Author Topic: Mixed breed weaners swap for lambs/kidds or xmas goose! (Read 5846 times)

littlemisspiggy! · « **on:** July 27, 2011, 07:39:36 am »

lovely weaners ready mid august for sale at £40 each or would swap to match value for xmas goose/geese or/and a couple more lambs or goat kidds for meat not pets!...notts area,happy to travel within reason.x.

stitch366 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2011, 04:43:33 pm »

Hi Little Miss Piggy

Have you still got some weaners for sale? We are looking for 2 (3 at a push) gilts. First time for pig keeping for us and we were hoping to get OSB's but really struggling in our area (derbyshire)

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2011, 10:06:42 pm »

Hello stitch366.

You don't say whether these are weaners to fatten or gilts to breed. If the former, then for your first pigs especially, breed isn't the most important thing - you can always get a different breed next time!

But if you were wanting gilts because you want to breed, then maybe it is worth trying hard to get the breed you want. I am sure you'll already have looked into the stock for sale on the OSB website, but it might be worth ringing some of the breeders in your area to see if / when they'd have some registered gilts available. http://www.oxfordsandypigs.co.uk/breeders/

I chose OSB too; Meg is lovely - and now in pig herself. (We ate the other one, she'd have been a nightmare with piglets.) I'm glad I hung out for my first choice, although I do wish I had known about registration beforehand. (Meg is pure bred but not registered as the breeder had mixed up three litters before I called to say I wanted a couple for breeding, so she couldn't then register them - and I was too impatient to wait for the next litter.)

Best of luck finding weaners - you'll have great fun with them, whatever you end up getting!

Sally
x

stitch366 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2011, 01:43:59 pm »

Hi Sally

Many thanks for the reply. We are wanting the gilts to fatten. We chose the OSB after alot of research as they seem to be a good duel purpose breed, not prone to laying down alot of fat, are a nice temperant and they look absolutely gorgeous!!

Yes I have trawled all through the OSB website and the only ones we can find, nearish to us, will not have any weaners ready until well into next spring.

We are hoping that all the fencing will be done and a home ready for them, by end of August at the latest, maybe even earlier, and really wanted to get a couple to grow on for Christmas. I particularly wanted a duel purpose breed as I am going to try my hand at smoking and curing bacon and also at making sausages as well as wanting somw lovely joints of pork over Christmas.

Do you think it is worthwhile posting a wanted on the forum, for some weaners that will be 8 weeks mid to end of August in the Derbyshire area?? As I said in my first post I am knew to the forums etc so not really sure what is best.

In the long term I would certainly like to start bredding OSB's, once we have more experience/confidence etc.

Daft question but did you hire a Boar for Meg or do you have one?? Again, this is all knew to us and we would certainly welcome any first hand advice as there is only so many books you can read on the subject!!

Many thanks Linda

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2011, 12:38:51 am »

Hi Linda

It certainly can't do any harm to post a WANTED ad in Marketplace, you just might turn up a local or localish suitable pair.

I suspect that most people will tell you that 'their' breed is as dual purpose as any other - I'd be interested to know what your researches have said about the strengths and weaknesses of the various breeds.

One thing I have picked up listening to the folks on here is that it's all too easy to get young (or any) pigs over-fat - some folks go from baby pellets to sow rolls and don't use a grower pellet with a traditional breed. When you're ready, post a question and see what advice people offer.

Not a daft question at all (as we often say on here, the only daft thing would be to not ask it!) No we don't have a boar, we decided to try AI and see if we could get it to work - and if not would have had to hire or borrow a boar, or take Meg to one. I messed up the AI good and proper the first time (despite brilliant advice from the folks on here - it's just not the same until you actually do it yourself!) but hit lucky the second. Although... BH is certain it had worked the first time because I can get Meg to stand for me any time at all as long as I rub her tummy just the way she likes it! If he's right, she'll farrow at the end of the month; if I am right it'll be around 22nd Sept. I have to say, her tummy is getting bigger and fuller by the day ...

Have fun and good luck
Sally x

littlemisspiggy! · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2011, 04:23:46 pm »

3 lovely spotty gilts sold to stitch366 last night...collecting when their fence is done!

stitch366 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2011, 11:14:41 am »

Hi Little Miss Piggie

Really nice meeting you on Friday evening, what a fantastic set up you have there and it was great to be able to pick your brains. Came away with loads of tips and also got details of a good slaughterhouse not too far away. Cant wait to come and collect our girls!! Fingers crossed that the fencing gets done tomorrow. Pig ark ordered and should be here in the next few days, just sorting out troughs/feed etc now.

Got 6 new chickens yesterday which brings our total collection of chickens to 23!!

SallyintNorth - thanks for the advice!! Good Luck with Meg, will be interesting to see who was right with the farrowing date!!