[sallyw]

Hello!

Our pig pen is a total mud bath! I know, its inevitable. It is however slightly out of hand as the soil is clay so could be dangerous to little pigs in particular. We have just had a pine tree taken down and the wood chipped.

Would it be a daft to put the chippings in the pen so they mulch and improve the drainage. I know pine chippings can be toxic to plants but would they harm pigs? There wont be any animals in the area until May so they will have rotted a little by then.
Apologies if i am being a twit but better to ask.

Many thanks as ever,

Sal

[Hilarysmum]

No real experience of pine chippings, however OH often cuts down pine in the pig paddocks, and have never had any problems.  They do eat the roots of the pine but never the bark, needles or cones.  The youngstock do play with the odd pine branch to no ill avail.  HM

[gavo]

Hello,

We often use dried baled shavings for bedding. This is from pine and has had no ill effects in the 5 years or so we've been using it.

Cheers

Gavin

[sallyw]

Thank you, I will get the wheel barrow out and give it a go. I think it will rot down pretty quickly as everywhere is so wet after the snow.
Can't wait to get the new pigs - its has been very empty up in the fieldover the winter.

Sal