The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Eastling on May 03, 2013, 08:38:24 pm
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We put electric fencing up about 2 weeks ago, the pigs had been reintroduced to it no problems. This afternoon we heard a hell of a noise. Found Ollie writhing around screaming, it seems that she must have bit the tape got a shock then managed to run through it , We managed to calm her but couldn't get her up, Vets been given her finadyn and antibiotic inj instructions to turn her every 4 hours i've just left her with a straw wind break and bed she seems to have settled has managed to sit herself up, but still unable to get her hind legs under her. Will be in and out all night to check her. Hopefully soft tissue but Fingers crossed for improvement in the morning if not them PTS :'(
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Oh no you poor thing, and poor poor Ollie. Its so hard not to be able to explain to animals that doing X or Y really isn't the best thing to do. Fingers crossed for much improvement by the morning :fc: :fc: :fc: :fc: :fc:
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Not a very nice experience for either of you. :hug: hope Ollie is feeling better tomorrow :fc:
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My wife is in the front field with Ollie... its just gone 3am... and unfortunately we have just called in the vets. Im a little upset, but we have done all we can for her...but cannot let this carry on till the morning. The pain killers have obviously worn off...and she has become very agitated, and is screaming in pain.
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What an awful story. I am so sorry for you - Tamsaddle
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Thanks for the kind thoughts. But we had to have her put to sleep. All went well thank god. Just going to ring to arrange to have her collected, if i can stop welling up enough to talk. Don't know what her sister is going to do when she finally realises she has gone. When she has gone will then go to bed.
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that is awful i really feel for you i have only had my pigs 3 months and we are really attached to them and i would be devestated if something like that happens
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So sorry you lost her. :hug: :hug:
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I'm so sorry to hear about Ollie, but you've done the kindest thing for her - she's not suffering anymore :hug:
Her sister will notice her departure and might become quite withdrawn and deppressed, if at all possible you should try and find a replacement friend for her as soon as you can.
:hug: :hug: :hug:
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Thanks everyone much appreciated.
OMG fallen stock folk are a breed of their own! Had to get OH to call one in the end coming later today.
Karen have been thinking what to do. We were talking about trying AI again as have found some more detailed websites. She has just had a season so a bit of a wait, Nellie is the more dominate of the two not sure how she would react to a youngster but yes will need company.or i give up and try and find her a home, but not many people as soppy as me!
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It is difficult to know what to do for the best (been there myself many a time ;))
We've not had much success with AI, especially on gilts or pigs which haven't recently farrowed - I think a boar is the sure-fire way to make sure you end up with a pregnant pig with minimum cost and hassle :thumbsup: But she'd still be on her own til she farrowed and then you'd have a litter of piglets to raise or sell afterwards - might end up in more of a difficult situation than you are now :-\
I can't remember what breed/age pigs you have, but we've found that generally adult pigs will accept young pigs more easily than one which is either the same size or close in size.
The young pig will usually automatically submit to the bigger one and the older one will see a little pig as no threat whatsoever. Plus, as long as there is plenty of space, the little one will be able to move much quicker and for far longer than the big one - so there's not likely to be a confrontation.
If you do decide to introduce a youngster the way I'd do it is; give Nellie a can of sweetheart stout or guinness to chill her out a bit 30 mins prior to the new one going in, do the introduction just before bedtime and if possible get a castrated male, rather than a gilt - no piggy pmt to worry about ;)
Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide :)
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Thanks Karen lots to think about! will let you know what we decide
Brain is getting fuzzy so going to go to bed been up since yesterday morning.
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Just read this and so sorry to hear your news, sounds like a nightmare.
Get yourself another pig as soon as you can to take your mind off it and cheer you up. A while ago, we got 2 weaners ( GOS gilts ) and put them in with our big gilt. It was fine, had to rig up an electric fencing corner to feed them separate from the big girl but all OK. The little ones soon learn to jump out of the big ones way!
:hug:
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OH has been busy while i had a nap. Possible GOS boar at slaughter weight in Maidstone and may be a gilt. so feeling a bit better that Nellie may have company soon.
Button end beasts thanks makes me feel better that yours have all got on. My girls had their own troughs and were feed in the next door stable all very civilised.
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Hi Eastling,my heart goes out to you.We all try and do are best by are animals and then something like that happens.
I hope you are able to get another pig soon,and move on.Try to not to keep beating yourself up over it.
Graham.
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Thanks Graham
I know things get easier but still feel bad, only put the electric fence back up to stop them getting to and leaning on the road fence line and to stop them from getting on to the road.
Have just come in from piggy cuddles with Nellie bless her she knows something has gone on, think she is missing her hot water bottle, they always slept belly to belly.
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How sad and I am sorry you have had this terrible experience. do hope you find another pig soon.
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How awful for you xxxxx
I've never heard of this before. I was having a panic about our electric fencing but my OH says its must have been mains electric rather than battery ( which is what we have). Is that right???
I hope this is a rare occurrence. It doesn't ease your grief I know, but I'm sure lot of people will worry about this now.
Lots of love to you all
J xxxx
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So sorry for what you've been through. Hope poor Nellie gets a lovely companion soon.
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So sorry about what happened .....so upsetting for you. With livestock, they do some unpredictable things - nothing we can do about it, but leaves you feeling awful when something like this happens.
I was just looking into electric fencing for my pigs as well, but not sure about it now......
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JMB Roxy
The fence is white tape two strands on a battery. We used it when we first got the girls with no problems, as it had a stock fence behind it, so if they touched it they went backwards.
We had put the fence into a field with no stock fence behind it. We had watched them both try the fence got a shock then kept away from it .
Don't know why she thought she could have a chew that day. So When Ollie chewed it and got a shock she went forward taking the two tape lines with her. I think she got it around her legs panicked as you would ended up on the ground and while she was thrashing around damaged her back. We got to her within seconds she didn't have any contact with tape when we got to her, but did have scrapes on the side of her mouth and on the insides of her legs.
On a lighter note I have been to OAKLANDS and seen a herd kept behind just the electric tape with no problems, Think this was just a freak occurance for us.
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That's exactly what we have here.
What a shame for you xxxxxx
It's the shock of losing an animal so quickly as well as the grief.
Hope you are feeling a bit brighter today
J xxxxx
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Thanks JMB
Can't cry any more can hardly see now as it is.
Just feeling a bit sorry for Nellie Will spend some time with her again today, but on a brighter note have some duck eggs to candle!
Waiting for a call re the GOS :fc: they have some suitable
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Hi, just a quick note on electric fencing. I really do think this was a freak accident. We have had new pigs touch the wire and run forward and escaped but none have ever got caught on it.
One thing we have tried with pigs new to electric fencing is to put some sort of plastic mesh behind the wire or tape so they have a more visual barrier. Then when they get used to the shock the plastic mesh can be gradually rolled away. Actually, now we quite often use sheep electric mesh netting for the pigs as it does absolutely nothing to contain our sheep!
eastlings, hope you and Nellie have some fun with the new arrivals!
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Just read this eastling, so sorry to hear this news. I never have had nor like electric fencing but i know for some of you its a vital necessity. Hopefully a one off accident.
Lots of hugs to you and Nellie. :hug:
Mandy x :pig:
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Thanks Mandy
Just have to put it down to experience but at a cost of a life which is s**t.
I have sent you a PM
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Eastling
Really sorry to hear about this - a horrible thing to happen.
Energisers are governed by many standards - they send out thousand of volts, but milliamps, and it is amps that do damage.
Both mains and battery energisers would never deliver a fatal blow to a pig. Toads, rabbits and the occasional hedgehog can have issues with electric netting as they get entangled at night, but strands at 6 inches should cause no harm to any animal, and a Defra trial supports this.
As you have suggested, it is most likely that she suffered some damage as she was being shocked, and back damage from thrashing looks like the verdict.
I have never heard of an incident like this before, and horrible as it is, should never hear of it again.
Again Eastling - really sorry to hear about this.
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Thanks Robin /Claire
I think it was the combination of weight, panic and thrashing that caused the damage. she weighed about 200kg
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Update
Have met a lovely couple today who have some 8 month old gilts for sale. So Nellie will be getting a new friend next Sunday :fc: she likes her!. Will keep separate for a few days and introduce through the fence.
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That's good news :thumbsup:
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Don't know why I worried so much :relief:
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That is SUCH a lovely picture, I'm so pleased for you, I didn't comment earlier as I don't have any piggy knowledge but I really felt so sorry at what happened and am really so pleased for you :-))) :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :trophy:
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Thank you feel much better now that they seem to be getting on, but still feeding separately as Lottie wouldn't stand a chance!
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Great to hear Easting :)
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Did you have any luck at the Heathfield show Oaklands? I was there myself, cracking weather, just a little sticky underfoot!
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:thumbsup: told you they'd be best girlies!
mandy :pig:
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with ref to the electric fence, i have heard of a billy goat dying cos he got his horns caught in it and by the time owner found him, he'd died cos of too many shocks to his heart. iv also heard a similar story of a horse caught up in a electric fence and dying, apparently they can only survive 20 mins if the current is still going through them.
but its also a freak accident. very sad and a bit shocking for you. :'(
glad you have a new piggy companion.
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It certainly was a horrendous experience, and the cost of a life and quilt still lays heavy with me. I would only use electric fencing now with stock fencing behind it.
On a lighter note Nellie now has a young friend who is a very sweet girl.
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Hi Eastling,thats a great picture.I glad they are getting on so well.
Graham.