The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: GeorgeandPepper on June 05, 2013, 12:33:39 pm
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Another quick question - I read everywhere that pigs are very clean etc don't mess where they sleep. My two seem to have other ideas though and will go anywhere at all. They have a little outhouse with a little kennel inside where they sleep, but seem to get up in the morning and have a wee just outside the door inside on the wooden floor! Is there any way of deterring them from doing this?
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pigs dont poop in their sleeping area, but that is only the part where they sleep.... ie even in an arc if its too big for them when first obtained - you fill part with straw bale to minimise the space and stop them going in the arc.
to them, the 'kennel' is the sleeping area, anywhere else is fair game
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Move their kennel so it's on the threshold of the outhouse, move the kennel outside, or if it's not weather proof get them an ark that is. Otherwise as nicandem say anything outside their kennel will be vulnerable.
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I had this problem with a couple of pigs. They were living in a sty that was built into a range of Victorian farm buildings. The sty must have been designed for a sow and a litter of pigs as it is about 9 feet by 9 feet. The pigs tended to deposit their muck outside but urinated in the sty. The stench of ammonia was horrendous.
I picked up the tip, it may have been on this forum, that they had too much space. Since then I have partitioned of the sty with sheep hurdles and increased the living space as the pigs grow. Fouling of their sty has been eliminated, much to the relief of my olfactory organs.
Regards, Dave
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This is great advice thank you, I don't feel as alone in my journey now!!! I am sure I will be back with more questions!!!
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the only silly question is the one that isn't asked, good luck :wave:
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we have a big sty large enough for 4-5 adult pigs and they were known to poop in the corner if it was raining out side - so generally the sty is too big.
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I have moved their house so it is flush with the front door of the outhouse and they looked a bit confused but didnt seem to be too bothered. Quite funny to see them launch straight out from bed to outside! :)