The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: shaky bob on February 11, 2011, 11:31:39 pm
-
SORRY IF THIS POSTS TWICE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. WE HAD A VERY TINY WILD PIGLET RUNNING AROUND FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS AND YESTERDAY IT GOT IN THE PEN WITH OUR 3/4 MONTH OLD GIRLS. THEY CHASED HIM AROUND SOME AND TRIED TO KEEP HIM OUT OF THE FOOD BUT WASN'T TOO BAD. OUR PROBLEM IS HE IS SMALL ENOUGH FOR THE HAWKS TO GET HIM AND HE WAS VERY COLD SO WE CAUGHT HIM AND PUT HIM IN A DOG CRATE WITH HAY BUT KEPT IT IN THE PEN WITH THE GIRLS. WILL HE STAY WARM ENOUGH IN THE HAY WITH THE TEMP LOW 40? WILL THE GIRLS EXCEPT HIM? HE GOT OUT TODAY (I THINK WITH THEIR HELP) AND THEY SEEMED A BIT NICER BUT HE WAS STILL SHAKING SO WE CAUGHT HIM AND PUT HIM BACK IN THE CRATE AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD HE IS BUT I DON'T THINK HE IS OVER 5LB.
-
If he is that small he's probably quite young and may need milk, other than that the older pigs will settle and get used to him being about.
You're right he does need the shelter and warmth you are providing,what you've provided should do the job.
Where abouts are you?
Do you really mean wild or just a lost domestic piglet?
Sorry i'm just curious we don't have wild pigs in our neck of the woods.
-
HEY, WE ARE IN BUSHNELL FL, AND WE HAVE SO MANY WILD PIGS THAT IT HAS BECOME MY SON'S OBSESSION TO HUNT PIGS EVERY WEEKEND! THERE IS A LOT OF DOMESTIC/WILD PIGS AROUND TOO. THE PIGLET IS WHITE WITH SOME BLACK SPOTS BUT IT IS SO TINY THAT IS WHY I THINK IT WAS WILD.
-
If there's anyone near you who keeps pigs it's worth asking around or putting up a sign in local shops/vets - just incase there's a worried owner somewhere looking for it.
If it's only 5lbs I'd guess it's REALLY young (probably less than 3 weeks)- does it appear to be eating solid food okay and drinking okay ? If so then it will probably be fine - but keep an eye on it and maybe offer it some milk to drink (seperate from your other pigs while doing it so they don't drink it all) Sounds lovely to have a new addition (but maybe get him castrated if you decide to keep him and don't want to breed ;))
I'd get him tame and give him a good check over and as a precaution dose him with wormer - if he is wild you've no idea of his health status, so better to be safe than end up with all your pigs ill.
HTH
Karen x
-
Presume you mean Bushnell, Florida, USA?
Does it look like a young version of this?
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/article845890.ece (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/article845890.ece)
I think you need to think about not just this piglet’s welfare, but also your capability, and the welfare of your other pigs.
If this is a wild boar, it will have a different temperament from domesticated stock, and may need much stronger fencing to contain as it grows up (even now it sounds like it is a handful)
You may have laws restricting or forbidding taking animals from the wild (which is what you have done albeit not deliberately), and laws on keeping them (in the UK they require a licence and come with lots of rules), particularly as they’re considered a pest species in Florida.
It is not fair to keep a pig on its own, and if your two females are destined for the table, what will you do with him when that happens?
As HH says, you would certainly be looking to castrate it if you are going to keep it, and they can live for 20 years, so be prepared for a long term wild pet.
Whilst cute now, are you ready to handle an adult wild boar looking like this http://www.wildflorida.com/wildlife/mammals/Wild_Pig.php (http://www.wildflorida.com/wildlife/mammals/Wild_Pig.php) who has an inherent fear of humans. In the UK wild boar keepers rarely enter with their stock.
If longer term you go into breeding, you would not be able to keep two boars together, so he might end up on his own, which again is not fair on him.
I would consider three actions.
1. Contact your local animal rescue or wildlife centre and see if they’ll take him
2. Read up everything you can on wild boar, both legal and health wise and only then consider taking him on after castration.
3. If the rescue centres won’t keep him, seriously consider euthanasia by them as they best option for an animal that is designed to be wild not contained, who will put your domestic stock at risk if he breaks your fencing, and who you might not be able to handle in a few months time, and may harm you and/or your family.
-
sorry about all caps, my daughter just informed me i was yelling. go figure. It is eating some. It is common around here to keep wild pigs in fact people catch them with dogs and grain feed them for a while then butcher. People even raise them from babies and sell them to people who doesn't want a pig as big as a domesticated. They butcher out smaller. We have so many domesticated pigs that got loose and bred with wild that my neighbor said they will even see belted pigs out in the swamp. I say wild only because we have no one in the area that has pigs but us but the wild pigs are everywhere. It looks like the old spot pigs except it doesn't have as floppy ears and by the pictures I couldn't tell if they were white or tan. He is white. I know we will have to neuter him, I just didn't know if there would be fighting as he got bigger but the girls will be going in the freezer in the next couple of months.
-
Don't worry about the shouting - you're all the way "across the water" - we'd never hear you otherwise :D
But to help answer your question, if he's the only boar there won't be much fighting - after they sort out who's boss. It's only when there's more than one (unrelated) boar that you need to worry. In fact, just don't put 2 boars together (unless they're brothers who've been together since birth)
HTH
Karen x
-
Thanks for the advice, I know I worry too much! It's just he is so tiny and cold. I had the crate covered last night but it is off this morning and he really wants to be with the girls but he is still shaking, its very windy.We also gave him some warm milk in his feed. He's too far away from the house for a heat lamp. Oh well, I guess I have done everything I can. Thanks again.
-
If he's wanting in with the girls and you've checked him for illness/disease and wormed him I'd be tempted to let him go in with them. It's a sure fire way of keeping him warm.
And before I get shot down in flames by all the other pig keepers - it's not something I'd recommend normally (you SHOULD do your isolation period well away from all your other pigs - to protect herd health) BUT this is an unusual case and if shaky bob want's to save this little guy it's the best way. Just be aware that if he is carrying any disease it may pass to your gilts and cause problems for you, so be sure he's okay before you do it. And good luck ! I'd love a wee wild pig ;) photo's please ;D
HTH
Karen x
-
How is he this morning?