The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: PK on May 05, 2015, 08:37:27 am
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How often is it advisable to change the bedding in the pig ark? I have had 2 first time weaners for 4 weeks with plenty of hay in their wooden ark. It is dry, looks clean and has no odour. Is there any reason to change it as a matter of routine?
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We're on our third set of weaners now and generally just add a little more straw on top when it looks a bit thin. They seem quite happy and have no problems sleeping in there at various times of the day!
If it all looks clean, dry and smells okay that's a pretty good guide for me and our pig ark is just on the ground in some woods (rather than concrete).
I have come across some who say you should disinfect a pig ark on a monthly basis though! Maybe I've just been lucky so far or perhaps my Tamworths are just very healthy pigs? ;D
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We clean our pigs arks maybe twice a year !
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I bed the ark with straw for the weaners coming and top it up if required; clean it out when they go. They don't toilet in it so it stays clean. If only other species behaved similarly :eyelashes:
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I did the same. Just topped up the straw if started to look thin. They didn't toilet in there and it looked clean. We have just had weaners from 13-26 weeks old.
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Thank you for your replies. Just needed reassurance that I was not missing something. When I went into the ark myself this morning after a night of rain it was very cosy.
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A good doormat of straw outside the ark will keep the mud out (hopefully)
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When I went into the ark myself this morning after a night of rain it was very cosy.
I used to climb in on a frosty morning, nice and cosy with the boys,and as Devonlady says "Doormat".Just gave fresh straw with new batch and topped it up as needed, pigs are quite good at house keeping :)
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Personally I would stick to good quality clean Straw as bedding, obviously change when required. The problem with using hay as bedding is that it a) it's more expensive, b) it compresses much more than straw and so a lot more will be needed and c) if it gets wet or damp it can quickly go mouldy and there is a possibility of the pigs inhaling the mould spores and developing respiratory problems. :)
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Provided the growers don't dung inside if the weather's bad I just keep the straw topped up until they go for slaughter. Breeding stock is cleaned out as needed or hair and skin debris tends to build up in the corners. I don't suppose they mind it, but I do!