[mangalitzamaria]

I need some advice please from anyone! My poor Mangalitzas are flooded today they are swimming in liquid mud their arks are so bogged down I can't lift them even with tractor and fork lifts.
I have nowhere left to move them  does anybody know of any outbuildings that would be available to rent short term near Mells Somerset.
Is there anything I can put down in the paddocks to try and soak up some of the liquid??
Any suggestions very welcome.
Thank you

[lachlanandmarcus]

wood pellets (the type used for pellet boilers or horse bedding) might be useful - they expand hugely - you can get them from agricultural stores or if you order a pallet load (cheaper per bag as you might want a fair number) Liverpool Wood Pellets seem to be the keenest priced national firm. The advantage of he wood pellets is the sawdust will just rot down eventually.

[mangalitzamaria]

Thank you I'll get onto it straight away.

[lachlanandmarcus]

if you find the pigs (like some horses!) initially mistake them for food pellets then spraying them with a weak solution of water and dettol normally does the trick (and helps to kick start the expansion) :-)))). Or maybe temp electric off the area for a few hours until the pellets are all swelled up, they wont be appetising then and no risk of swelling inside piggie.

[mangalitzamaria]

Hi thanks for that but its going to work out so, so expensive to lay a 1/4 acre paddock. I'm waiting to hear back from a local farmer to see if I can move them to one of his outbuildings temporarily as I can't bear to see them wading about.
We've tried to get the Arks up onto pallets this afternoon so at least they have somewhere dry to sleep.
 

[woollyval]

1/4 acre for 3 adult mangas is not big enough!!! Are they pets or intended breeding pigs?.....or are they destinrd for the freezer? You need to move them somewhere and quickly! Put an ad in local post office/shops etc....but if all else fails you will need to do some thinking

[mangalitzamaria]

Hi
Thank you for your comments. Each Managalitza has over a 1/4 acre each the paddock that is flooded is occupied by Trueman my boar which I need assistance with as we have had so much rain it's not draining quickly enough. The other paddocks are not as bad but if the rain persists it will get worse and I'm trying to act now!
The pigs are not for slaughter they are my friends and are very well looked after and I'm trying to do my best for them in wretched and prolonged bad weather. So have no fear I will find a solution.

[woollyval]

Phew.....mind you 3/4 between 3 big pigs is not a huge amount either! What about investing in a second hand field shelter or stable block and putting it on a bit of concrete?

[The Woodsiders]

Good luck and all the best to finding somewhere drier for your pigs
 

[mangalitzamaria]

That is what I've had in mind but the weather has been so bad the erection of the field shelter for the sheep has only just finished. We were hoping to achieve the completion of the hardstanding pig stys before now.
I cant put the pigs in the sheep shelter as I get them into safety at night as 3 weeks ago today 8 of my dorset horn and poll dorsets where killed in a dog attack while I was out and 4 had to be put to sleep by the vet and another 13 were injured. We're still trying to find out whose dog it was along with the police. So I can't rest at night if I know the sheep are out in the fields!!

[Mrs Snoodles]

Hope you find a solution, very best of luck 

[colliewoman]

On spareground.co.uk there is a listing in Wells (a bit of a way I know) for a fenced 4 acre field, with 2 stables and a walk through barn for £30 a week.
Might be an idea temporarily?

[woollyval]

On spareground.co.uk there is a listing in Wells (a bit of a way I know) for a fenced 4 acre field, with 2 stables and a walk through barn for £30 a week.
Might be an idea temporarily?

That sounds ideal.....

[colliewoman]

I know! I'm tempted to find somewhere in Wells to park up just so I can rent it myself!! Hmmm I wonder if they would let me live in the barn?   (never get away with that in Wells though!)
It's been on there for a while now so I reckon they would be glad to get it used

[mangalitzamaria]

Thank you. I have registered on the website and emailed the advertiser regarding the grazing land. I wait in anticipation although it is a little too far away I'm willing to journey to make sure my pigs are in better conditions.  I'm also waiting to hear back from the local farmer as to whether I can move them to his farm temporarily. So watch this space.
Thanks to all