The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: little blue on September 22, 2010, 09:34:33 pm

Title: boar losing weight?
Post by: little blue on September 22, 2010, 09:34:33 pm

as the title says... Our kune kune boar seems to have lost weight very quickly

he is eating well and no sign of scouring.  when he lived with the goats, he was naughty & stole their food when he got chance and was fat and round as he should be - now he gets pig meal, grass, hay, greens & fruit.

It could look worse than it is, because the girls are very pregnant and a totally different shape!   :pig: 

but any suggestions (other than feeding him more!) much appreciated before the winter sets in.

Title: Re: boar losing weight?
Post by: gavo on September 22, 2010, 10:01:42 pm

I do think the answer is to feed more; is he in with the girls ? If he is he will have competition for his ration from very greedy expectant mums who often have ferocious appetites. Can you feed him a little distance away from them to give him a chance to eat his full ration?

Title: Re: boar losing weight?
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 23, 2010, 08:22:17 am

Probably a stupid question .....  sorry  ..... but have you wormed him with a strong wormer just in case?

Title: Re: boar losing weight?
Post by: little blue on September 23, 2010, 10:03:38 pm

Its next on my list, we've just had worm & Baytril ALL our birds (46, from warrens to month old quail) by syringing it into each and every beak for 7 days... so the pigs were going to wait til 1) after piglets and 2) after pay-day!

or should the girls be done before farrowing?! my head gets so full of info, I cant remember the correct ways!

they get plenty of food, spread out so its fair. 
they have a mash, with a few mixed flakes... maybe Im being abit mean with it...  :)

Title: Re: boar losing weight?
Post by: gavo on September 24, 2010, 08:51:36 am

Try and feed in separate piles /areas even better in separate buckets he'll be less likely to give it up; give him his a few yards away from the girls.

Title: Re: boar losing weight?
Post by: gavo on September 24, 2010, 08:53:08 am

Quote from: gavo on September 24, 2010, 08:51:36 am

Try and feed in separate piles /areas even better in separate buckets he'll be less likely to give it up; give him his a few yards away from the girls.

Do you feed by weight how much do they get?

Title: Re: boar losing weight?
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 24, 2010, 09:43:28 am

I do really understand the pay day thing.  Havent had a bottle of wine for ages cos the pig wormer cost over 100 euros  :'( :'( :'(  The quicker you worm though the less money you will be wasting on feeding the worms. 

Title: Re: boar losing weight?
Post by: little blue on September 24, 2010, 09:01:51 pm

Quote from: gavo on September 24, 2010, 08:51:36 am

Try and feed in separate piles /areas even better in separate buckets he'll be less likely to give it up; give him his a few yards away from the girls.

tried this... they all think the other has better food and continually swap round, making a terrible racket!!

Title: Re: boar losing weight?
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 25, 2010, 10:21:35 am

Thats pigs for you.

 ;D