[Geeza]

Hi

I am about to register as a small holder. We live in a mid terrace house with a long enclosed garden. I have a brick built she size Front 12ft wide Side7 ft deep 7 ft high.

I can easily remove the front 12ft wide or part of if required (suggestions please) on to the front of this we have a sturdy metal mesh fence 12 ft wide 16ft deep enclosure that fastens to the shed. The run is on grass. The question is this: - Given this area 12ft x 16ft outdoor and 12ft x 7ft indoor will this be suitable to keep pigs and chicks together. There will be a Childs shed aprox 5ft x 5ft with perches and boxes in so secure and warn (this can be indoors or out) and something built for pigs indoors.

Have I enough room?? Will all be happy??

We want 2 breeding pigs so young go to table at earliest
12 ish chicks for eggs and eating.... can this be done to provide table birds and good layers constantly??
NB we can NOT have a cock neighbors will go mad

Any advice info etc will be appreciated LOTS
We are going to but within next few weeks

NB a big thing too is I would dearly like all to be Organic fed....
What is classed as Organic and what is the guide lines on what and what not can be fed

Thanks again

[woollyval]

No you do not have enough room to keep pigs!!!
Not even Kunes would be happy there as it will get very shi1tty and you will have disease and smell problems and your neighbours will not appreciate you!!!

However...........you do have enough room to have a great time keeping chickens and you could keep a few to lay eggs and a few for the pot.

Hens and pigs kept together can also cause a few problems....pigs are omnivores and very partial to eggs not  to mention the odd chicken

Sorry to be negative about pigs.............can you ask around to see if there is a possibility of renting a little ground to put your pig enterprise on?

[Hilarysmum]

I would have to agree with Woolly Shepherd, to keep a couple of pigs for fattening in such a small area would be cruel.  No way would you be able to keep breeding stock in such a small area. 

Chickens would be very happy given such an area.  Perhaps you could divide the outdoor run into two so that half can be rested.

[Crofter]

I agree. You do not have room for pigs.  They would be miserable in such a small space and your neighbours would hate you. 

Dave

[BillyBerridge]

Sorry to have more negative feedback, but i have to agree with the previous two post's.


If you were to keep pigs in such a small area,  pretty quickley you would find that the fun of keeping pigs had disopeared. Pigs love to dig, they can turn over an emense amount of soil in no time at all. The place would either become a quad mire of barran in just a few weeks.

Sows/Gilts can/will become moody and protective when they are due to farrow, the likely hood would be that one of the pair would farrow first and not allow the other anywhere near, leaving the expectent mother high and dry with nowhere to give birth. You may also have to deal with the stress of fighting pig's never a plesant expierence - let me tell you!  

With regards to fattening pigs - think it would also be an unpratical arrangement, firstly as mentioned by others pigs are partial to eggs and if they come across some they will scoff them! This would open up another can of worms, Its is illegal to feed pigs eggs and there would be a very slim chance of contaminating their meat.

You defiately have enough space for chucks however!

Its also worth baring in mind that you can rent land fairly cheaply and that is anavenue that is always worth exploring. On that front if you do decide to rent some land i reccomend starting with a couple of porkers for the freezer before having ago at breeding. Breeding pigs and keeping breeding stock can be challenging and a certain level of knowledge, confidence and expierence is a must!

Where abouts are you based? your welcome to visit us in nottingham for adivice any time!

BB

[Geeza]

OK thanks for that

What if we were just to keep one Pig for fattening from a piglet?? Is that feasible

Thanks

How many chicks in that area?

Will the house be better indoors or outdoors?

Would you take the whole of the front wall out to be open plan??

What feed to keep them organic??

Thanks in advance

[Crofter]

Geeza, PLEASE do not keep one pig. They are sociable animals and need company of their own kind!  Find some land locally if you want to try pigs.

Dave

[BillyBerridge]

I agree with Crofter, it would be inhumane to keep a pig on it's own. There's a saying that goes: Dogs look up to you, Cats look down on you, Pigs are equal. Try to imagine the pyhcological effects it would have on you being locked in a confined space with only chickens for company!

I think for the pig to be raised organically (and dont quote me on this) It has to bed fed a diet of no less than 80% organic feed. I.e feed that has come from an organically certified background. The animal is not to be treated with anything other than natural medcines. no wormers, chemical formulated drugs etc.

That said that would only permit you to know it to be organic, i believe for the meat to be offcially 'organic' you have to have the soil accociation
certified status.

Not sure how many chickens you could have - there not my thing i'm afraid. It always pays to start with just a few with any animal though.

BB

[DavidnChris]

I've just put 2 four month old pigs on an area three times the size of yours, they are my first pigs, believe me when I say that in about 1 yes one hour they decimated the area they are the worlds best diggers. I have 1.75 acres and I realised straight away I should have made their area bigger.
You need more space.

[sausagesandcash]

Still laughing Dave. I put two weaners into an are much larger than Geeza is suggesting. In one week it was like the Somme. When I put them in it was really overgrown, with turnips, brussel sprouts and spuds still in the ground. They decimated it and devoured all, except the turnips. I'm moving them to fresh pasture in two days, and will continue to rotate them as they turn grass to muck. I'm afraid Geeza won't have a 'The Good Life' experience in such a small area. Chooks, no problem, but i've got to agree with everyone else, it's just not suitable for pigs. Keeping one pig would be cruel, but I respect the fact that Geeza had the 'stones' to come here and look for advice. It shows that his intentions are good and he has the animals welfare at heart. Hope you get some land Geeza for your future pig endeavours.

Best wishes,

Morgan 

[pigsatlesrues]

I am going to jump in here and add my sentiments that in your present situation pigs are definitely a no no. It would not be practical and would not be humane.

Without sounding condescending Geeza, I really urge you to do some research on both pigs and chooks.  There is a lot of really good information on here that can give you a good incite into both pig keeping and keeping chickens.  You sound very enthusiastic and that is  great, but ultimately you are talking about taking responsibility for living breathing animals, and it is not a responsibility to be taken lightly.  Is it possible for you to visit a smallholding where they keep pigs and chickens?  This might give you a better understanding of both of their needs.   Also there are some very good websites on the net - The Pig Site being one, pigsinfrance another.  Just Google caring for pigs, starting with pigs, there will be loads of info available.

If you go the route of renting land somewhere, then you have to consider the costs involved to provide adequate fencing and housing and security.  If you have Houdini pigs that want to escape you will be in trouble if you are not there on the spot.  There is a lot of thought and preparation involved.

Another option might be to take the route of buying a couple of weaner's, or even one, and let the breeder raise them/it for you with their other pigs.  If you can find someone nearby, you could get involved with feeding and cleaning duties, and really get to know your pig/s,  thus still having the experience. Or, team up with someone with more land, and buy and raise them between you.

There could be a way if you consider some other options, but in your situation, it just couldn't work with pigs.

What ever you decide, it is really important to learn as much about the caring side of the animal.  Their wants and needs, their habits, medical needs, social groups, feed, housing, bedding, to name but a few.  Once you have done your research, you will get a better understanding of why the contributors on your posting advise against your plan.

Good luck and please keep us up to date with what you decide.

Kate 

[sausagesandcash]

Have a look at this site Geeza http://www.emmaspigs.co.uk/OwnAPig.shtml The family will raise your pig for you, keep you updated, and your family gets top quality pork at the end. Don't know how far their farm is from you though....i'm sure there must be more 'own a pig' schemes out there though.

Morgan

[BillyBerridge]

Well said Kate,

Another good place to start is the book advertised at the bottom of this page "Starting with pigs" It's a great little book ideal for people interested in keeping pigs.

BB

[Geeza]

 Thanks for the advice. You are correct I will never do anything without research first and I have explained to my son and shown him the posts here. He is a little peed but understands (we are animal lovers). So here is an interesting on then. At the rear of my house there are two fields that are derelict with hoses on one side and general tip junk on the other in places but all overgrown for years. I know that these used to be allotments as my father owned 3 my grandfather owned 3 my uncle owned 2 and it was a Sunday morning community. I am going to be insisting that they be returned to allotments. I need someone to complain to can you point me in the right direction.

YOU GOT IT I WANT A COUPLE OF PLOTS DIRECTLY OFF THE BACK OF MY GARDEN.  Hmm an urban garden scheme sounds good?? LOL seriously if anyone can point me in the right direction

I live in the west mids near to Walsall

Thanks

[doganjo]

Hi Geeza (I nearly wrote Gazza  )
I have read all of this with a great deal of interest.  I admire you greatly for accepting all the advice on here.  And although only having poultry and dogs and cats, I would agree that it would be cruel to keep just one, and in fact any on such a small area.  The allotments sound a grand idea, so I would definitely pursue that - I have  no idea who you should contact, but  possibly a start would be your local Council, but I wouldn't go down the route of complaints.  Try a more positive approach first - tell them you want to go down the route of self sufficiency in the light of the current economic climate, without actually divulging your plans on pigs to begin with  (you might have neighbour problems, some people might think they'd be smelly).  You could mention the chickens and perhaps vegetables.  If they were allotments before there is a strong chance there are covenants on them that mean they can't be built on so a smallholding might well be welcomed, especially if you'd be tidying up the area and making it look nice.  A few flowers, fruit bushes, fruit trees would encourage support for your intentions.
Whatever you decide, keep us updated, we are all behind you on here.  I have never kept pigs, although prior to moving down to Central Scotland my friend and I considered Kune's, they are slightly smaller and friendly.  If I'd stayed there we'd have gone down the organic avenue if we could.
Annie