[Goldcraig]

What to do???
 
We are looking to keep a few pigs for the freezer for the first time and also clear a patch for veggies..
 
Should we;
 
1. Get the pigs now and have them over the winter clearing the land for us. Bearing in mind I cannot bring them in if the weather gets too harsh.
or
2.Dig the Veg beds and fertilise over the winter with some good rotten much and get the pigs in the spring and put them on a different patch to let them enjoy the better ( !!!!) weather...
 
Ha Ha West of Scotland better weather....dreeaaam, dream, dream, dreeeeeam....

[rispainfarm]

Hi Goldcraid

As long as you have a good shelter for them such as an ark, they will be fine in even harsh weather. If you get an insulated ark, they will help keep the weight on too, as the pigs are not subject to flucuating temperatures and if it gets really cold you can always up the feed. As far as the turning over the land for you, be careful if you only have a little, they will not only turn it over but will be swimming in mud. I always think it is better to start in the spring if you have never kept pigs before. Don't underestimate how they can decimate our land especially if you are on peat. But good luck and where are you in the west.

[HappyHippy]

I'd be tempted to wait til the spring, it'll make for a nicer experience - for you and the pigs 

[Bionic]

I am far from an expert, having just sent our first 2 pigs off to the abattoir, but from my little experience I would say wait until the spring.
This summer has been pretty bad and the pigs pen was sooo muddy. I was certainly up to my ankles at times in mud. I would hate for that to be the case in the winter when its also cold and icy and not a pleasure at all.
I am sure you will enjoy them more when the weather is a bit kinder.
Sally

[Beewyched]

Hi Goldcraig 
I'm in agreement with Linda on this - IMHO I would not recommend starting with weaners over the winter, especially if you are just starting out.  If you can provide some decent shelter for them & be prepared to up their feed when it's cold, they should be ok, but it's easier to start-up when the weather's better.
AND the biggest problem I have found is water supplies ie freezing standpipes/hoses/troughs etc - all breeds of pig do drink a lot - so bear that in mind when you're setting-up.  The last couple of winters has seen us ferrying gallons of water from the house, across the yard to outbuildings - not too pleasant with the weather we have up here - we're West Scotland too 
 

[robert waddell]

a good sturdy shelter is a must    they can stand the cold   they can survive the wet but the two together  is a disaster for them       if you have two areas that they can get in     the intended veg area and another one     you could put them in the veg plot first   and when you think it has been turned over enough   let them into the next area   that will expose the veg area to the frost and let it dry out      you can always let them back into it if need be      a quick growing pig will only be with you for 4 months    so that is about January they would be ready   compared to some others that will take longer to get to the same weight
 
as long as cost of feed is not an issue with you will be wanting more pigs after the first are away

[Fowgill Farm]

Given Victorian Farmer's winter forecast i would leave it to spring if you can and spend winter making plans, doing your fencing, making your ark? etc.
Rough dig over your veg patch, fling some muck over it and then let Jack Frost and the worms do their stuff.
If its your first pigs keeping them thro a tough winter wil put you off them for life, i remember my first winter finding me on my hands and knees in the mud & snow bawling my head off with exasperation, frustration and anger at what the weather was throwing at us, it was at that point i made OH sort out the buildings so i could use them for pigs over the next winter. This was seven years ago and now mine come in every December thro to about end of March depending on weather.
HTH
Mandy 

[sabrina]

Why give yourself all that extra work over the winter. Spring is a much better idea. Less Stress

[Beewyched]

...  and now mine come in every December thro to about end of March depending on weather.
HTH
Mandy 

Mine too Mandy - as we rent our holding, we need to make sure they don't make too much of a mess of the ground.
Mind, with the "summer"    we've just had, they've been recreating the Battle of the Somme over this summer too 
 

[SallyintNorth]

I wouldn't be getting young pigs now, Goldcraig.  The wet cold mud creates a lot of work and risk.  Even with a nice warm, dry shelter, they bring the wet cold mud in on their bodies and pretty soon their warm dry straw is also wet and cold and they can get a chill very quickly.   (Ask me how I know  )

I recently got some weaners (they're doing really well Karen  ) but they're that wee bit older - they're 3 months now - plus I have a lovely dry byre they can come into at night and there's enough space for them that they can stay in all day if the weather is really evil.  We've done it this way before with June-born weaners and we know it works - but I wouldn't do it with younger piglets unless I had accommodation I was happy for them to be in all winter.  (My own litter had the bull pen last year, and a big round bale of hay to burrow into - they were so content!  But I wouldn't have wanted those September-born little 'uns to have had to be outside at their size.)

So, as everyone else has said, best wait till spring.  Sorry.

[robert waddell]

good stock manship and care with good facility's   you can have them anytime        don't bother with any of them   and you will get problems       some people have to keep them through the winter   or how else are you going to magically get them in the spring   
 
and if keeping them through the winter is such a task and inconvenience    why bother with pigs
just get some finished ones from somebody that can look after them

[Fowgill Farm]

good stock manship and care with good facility's ......... some people have to keep them through the winter   or how else are you going to magically get them in the spring   
 

Exactly, good stockmanship comes with experience, and good facilitys are needed to get thro winter,...........yes some of us do have to take them thro winter but we have................ good leveles of stockmanship and good facilitys..........so for a beginner i'd still advise to wait until spring and give it a good go then.
mandy 

[Goldcraig]

Appreciate all the advice....
Looks like Spring may be winning by a snout!!!
 
Fully understand that some folks (breeders) do this all year round and that without them, there would be no Spring weaners however, it is not a commercial enterprise for me and I am in a fortunate position where we can pick and choose (to a certain extent) when we keep them.
 
We're in North Ayrshire.....far enough out the way, but close enough if you run out of milk...

[rispainfarm]

At our last place we had winter all the year around, mud mud mud, everyday of the year. It was ardious to say the least

[RaisinHall Tamworths]

Agree I'd wait until Spring for your first go at pigs 
You have to really keen and enjoy pigs to make it through the winter sometimes!  If it is your first go, as Mandy said, it may put you off forever.
 I don't think it matters how good your stockmanship is by the end of of a cold or wet winter you're glad to see the back of it!!!  I hate carting water when its frozen or wading through mud if it's wet, I do it for the love of the pigs but it doesn't stop be complaining!  If I could ship the pigs and us to a sunny place for winter I would certainly do it