Hi
I have finally tracked down a fencer and my new pig fields are now ready to be trashed
I have 4 pigs - 3KKs who are 4 months old and a six year old Tamworth sow. I hope that I can keep them together and they have been next door to each other for about 6 weeks. They do however have a solid fence between them at the moment but can see each other when the KKs stand up at the fence.
One KK jumped the fence the other week at feeding time and went straight into Matilda's bucket with no reaction from Matilda
But after she had finished feeding she got fed up of the wee one and gave her a good couple of head buts and the pinned her down - a bit like my older dog does to the younger ones when she has had enough. She did no damage to the KK who then jumped back into her own area!
Now there are 2 7'x5' arks in the field and both will be filled with straw so no pressure for them to sleep together and I have a line of electric posts up between the arks incase of trouble - no tape on them but will have tape on stand by. Will spray them all with something smelly and of course it will be neutral ground for all.
I did wonder if putting a line of tape on the posts dividing the two arks that would be high enough to let the KKs through but not Matilda would be a good idea, so if she is giving them a hard time they can escape. Or should I put a fence between them for a couple of days then take the fence down, so they can see each other better before actually being in together.
Matilda is a very laid back pig but I know there will be a bit of putting the wee ones in their place, but how bad can that get before I get worried about it? I am such a softie that the first squeal and I will be in a panic
and I know they have to sort it out but I certainly do not want any of them to get hurt.
And lastly I hope to move them in the morning so I can monitor the situation all day and would it be better to do it before their feed (they will need to be hungry to follow the bucket!) then as the area is grassy I was going to spread the food over a good sized area so they have to look for it and no squabbles over buckets
All help as always is greatly appreciated
Pauline
ps once I get them sorted out I am getting Saddleback weaners at the end of the week!