The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Daisys Mum on April 22, 2012, 10:02:57 pm

Title: Mixing Weaners
Post by: Daisys Mum on April 22, 2012, 10:02:57 pm

I had 4 osb boar weaners booked from a local breeder but unfortunately now she only has 3 so has offered me 2 saddlebacks from a friend nearby. These are also boars and all 5 will be 8 weeks old when I collect them on Saturday, can I take a chance and put them all together or should I seperate them.
I only have 1 pig ark so obviously it would be easier if they could all run together otherwise I will make something up out of pallets and straw bales.
I know that I tried to mix older gilts once and that was a big no no, fortunately no one got hurt as the intruders just ran through the electric fence.

Title: Re: Mixing Weaners
Post by: robert waddell on April 22, 2012, 10:08:05 pm

they can be mixed but have a big area for them to run away from each other they will settle eventually feed in a long line that way they are not fighting to much then       there should not be to much difference size wise :farmer:

Title: Re: Mixing Weaners
Post by: Daisys Mum on April 22, 2012, 10:10:02 pm

Thanks Robert they will have a big area  so hopefully all will be okay.

Title: Re: Mixing Weaners
Post by: HappyHippy on April 23, 2012, 12:58:07 am

Something I do which seems to help speed the process up a bit is to spray them all with spmething strong smelling (a drop of TCP on the back of their necks or a squirt of body spray does at a push  ;)) this way they all smell the same which (in theory) helps them to accept each other more easily. Got to add though, I've never done it with boars, only gilts and sows - but it's worth a shot anyway and won't do any harm  ;)
Karen  :wave:

Title: Re: Mixing Weaners
Post by: Tamsaddle on April 23, 2012, 09:21:36 am

One strange thing I've noticed every time I've put pigs together who haven't seen each other for a while is that on Night 1, the dominant pig/pigs sleep in the ark and won't allow the underdogs (pigs) to come in.   By Night 2 all differences are forgotten, and everyone sleeps in the ark together without any further problem.   So just hope that on Night 1 it is not pouring with rain/snow!   Tamsaddle

Title: Re: Mixing Weaners
Post by: Daisys Mum on April 30, 2012, 09:40:04 pm

Happy to say that there were no problems, they took a little while to even notice each other as they have so much room. All 5 slept in the ark the first night, osbs in one corner and saddlebacks in another, this morning it was just a pile of pigs all lying together, doing as suggested and putting feed in a long line so no fighting there either.
Will post some pictures when this fog clears enough to get some decent ones.
Oh and Robert got my feed from East Coast Viners, very impressed by the service.

Title: Re: Mixing Weaners
Post by: robert waddell on April 30, 2012, 10:18:47 pm

 :thumbsup: :farmer: