The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: deepinthewoods on May 01, 2012, 09:15:29 pm

Title: just a few questions about pigs.
Post by: deepinthewoods on May 01, 2012, 09:15:29 pm
the big clear of the rhody diseased woodland has got close to my section, ive provisionaly measured how much more space ill gain at about 100m x 50m, firstly could i raise a couple of weaners in that space, ive no intention of breeding, and no intention of keeping pigs through winter, i expect to have the land available from july so am looking at early spring next year to start, to give me time to stock fence and build an arc etc.

the clearing process is, chop, burn and treat stumps with professional roundup. would 6months after that process leave the land safe for piggiewiggies :D
all the established native trees would be left, beech,oak hazel etc

i know laurel is poisonous but ive been informed (hopefully reliably) that pigs would avoid it. is that correct?

every cloud has a silver lining and i have always wanted to keep pigs, im hoping that will become possible after my woodland sanctuary is removed.
Title: Re: just a few questions about pigs.
Post by: robert waddell on May 01, 2012, 09:30:14 pm
that will be a big enough area for two pigs    pigs have a tendancy not to eat things that will harm them
but again if they are hank marvin they will eat anything :farmer:
Title: Re: just a few questions about pigs.
Post by: deepinthewoods on May 01, 2012, 09:33:02 pm
thats great. i cant really see the point in raising hungry pigs!!
any advice on the roundup?
Title: Re: just a few questions about pigs.
Post by: robert waddell on May 01, 2012, 09:46:03 pm
many years ago Monsanto advocated that if you reseeded grassland you spray with roundup first leave for 14 days then cut and conserve    bloody good silage it made as well    roundup is inactive on contact with soil and water    but it needs foliage to translocate to the root system :farmer:
Title: Re: just a few questions about pigs.
Post by: redborneschoolfarm on May 03, 2012, 06:43:52 pm
Just be careful of age and breed of pig as some will gorge on all that leaf litter and roots and in a few individuals it has known to cause compaction in the gut which is often fatal. If you can get some 'larger' weaners say 12 - 14 weeks old and out door reared they might be a bit more savvy.
Title: Re: just a few questions about pigs.
Post by: deepinthewoods on May 03, 2012, 06:45:51 pm
ok, thanks for all the info. :thumbsup: