The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Hogwarts on May 14, 2020, 01:48:38 pm
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What are peoples opinions on wallows? I've got some new piglets in my paddock and there all white and getting a little sunburn do you think a wallow is therefore a necessity for me? There is some shade in the corners and they have their ark but not as much as I would like. My previous batch built a small wallow but its all dried up now, should I fill it with water? Or are wallows more about temp regulation than allaying sunburn?
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Under the new pig welfare guidelines you should protect against sunburn. The easiest way is a wallow. Just add water to the old wallow and they will do the rest. It is about temp control too as pigs very susceptible to overheating.
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Under the new pig welfare guidelines you should protect against sunburn. The easiest way is a wallow. Just add water to the old wallow and they will do the rest. It is about temp control too as pigs very susceptible to overheating.
This 100% , they will love you for it too
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Hi ,wallows are pretty much essential in hot weather for pigs . Cools them down since they have no sweat glands and doubles as a mud spa for wifey????????
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Maybe it's my age, but it took me ages to work out that Jonah's strange uploaded picture was simply upside down !! :D
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Maybe it's my age, but it took me ages to work out that Jonah's strange uploaded picture was simply upside down !! :D
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Definitely my age ...picked a picture posted it and it ‘twas upsideydowny! Sorry never quite got past decimalisation. Modern technology.. Not a hope :roflanim:
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I didn't even see the photo and I'm not even old :D but I have fixed the problem as its great seeing pigs wallow
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Hi ,wallows are pretty much essential in hot weather for pigs . Cools them down since they have no sweat glands and doubles as a mud spa for wifey????????
Not just cooling, the mud on their skin acts as a sunblock and helps them not get sunburnt quite so much.
Serious welfare issue. Pigs need wallows in hot weather. And fresh drinking water besides. (They will pee in their wallow and they won't drink soiled water. Muddy yes, no worries. Peed or pooped in, no.)
When we get a drought period we have a rota for 3-times-a-day checks to top up the pigs' wallows and drinkers.
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Wallows are essential but a word of caution if i may. If you have a farrowing sow (especially older sows) that are due to farrow in the next few days or have just farrowed, then be very vigilant for mastitis.