[pigwig]

HELP How happy are 3 pigs in muck really?
Any suggestions of what to put down to help the Somme conditions in our pig pen.
The weather has been so bad that after 4 weeks we have no grass left....
Usually this situation is months ahead and at least the ground is more solid.
It is harder to feed them clean them out and even go into the pen for interaction.
I am really worried because even if we fence off another area( costly) it will only last 5 minutes
Many thanks for reading

[gavin davies]

i was in the same position a few weeks ago so i put some old concrete slabs down which covered 10 metres x 10 metres so they have something solid to walk on but to be honest they tend to walk around the slabs and rather go in the mud its got really bad here again this week and the allotment is in a bad way but i put a load of straw outside the ark new and old to soak up some of the water just gone up and they are all cuddled up inside out of the rain

[JMB]

We put a concrete base down this year for their arc and somewhere to spread their food on to. We have an electric fence to section off the winter area, although they tended to stay on the concrete alot during the winter.
And I throw the old straw bedding round about the muddy bits.
J xxx

[Berkshire Boy]

My pigs are out all year round and spend a lot of that in mud. You will find it bothers you more than it bothers them. They will be quite happy as long as they have a clean dry bed.

[Mrs Snoodles]

we used a couple of paxton plastic feeders that we just popped in the paddocks, nr fenceline for feeding and then pulled out when finished.  I wouldn't bother giving them a new area if the ground is soft - it will mush in minutes 

[hughesy]

Just make sure your wellies are a snug fit and carry on.

[pigwig]

Thanks for replying..


It is probably because I am on my own whilst my husband is away working that I feel even more responsible for them...... Now I'm over the shock of their living area and as today has been dryer Ive got some perspective.
They have lovely clean bedding and perhaps I shall split another bale by the ark entrance if it rains again tomorrow.
I have a metal trough that they always tip and the smallest pig struggles to share so I am off in search of another feeder...perhaps a belfast sink otherwise some slabs ...they are good strong girls though always trying to rearrange their surroundings.
This is our third lot of pigs and the first 3 we collected lived in what I perceived at the time as awful conditions  and were sickly then thrived on fresh land and grass. That was why I worried but I shall wedge on my wellies and stay calm...the weather will improve ..the weather will improve  the weather will improve............
 
 

[Hassle]

Don't waste a bail, fork out some bedding from inside and then put fresh to replace

[pigwig]

Good point but their  bedding is clean and dry and there is a bale sitting outside getting wet.
Its in the middle of the pen for us to sit in the sun >>>HA>>  as we spend hours watching and scratching them and they jump on and off.... pretty damp by now...
I know what you mean it does seem wasteful.

[Hassle]

Sounds like you know what you're doing, I can't be right all the time 

[Button End Beasts]

For feeding, we use the rubber shallow trugs (often used for horses), one for each pig. Sold in mnay pet shops and horsey places. They are tough and lightweight. Never had a pig trash one yet and they are light enough to pick up and don't get stuck in the mud. Anything heavy just gets completely bogged in in the mud.


If you have a pig not getting its share of food, then just fence off one corner. We use electric fencing for this, works a treat and they soon learn to go to their respective eating stations.

[Berkshire Boy]

I use the trugs made from recycled tyres as well. They are very good have about 30 of them, each pig has its own, makes feeding easier. They are great for the piglets and I use them for water when sows are in farrowing. They are not indestructible though but well worth the money.

[Hassle]

Another vote for trugs, although for me they are back up

[Fowgill Farm]

   for trugs too.
mandy

[hughesy]

We use tyre trugs as water bowls. Wedged inside an old tyre they rarely tip them over.