The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: nat2211 on October 16, 2009, 05:44:45 pm
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My pigs have gone off their food
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Hi everyone, ;D
my 6 pigs seem to have gone off their pellets, they are eating all the other fruit & veg, but leaving alot of the compound food. They also seem to have very runny poo, :-[
is this a sign i am feeding to much? They do not seem to be coughing, or sneezing so do not think they are unwell, & they get up to greet me but just not eating compond food.
Also a farmer has offered me milk that has gone off & formed a solid lump, he says this is OK to feed the pigs but i am unsure? And also the puree from cider apples? is this OK to feed them ???
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I would suspect that they prefer the fruit and veg so are only eating that, which in turn, may be causing the runny poo.
I'd maybe stop the fruit and veg and feed them the nuts until their poo hardens! Pigs show digns of sickness very quickly and the fact that they are eating is a positive!
Obviously this is my humble opinion!
Good luck
lee
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My pigs have gone off their food
Also a farmer has offered me milk that has gone off & formed a solid lump, he says this is OK to feed the pigs but i am unsure? And also the puree from cider apples? is this OK to feed them ???
Hello Nat
I would keep away from the solid milk and the puree from cider apples. Neither of them are good for pigs - the puree will be to acidic and give them bad tummies, and its not advisable to give them milk that has gone off either.
Stop feeding the vegetables for three days and just keep the compund to them and lots of water, keep a close eye on them, and if in any doubt about their behaviour get your pig vet to look at them.
Have you just recently changed their compound food?
Julie
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I would agree with both of the above. We fed alot of over ripe apples and the pigs got the runs - when we stopped and fed only pellets the poohs were solid within 48 hours. I think that maybe your are being too loving and generous with the yummy treats! Hope they feel better soon.
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Hi,
Just to give you all an update, apparently i have been to loving with my pigs & over feeding them so have took your advice along with others & cut back on feeding treats, i guess being my first 6 i just want to spoil them!! but i realise i am not doing them any good either, this forum is a God send along with the people on here, thank you once again for all the help & advice. :D
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No worries - as long as you feed them with your 'head' instead of your 'heart' you'll do fine! Its especially tempting to over feed because they appreciate it unlike my 2 children! ;D
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according to my partner i am treating them like my children because i do not have any! he is now saying it would have been alot easier to have brought me a puppy as he did not expect me to get so attached, ::)
:pig:
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Heee heee Tell your other half...
You will always be more attached to the animals than children anyway.
1. They need you more than kids do ( once kids can walk and talk etc)
2. They love you even if you have to tell them off (like when they escape)
3. The animals don't answer back
4. There always happy to see you - unlike kids
5. If they do annoy you and drive you daft you can sell them, eat them, or have them put down ( can't do that with your kids now can you ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Very well said Snoopy - I often feel like putting my children on ebay!
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No you can't do that only GRANNIES sell well on EBAY
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Shame! ;)
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Strange what you say about avoiding apple pulp - on Countryfile a couple of weeks ago, Adam picked up loads of apple pulp form a juice and cider maker to feed to his pigs.
Does anyone else feed apple pulp to their pigs without adverse effects?
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yes i saw that country file aswell. it could be you are over feeding your pigs we had an old pig farmer tell us we were because ours were not eating up in fifteen minutes he said thats how they used to gauge feed if it was all gone not enough if some left too much not sure on how well this practice works but food for thought ??? :pig:
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Generally that is a pretty accurate measure.We often forget how much knowledge was needed in the old traditional methods of farming.Those farmers often managed to feed large areas of the community before industialisation.
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Strange what you say about avoiding apple pulp - on Countryfile a couple of weeks ago, Adam picked up loads of apple pulp form a juice and cider maker to feed to his pigs.
Does anyone else feed apple pulp to their pigs without adverse effects?
I watched that and also wondered. I guess like most things, it's fine in moderation. My pigs get apples and small amounts of pulp when we have made juice or cider. But I would have thought large bins of apple pulp, sitting around for a short time would have started to ferment ? Does Adam have a herd of drunk piggies ?
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not sure about drunk but were very happy pigs :pig:
hi gavo my idea on traditional pigs was to go back to basics and addopt as many old ways of pig keeping as defra allows but it meant talking to as many old farmers as we could they were all more than pleased to give advice and help in anyway they could they were all happy we were interested in old pig farming methods. and all are more than happy to taste the end product.
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That's great more often than not the old ways work very well,even if you do get a few strange looks now and then and get known as the nutty pig farmers.keep enjoying that's the main thing .
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:pig:your right we do get some strange comments but hey i have been called the chicken lady for years so the mad pig lady is fine with me so long as the pigs are happy