[Small Plot Big Ideas]

I had planned to wait until spring next year before we get any weaners but I'm getting impatient and right now I can't see any reason why we shouldn't get a couple at some point in the next month or two.
With my lack of experience I thought it worth asking here if anyone had any good reasons for me to be patient a little longer and wait until early next year?


Obviously they will make a right mess of their patch but we have around 1 acre+ of woods which is already well fenced into 3 or 4 separate areas so they could be moved from section to section through the winter. Surely by taking this approach the ground will recover from their attentions fairly quickly over time?


I would probably get 2 (or maybe 3?) Tamworths as I had a "pig day" at Yearle Tamworths last year which was extremely informative (and very enjoyable too). We already have an old corrugated pig ark that was left by the previous owners of our house so we're not completely unprepared!


I may not be quite as ready for dealing with the paperwork but at least we already have a CPH number

[Bionic]

I would say don't get weaners for the first time that you need to over winter. If you do get them now then they will be gone again before the bad weather sets in.
I am on my second set, 3 OSB's last year and now 2 GOS and have found both lots fairly easy to keep. A good water supply is essential, although that can be by watering can if thats what you are prepared to do, and somewhere nice and cosy for them to cuddle up with plenty of straw. Mine don't have access to much fruit and veg although they enjoy it when they do have it, but seem to get on fine with sow and weaner nuts.

[Foobar]

If you can find some that you can finish before Xmas then go for it, but like Bionic said, I wouldn't bother with over-wintering.  Alternatively, wait until spring.

[Beewyched]

Hi Richard 
I don't have a huge amount of experience with "big pigs", but I'm pretty sure that if you get a couple of weaners now, then they would be ready by Christmas (so avoiding keeping them through most of the bad weather).
Looks like you've done most of the groundwork - attending a pig keeping course etc & have ready made housing & a decent area to keep them in    To be honest, raising a couple of weaners is a good start - it's when you get down to breeding the more intricate stuff starts     
You'll need to register with eaml for movements etc & contact your local AH for your Herd Number once you've got your weaners, scource a reliable (& hopefully cheap) feed supplier & ensure you have a way of ensuring they have a constant water supply.  If the breeder has (& should really) wormed them, then you shouldn't need to deal with any meds.  Make sure you will have suitable transport to take them to the abattoir when the time comes - what you need to do about booking them in, tagging etc.  Oh, & that you have access to a vet that treats pigs, as many of them don't, just in case 
I would advise going to a breeder rather than a Mart for you first purchases - as you can see the welfare condition of the sow etc & you have a contact for aftercare advice & support.
As for the breed - everyone has there own "favourites" - if you can afford to buy from a registered rare breed it'll support the continuation of the scarce lines, but if not there are some great cross-breed that make marvellous sausage & bacon.
Sorry, I've been good so far ... but, I've got to put a word in for the wee guys     ... I would recommend consideration of Kunekunes for a 1st timer - very docile & easy to handle, hardy, very cheap to feed (compared to most breeds), don't cause as much damage to the ground as "big pigs" - by scale of size (don't ever believe that they don't dig) BUT they probably wouldn't reach meat weight by Christmas if you get weaners. 
Whatever you go for - let us know how you get on 
 

[Beewyched]

Sorry folks    - you both posted while I was still rambling 

[Bodger]

Get them now. I've done butchering pigs in the summer when there are loads of flys around and its not good.

[Bionic]

Unless I am wrong I suspect the intention here is to send them to the abattoir, in which case the flies while butchering won't be a problem.
 

[Hassle]

Getting weaners now means that they will go in October / November, so hopefully before the big freeze so your land should be ok. Depends on if it is light and free draining or heavy clay?

As you are aware Tamworths will 'gently' plough the ground for you and wading through mud wont be the best fun so you want them to go before it gets really bad.

Getting the date close to end of November beware of the Christmas though most butchers are focused on turkeys and you will end up either with lazy cuts or having to take them through Christmas.

Apart from that have fun

[Small Plot Big Ideas]

Beewyched, thanks for the good information. I had my heart set on Tamworths because Sarah at Yearle Tamworths did such a good job of convincing me last year. However I might consider Kunekune especially as I beleive they are more likely to "graze" the grass rather than "churn up" the ground!

Bionic, you are quite right in that they would go to an abbatoir as I don't think we'll be brave enough to take on the butchering as well, at least not the first time around anyway!

Hassle, that's a good point about the dates which I hadn't considered. I suppose it wouldn't be the end of the world if we kept them through until early January but it would be best to make sure I had them booked in somewhere well in advance!

[Beewyched]

Beewyched, thanks for the good information. I had my heart set on Tamworths because Sarah at Yearle Tamworths did such a good job of convincing me last year. However I might consider Kunekune especially as I beleive they are more likely to "graze" the grass rather than "churn up" the ground!

They will Richard, trust me -they can make a field look like it's from the Battle of the Somme just as good as any breed -  it's just that it's proportionately less because of their size! 
 

[Fowgill Farm]

Hi
Just down the road from you south of M'bro.
 
As the others have said getting weaners now would mean butchering mid Octoberish which is generally a bit quieter. We send our porkers at 22-24wks so based on this you would be able to book them in with your butcher provisonally when you get them as babies.
 
As the others say Tammies will root like buggery and you may find them boisterous for a first go at pig keeping, they are alovely breed but for a first timer i'd be tempted to go for one of the big dangly eared breeds as they're a bit dopier (sorry my babies GOS ) so long as you can check them twice a day, make sure they have a wallow and good supply of drinking water, you should be ok. Make sure your fencing is up to scratch any pig given half a sniff will escape at will, they're clever little divils! And when its hot you may find the need to shade your metal ark think oven!
 
Other than that go for it. If you need more info there are laods of good books and you've already been on a good course at Yearle, have a look under pig management section on the GOS website www.gospbc.org.uk
all the best
Mandy

[Small Plot Big Ideas]

...Tammies will root like buggery ....

thanks - I'm trying not to let this bit worry me but if I'm honest I think you might be right! Of course there is always one way of finding out - it might just be the hard way though!


Luckily the patch I have in mind is well established wood land and I think some previous owners had pigs (possibly Berkshires?) on it about 13-14 years ago

[Bodger]

Unless I am wrong I suspect the intention here is to send them to the abattoir, in which case the flies while butchering won't be a problem.

Eh hum. Even if the intention isn't to butcher the pigs at home, believe you me, they still have flys in abbatoirs.

[Tudful Tamworths]

Go for it now, if you're able to - and well done on choosing Tamworths. They have an undeserved reputation for being "boistrous" as someone said. I've had lots of different breeds and found others much more difficult to manage - particularly OSBs and GOS.


Tamworths were my first breed, and I'br stuck with them, but tried others alongside them as a comparison. They're extremely intelligent and inquisitive and have far more personality. Just try not to get too attached - have two boar pigs to start off, because you'll know you can't keep them forever.


Good luck, and please message me if you need any advice.
Liz

[RaisinHall Tamworths]

Go for it now, if you're able to - and well done on choosing Tamworths. They have an undeserved reputation for being "boistrous" as someone said. I've had lots of different breeds and found others much more difficult to manage - particularly OSBs and GOS.


Tamworths were my first breed, and I'br stuck with them, but tried others alongside them as a comparison. They're extremely intelligent and inquisitive and have far more personality. Just try not to get too attached - have two boar pigs to start off, because you'll know you can't keep them forever.


Good luck, and please message me if you need any advice.

Liz

Agree
Dont let the reputation that goes before Tamworths put you off.  They are a lovely breed and yes they will root a lot but they are always busy and great to sit and watch  .
Nothing against  OSB's but the one we had was a nightmare and actually really nasty if not in pig so she managed to put me off the breed completely! I wont tar them all with the same brush though because no experience other than her!