The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Button End Beasts on March 23, 2013, 09:02:07 am
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Hi :wave: - what a horrible day out there.
We are due to pick up 2 Kune Kunes this weekend, weather permitting and lambing (just had our first 2 Manx lambs born outside in the sleet :excited: :excited: ). I've been reading the other links on here about feeding Kunes but I just have one little question. If we give them hay to eat, should we just leave them as much as we can (ie a whole bale at a time for them to munch on) or is it best to limit the quantity they have each day?
Can't wait to meet the new arrivals :excited:
Beki
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I bought a full bale for my kk about three weeks ago and they never toched it maybe due to the fact they were indoors all the time before I got them I was hoping they would like it as it would save on the feed bills but you can't win everything
Good luck with the new arrivals
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I just feed mine a little bit at a time otherwise they just waste it.
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I don't know Kune kunes but if I was feeding hay I would try and build them up on it so throw them a slice of the bail if they eat it up put a bit more, I know with cattle if I left a bail there they would just stand on top of it and eat, hence why I use a ring.
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Yes I can imagine the little buggers tearing it apart. Certianly that's what the big pigs do getting anywhere near hay/ straw. I've kept big pigs for a few years now so I'm finding it hard to get my head around feeding Kunes that eat things like grass and hay and, dare I say it, might not dig! Now that's just weird! :roflanim:
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We usually just put a bit into their arcs for them - it keeps it dry and they can munch at their leisure ;)
If they've not been in the habbit of getting hay the best thing is to put it under their pig nuts to begin with and start with smaller amounts to see if they like it.
We also suppliment them with soaked sugar beet pellets (in the absence of fresh roots) to make the feed to further too - but be careful they don't get too fat if you decide to try it ;)
HTH
Karen
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My large blacks live out without an ark, they get a 4x4 hay bale once a month and love the task of dismantling it and building a nest.
With this high wind from the east(an unusual direction for us) they have moved their nest to a more sheltered location- mouthfull by mouthfull and rebuilt it.
they absolutly love doing it, ceeps them busy and fit and lean. by the end of their hard work it looks like an old fashioned hayrick waiting to be brought in. with a nose pointing out!
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Mkay, sounds lovely. Any pictures?
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No, but I will take some.
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Blimey MKay they live out all year no ark. I presume they have hedges and trees so they can build their nest in shelter. Does the hay keep them dry? Would love to see some pictures, never heard of anyone not having arks.
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We put hay in for our kk's. I spoil them so a put a big pile in, but they do waste it.
In the winter though it keeps them busy snouting about in it, so it's worth it to keep them occupied.
J xxx
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Finally got my Kune Kunes at the weekend :excited: . They really are great little pigs and seem so much easier to deal with than my big girl (still love her to bits though). One is black and one ginger, 6 months old and already throwing themselves down for belly rubs. One sat down, like a dog, with her head in my lap having a head rub :excited: . It's going to be difficult sending them for sausages :'(
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They are incredibly friendly and easy to deal with - you shouldn't have many problems with them in that respect :thumbsup:
As for getting attached :innocent: You just have to try and keep their purpose in mind :-\ (says she who relented on sending a barren gilt because she 'talks' to me with her eyes ::))
Have you got photo's ? ;D
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Compartmentalise it ... Ones a pig, other is totally different, it's pork
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Pics as requested. Dont worry - they do have green grass to roam around on. This bare spot, with the house on it, is the nearest place to the field gate!
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;D ;D ;D :thumbsup:
Typical Kunekunes ::) :roflanim:
Your ginger gilt is gorgeous :love:
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very nice indeed
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In relation to my original question.....the Kunes aren't eating the hay I put out for them so guess I don't have to worry about them stuffing themselves silly. I tried putting a fluffed up slice under an old flat trailor - ignored. I tried putting some in the house, ignored. I tried putting a small bit hidden under some pig nuts/carrots and other goodies but they just toss it out of the trug. The grass in their field is pretty short so just hope they are getting enough food. I'm giving them 1 lb of pig nuts each per day and then about a bucket of carrots on top of that.
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If they were starving hungry pigs they'd be eating the hay ;)
If they've not been used to being fed it, they'll not know what to do with it, but if they were hungry enough they'd soon figure it out.
It sounds like they're doing fine BeB :thumbsup:
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We certainly do, no they build their nests out in the open. Firstly you must use hay not straw as hay knots and binds where as straw is loose and useless, secondly you have to give them a 4x4 bale every 4wks in winter although its now been 6wks since mine had their last bale (also my bales are made on farm and I have them wrapped to half a ton (silage weight) on a 200hp tractor) so your typical hay dealer bale may require four bales at a time.
I have a photo I will put on shortly of them this week but the nest is now six wks old and they have eaten at least half and spread it around when the moved it across the field. I will take new photos in a couple of weeks when they get a new bale(they are moving paddocks).
Today we just built a luxury shelter for the sow and her 9piglets(3wks old, she came in the stable to farrow) out of 3 Heston bales and some box profile sheets with a couple of ratchet straps to hold them down.
On the pigs eating hay front, I would say my sows eat 5+kg of hay a day every day on top of 3kg of home blend, but then I do make a damn good bale of hay!