The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: dixie on April 06, 2009, 01:59:41 pm

Title: Moving piglets outside.
Post by: dixie on April 06, 2009, 01:59:41 pm

My piglets are now just over 2 weeks old and still in a large stable with mum, they sleep in the creep area and are big, fat and lively!! We have prepared the paddock and ark outside and plan to move them out this week, but I'm so worried they'll get squashed sharing the ark with mum :-\ am I being over protective?!

Title: Re: Moving piglets outside.
Post by: Hilarysmum on April 06, 2009, 03:27:43 pm

Dont put too much straw in, let mum make the bed if she will.  If the arc has plenty of room should not be a problem. 

Title: Re: Moving piglets outside.
Post by: ukag0972 on April 06, 2009, 07:14:15 pm

I'd put them out, just like Hilarysmum says. A little straw bed and a good shelter will be fine.

You do realise that you'll also spend loads of time outside watching them!!!!

Title: Re: Moving piglets outside.
Post by: dixie on April 07, 2009, 08:15:25 am

I already do!! better than watching tv anyday!!

Title: Re: Moving piglets outside.
Post by: dixie on April 15, 2009, 10:02:00 am

Moved our sow and piglets outside on Sunday! Sow came very slowly and not really interested in the food, took 4 of us including my daughter who said' " all my friends are in bed eating chocolate and I'm outside in pj's pushing a pig!!) ";D ;D
once safely in the paddock we put piglets, 2 at a time, into a dustbin and carried them across!!
Sow was a bit down for a day or 2 but is fine now, the piglets have started eating hard feed and they all seem very happy and busy!!

Title: Re: Moving piglets outside.
Post by: Hilarysmum on April 15, 2009, 10:15:20 am

Sounds good.  You should have told your daughter how much she will thank you in a few years time when she still has all her teeth and is fit from pushing pigs around. 

Title: Re: Moving piglets outside.
Post by: DavidnChris on April 15, 2009, 11:22:21 am

Quote from: dixie on April 15, 2009, 10:02:00 am

including my daughter who said' " all my friends are in bed eating chocolate and I'm outside in pj's pushing a pig!!) ";D ;D
once safely in the paddock we put piglets, 2 at a time, into a dustbin and carried them across!!

I 100% guarantee that her friends will not remember the day they lay in bed and ate chocolate, your daughter will remember the day she pushed a pig and carried piglets in a bin.
She may not appreciate this now but she will in the future.

Title: Re: Moving piglets outside.
Post by: sabrina on April 16, 2009, 04:38:40 pm

Sounds like fun to me  :pig: