The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Carey boy on May 09, 2014, 09:40:07 am

Title: Wet land & pigs
Post by: Carey boy on May 09, 2014, 09:40:07 am

Hi, I have a .85 acre field 3/4 of it is very wet and the other 1/4 is dry. The field needs draining but I can't afford it for 2 years. Would keeping a few pigs on it during the day help or hinder the wet problem. Any help please. Carey boy

Title: Re: Wet land & pigs
Post by: Eve on May 09, 2014, 02:31:03 pm

Hinder. They'd eat any vegetation that would normally absorb moisture, and they'll trample all over it so that the ground will be more compacted and drains less well.
They'll turn the dry quarter into a mud field, too.


The pigs would love it, but you wouldn't  ;)

Title: Re: Wet land & pigs
Post by: Carey boy on May 09, 2014, 03:50:42 pm

Many thanks for your reply.

Title: Re: Wet land & pigs
Post by: FiB on May 09, 2014, 05:13:04 pm

Thanks eve I was watching for this too... I am going to do the same, but in our case I want them to clear vegetation prior to planting willow.  I was hoping the pigs would like it.  From previous experience the pigs have the capacity to turn an area into compacted pan of mud! In our case it is a sloping acre, marshy with marsh grass at bottom and mixture of grass and braken at the top.