The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: oink on February 12, 2009, 02:57:48 pm

Title: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: oink on February 12, 2009, 02:57:48 pm

Hellooo,

I've been reading this website for about a year now and I must say I love it.  Its nice to know there are other weird people (as my friends constantly call me for wanting to keep pigs).

Anyway, I'm planning on getting two weaners for fattening which will live in an old stable with a 60ft * 30ft paddock.  The problem is that about half of the paddock is prone to flooding with about 2 inches of water.  It never normally happens more than once a year( at the beginning of summer) and the water is normally gone within a week  Plus the other half never floods but I was wondering how much of a problem it would be. 

Also, the same half of the paddock that floods is currently covered with a layer of pebbles from when I rented my house out.  I assume they wanted to keep the weeds down as they were using it as a nursery for their plants, but after 2 years of neglect grasses and weeds have easily made their way through.  Does anyone know if I should move the pebbles?

Thanks in advance for your help.

PS There is land on the other side of the stables that I could use but it really would be less complicated if I didn't have to.  Fingers crossed.

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: MrRee on February 12, 2009, 03:06:15 pm

Hi Fellow Weirdo,   
   I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem if your pen flooded,if anything,the pigs will love wallowing in it,especially when it's hot in the summer. When you first get your pigs,you could easily strip-graze them across the pen so there's always a dry bit for them,by the time they're big enough to need the whole pen,the risk of flooding will have passed.
   As for the pebbles,the pigs will root them out and dive in under them eventually. Every night just before sunset last year,I walked around the pigpen with a bucket picking up stones,wire,glass and even unexploded ammunition that the pigs had managed to bring to the surface. There was a fair old heap by the time they went to the freezer....... Ree

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: Rosemary on February 12, 2009, 03:19:23 pm

Yeah, it's weird. We've had pigs every summer for the last five or six years. Every autumn we clear off the debris - bricks, stones, etc. And the next summer, there's more. Some of the bricks say "Made in Brisbane" though   ;D

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on February 12, 2009, 05:34:31 pm

lol

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: Hilarysmum on February 12, 2009, 06:37:58 pm

Our stream floods about once a year.  Last year the tamworths were swimming in the deepest parts.  (Their choice).  In the summer Pumpkin was regularly to be seen wandering down the stream grazing the banks as she went.   I have even heard of a sow feeding her pigs in a deflated swimming pool with about 6 inches of water left in it.  So dont think it will be a problem.

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: Rosemary on February 12, 2009, 07:21:08 pm

I've never really seen pigs as swimmers....

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: Hilarysmum on February 13, 2009, 07:55:36 am

Believe me they can and do.  Tamworths in particular. 

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: doganjo on February 13, 2009, 11:14:03 am

There's an advert on just now with pigs swimming - what is it?

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: Rosemary on February 13, 2009, 01:41:00 pm

Great - I'll let them have a few lengths of the River Forth! Shoud keep the fat off them!

Title: Re: pebbles in my pig encloure?
Post by: Hilarysmum on February 13, 2009, 04:40:28 pm

Only if its 5 below zero.   ;D