the most pleasant feeling (i guess its akin to someone pulling on a persons nose ring)

If the pig is just being raised for meat and you dont want it rooting, then rings are great...
but for me i plan on actually using my pigs to help me plow lol.

in terms of keeping them in...electric GENERALLY does a good job assuming there trained form day 1 to the fence, you need to SERIOUSLY ground a pig fence (mine with 3 grounding rods now SHOULD be fine) but because of thier large wet noses and lack of fur they actually train to electric very easily and when they get zapped...they get ZAPPED...
and because there inteligent, they learn pretty dang quickly

the problem with pigs and electric is they will occasionally test it...so unlike goats who get zapped a few times and then typically stay away even if the fence is off/down...with pigs you have to be very consistent about checking and clearing your lines and making sur eyour energizer is working on a regular basis...because it only takes them testing it once and NOT getting a zap for them to decide its worth the risk pushing through.

most pig fences ive see have bottom line at 6-8" (6 for piglets and mini breeds, 8 for weanlings)
because you want them zapped right on the nose (if they get their head through and get zapped, like all animals they go FORWARD rather than back...) space lines 6"-8" apart for the bottom 24" and add a line tightner if your not doing high tensle electric (you dont want too much pressure on the lines but you do need to be able to control sag with the lines that close together. once you get past normal Piggy nose height (about knee high on the average person, you can space the lines further apart, and anything over 3ft is USUALLY not nessicary with pigs. as there not very good at jumping lol.

ive heard nothign but good things about pigs and electric fencing, other fencing however tends not to stand up to piggy power lol

a WELL RAISED pig is a pleasure to have around, my grandads pigs all did tricks and LOVED attention...
its generally when they become overly fearfull OR disrespectfull that they become dangerous...like with dogs they need to be taught rules from day 1...assuming you stick to that you should be fine.

general rule of thumb is NEVER EVER turn your back on a COMERCIAL breed adult pig (sow or boar) but heritidge breeds tend to be a lot more "stable" (and tastier) and or first time piggers, i usually suggest american guineas, great pork, hardy pigs, SMALLER than the comercial breeds but tend to be realy even tempered and not as prone to SERIOUS rooting.

for me, eventually i want GOS pigs...there Giant puppy dogs.

 

[SSDreamin]

I'm just concerned because the proposed pig site will be close to the gardens (which are fenced in), the orchard, and the neighbors horse pasture (which is my biggest worry). I don't want some pig trying to chew my leg off as I run around in the neighbors pasture, spooking their horses

 

[Wannabefree]

I want heritage too to raise, but they are EXPENSIVE and hard to find around here :/ If I had them, I wouldn't ring the nose either. Pigs make me a bit leery.

 

[pinkfox]

lol, the visual definatly is a good one, but i agree....
but for me at least, keeping a pig is like keeping a arge dozey dog...there going to try and out think you, but if you keep yourself 1 step ahead, youll be fine oh and always carry treats...pigs LOVE peanut butter sammiches!

 

[Wannabefree]

Peanut butter huh? Good idea

Tomorrow is gonna be fun. I'll have niecey, and my little 4 year old boy from down the street tagging along to sell tomatoes. I hope they work well together. He loves helping. Niecey does too, but they are competitive, and both want to compete for my UNDIVIDED attention too....should be a very interesting juggling act I have all of the maters I have sold for tomorrow, then I have to go pick up more and see if I can move them. I think I'll hit Corinth tomorrow and see if we can get a few dedicated customers rather than how we've been doing it. I try to stay out of Savannah, as that's where Bro.J sells a lot, and I don't want to cut in on his money. I may get some regulars in Pickwick too, but we'll see. I'm still trying to figure it all out myself

 

[Wannabefree]

Time to make the doughnuts....I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday!!! I got a few wrenches thrown in just for fun this morning, and now will be having to haul a load of steel before I can go sell maters, money is money though.