[Pocagranja]

Hi, anyone got any good ideas or tools to help catch piglets.?
Our sow is free range & has the piglets outside, (we live in Spain) we have terrible trouble trying to catch the piglets when we want to take them away from her to be fattened up.  They run really fast & squeal like crazy, took us 4 hrs to catch 2 the other day!

Tried tempting them with food & herding them into a corner with pig boards.

[chickenfeed]

we usually take the sow away then deal with the weaners.

[SallyintNorth]

Well, both times I've done it, I've got the piglets used to being fed somewhere away from mum (that mum can't get to) for a few weeks before I wean.  Then in the week or so before, I start shutting them in that area for half an hour, then an hour, then two, after feeding.  Then on weaning day I just don't let them out.

[Fowgill Farm]

Being born and raised outside with minimum human intervention i take it your little beasties have become wild pigs.
They need to be shut in on a regular basis say for feeding that way they don't get suspicious when its moving time, you're in Spain so bit different set up to what most of us have here where our pigs farrow in arks or indoors and are cabined up effectively with their piglets for 7/8wks so piglets get used to 'humans' in and out feeding, mucking out etc whereas your little guys are rampaging in the wide open from day one. its all about training and setting up, pigs generally like routine and once something is done its set in stone that you do it that way, so for next time she farrows make her area more enclosed if you can as it sounds like you're chasing them round a large area which is no good for you and not for them as they'll get stressed. The other thing you could do is move mum and leave them to grow where they are but then they'll stillbe wild when you come to load for the butchers.
HTH
mandy 

[Barrett]

You could try making a pen with some hurdles and feeding them in there for a while, but only use 3 hurdles so they have a escape, so they get used to it, then when required you could put the 4th hurdle on and they will all be enclosed and handle them from there, I had some KK X once and they were like little rugby balls with legs to catch those that is what I had to do.

[HappyHippy]

To physically catch them, your best bet is to wait til they run towards you (after having been forced into a corner) run your hands down their sides and grab one, or both back legs & lift 
The only other suggestion I could come up with would be a very large landing net (know any fishermen ? ) and try to trap them with that - just be very careful that none get hurt 
They'll squeel like banshees, but will soon settle 
But I agree with everyone else - get them into a smaller area from birth so they are more used to the comings and goings and when weaning time comes - move mum out first. 

[FiB]

We had a runaway piglet on day one - It took off and ran a mile up the valley (that near put me off!!!) -  and it took a great many of our valley neighbours and us a good hour to catch it!!  Agree it was like trying to catch a rugby ball on legs - the successful technique in the end was a large old blanket.  As soon as this was brought into theframe it was quick to throw over when it ran past and then easy to scoop up - and the pig soon calmed too.  A real Pig in Blanket!  Good luck with more than 1!

[Sylvia]

My little souls are staying with the group and I'm sure mum will let them know when it's time for weaning. They are already very friendly and will stay to be scratched around the ears and take feed from my hand (they'll be six weeks old on Saturday) I don't envisage any trouble when they eventually "go" as they will already go up into the trailer for their grub.
Maybe the secret is to get them friendly
When I took the last two to the abbatoir the person behind me in the queue behind me said "How can you do that! Treat them like friends and then send them for the chop?" This was because I called them out of the trailer with the call I always use and they followed the bucket(albeit the one to catch their blood) and went with me into the holding pen.
My reply was "How could I not"
Why distance yourself from animals you are going to eat? Or be unkind to them? My pigs have my utmost respect, whilst they're with me and, especially at their last hour.

[Barrett]

85% of my pigs have names so when they go to the abattoir I am calling pigs out by names without any problems I think they think I'm nuts.

[HappyHippy]

My little souls are staying with the group and I'm sure mum will let them know when it's time for weaning. They are already very friendly and will stay to be scratched around the ears and take feed from my hand (they'll be six weeks old on Saturday)

Ah Kunes 
So cute & friendly, but beware of hand feeding too much Sylvia 
We took some for re-homing and while they were lovely, friendly animals and had been spoilt rotten no doubt  But had been in the habbit of getting hand fed as they were very prone to being a bit to quick with the teeth  I suspect they're the same as ponies in that respect - feed from the hand, but risk your fingers 
So hand feeding is fine - providing you show them who's boss, make them wait for it and know that No means no 

[Sylvia]

Mum, Dad and Auntie have to sit and wait (and put up a trotter) I dread to think what I shall be thought of when these piglets go for slaughter and offer a trotter to the slaughterman!

[princesspiggy]

i can only say - feed them in the same place each time and quickly grab em by the back legs while they are eating, if u get that far, grab a front leg too, keeping their back against ur chest. u can then walk a fair way until they are too heavy. we trained all our animals to come running to a bucket rattle. the thing is all species come running at same time!
not an easy task catching piglets! when we got our first geese, their owner caught them with a net too. worth a try.

[robert waddell]

any animal or bird if left outside will go feral           they have to be handled from an early age or used to going in a small space     it is the one spin off from showing that they can be handled with ease and not trying to catch the greasy pig comedy      you get to know them and they know you           one last bit to Cheer you up  if water can get through that gap piglets will as well

[Pocagranja]

Thank you for all your suggestions we will try out some soon.  With reference to petting the piglets & taming them, it is harder for us to do as we are the ones to slaughter them & butcher them.  We don't want to become too attached to them as it will make slaughter day even harder.

[manian]

hi
we petted ours and gave them lots of cuddles. Part of thephilosophy of rearing our own meat is that they have had a good, enjoyable life. we give them all names, and they get extra cuddles etc because their life is shorter

i was worried about taking ours to the slaughter, and yes it is sad.. (usually when you get back in the car, or see the empty paddock ) but knowing they had lots of love helps
Mx