The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Sylvia on October 07, 2010, 02:17:47 pm
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Does anyone here keep kune kune? If so will you tell me honestly and truthfully,do they dig up the land?
I've heard some say no, they don't and some say yes, they do and some say, some do, some don't.
I don't want to buy some and then have to get rid of them. :pig: :pig:
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i have 2, and they do root a bit
more so when little, as they get older, they do it less and less, but they do do it
it isnt anything like other breeds though, and they dont plough it all up, ive had mine on my garden bit and merely stepped in any clods, they certainly didnt ruin the surface but it would depend on land size and length of time i would imagine
ive also found that they only do it when really hungry, otherwise a full belly = sleepy time
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Ours doesn't - not so sure about her when she was younger as we inherited her from the previous owners of our smallholder - they took her with them when they moved but found they didn't have enough space to keep her happy. We're looking to rehome her at the moment as she doesn't get on with any of our ponies and she won't go in with my Old Spots.
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I have youngsters and adults and from my experience they WILL root when young, but don't dig huge holes like tammies ;) (see my facebook page for proof lol! ;Dhttp://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=943&id=100000885881885 (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=943&id=100000885881885))
But the adults I have don't root at all. The only damage in their field is where the ground's cut up from their feet around the feeding area. I think if the grass is sparse they're more inclined to do it - but providing the grazing's good - adults shouldn't do too much damage.
If you're looking for adults specifically (to avoid the rooting) contact Wendy Scudmore from the Kune Kune society - she quite often knows of ones needing rehomed and might be able to help. This is here website http://www.bartonhill.co.uk/kks.php (http://www.bartonhill.co.uk/kks.php)
HTH
Karen
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I had one who was far too lazy to bother digging. She ate loads of fruit and veg, rarely bothered to graze grass. Friends have 3 and not a hole in sight.
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Thank you all. I will go ahead now and get a couple of adults (and keep them well fed!) Captain, whereabouts are you?
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Have sent you a PM
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ours have rooted, dont be fooled!
but yes, it will be less so than a big pig, and they love grass, so will eat this first probably.
and they tramp around alot, and make mud....
but I love them to bits :)
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Go fir it, once you have them you will forgive them anything / everything.
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;) ;D ;D ;D
TELL me about it lol!
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I don't want to buy some and then have to get rid of them. :pig: :pig:
how are you planning to house them?
in a big space, they obviously will take longer to do noticeable damage.
but its in a pig's nature to root... and that is what turns the ground.
ours are contained in a run area, as we don't want to lose all the grass to mud (and pig-poo!) and so we are commited to taking them their food, grass, hay etc throughout each and every day (but then, we dont have acres and acres on which to keep pigs) It still looks like the Somme...
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I will give them half an acre then move them on when it gets squishy. This way I hope to, eventually, get all my land ploughed and re-seeded :-\
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Sylvia,
depending on how many of what age you are getting, you would probably do better to give them a much smaller area, and use electric tape to "strip graze" - ie get them to work an area thoughally and then move to a fresh bit. If you train them to tape they keep very well behind it.
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then kunes are the best pig to go for!
as above... let them strip graze. will they be "sausages" once the ground is done?
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I'd echo Oaklands and Little blue ;)- keep them on a smaller area if you want them to root the ground up a bit. Mine have half an acre and if it wasn't for the arc you wouldn't know there were pigs on the land - it's still really green and grassy.
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I only intend getting two sows and breeding from them. The gilts will, hopefully, be sold and the boars will go in the deep-freeze. It sounds as though strip-grazing is the best option and, if they stick to grass then they can have 2 acres.