Author Topic: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?  (Read 18590 times)

shygirl

  • Joined May 2013
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #30 on: February 26, 2014, 05:08:16 pm »
i suppose it depends on individuals and breed too, my tamworths were sharper than my gos, but then one of my tammies in particular was very laid back.

P6te

  • Joined Jan 2012
  • South Derbyshire
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #31 on: February 27, 2014, 08:32:12 pm »
Here is a photograph of the run that Lucky and her piglets are in. As you can see a quick escape from the ark area isn't easy!! (left run far ark) .... with a mud bath to navigate by the gate.
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Tamsaddle

  • Joined May 2011
  • Hampshire, near Portsmouth
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #32 on: February 28, 2014, 08:06:13 am »
Very impressed with your beautiful fencing, no wonder a quick escape route is impossible.  Mine never looked that sturdy.    We used stock fencing without any extra lines of wire at the top so we could just step over easily, and never had any of our pigs trying to do the same.     One possible solution that might just work:  cut a piglet sized hole neatly out of the stock wire at the bottom, positioning it somewhere near the two arks, bend the cut ends back.   You give Lucky a selection of slow treats mixed in hay on the far side of the sheds/hole, then when she is fully occupied looking for them and happily munching, see if you can tempt the piglets you want through the hole with, say, grapes or a few nuts.   Temporarily, you cover the hole with a plank of wood from fence post to fence post, lots of bits of rope/string handy to tie it in place.   Permanently, the hole can be safely repaired from any future escapes by using a larger piece of stock wire over it, and wiring every horizontal and vertical strand around it tightly together.  Obviously you need at least two people, one on each side of the fence, and ideally a third taking captured piglets to wherever the vet is working.




     

hughesy

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Anglesey
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #33 on: February 28, 2014, 11:00:30 am »
If you cut the wires in a properly tensioned fence you'll screw up the whole stretch.

Tamsaddle

  • Joined May 2011
  • Hampshire, near Portsmouth
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #34 on: February 28, 2014, 11:26:21 am »
Agreed if you cut the whole way through.   Only feasible with a small hole.   If you cut no more than 3 horizontal strands, avoiding the top and the bottom strands to keep the tension intact, I have found it very easy to tension up the gap again by tightly wiring up 2 or more squares all round the hole with the replacement piece.

P6te

  • Joined Jan 2012
  • South Derbyshire
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #35 on: February 28, 2014, 12:40:29 pm »
Thank you both for your suggestions .... on this one Hughesy is correct. The fencing is professionally tensioned and all strands are in tension alike. It is tensioned to the point that at the moment I can and do use the strands as a step ladder (due to mud at the entrance) and that is the regular way in and out of the run (adjacent to the ark). Normally the automatic water troughs near the entrance are in use but to avoid the need for Lucky to drag herself through the mud we have provided a tyre water container that we refill near the ark where she is fed.
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P6te

  • Joined Jan 2012
  • South Derbyshire
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #36 on: March 04, 2014, 09:16:10 pm »
Well, today was the day the boars were due to be castrated but over the weekend as we looked at them we decided that although they were just within the regulations (21 day limit) for castration on the smallholding they were too big for us to be comfortable putting them through it and we cancelled the appointment. They are really good solid chunky piglets.
So, we will now have to separate them at the suitable time but more to the point we won't be keeping one as we planned. When out next litter is due we will get things properly organised and hopefully all will go to plan then.
Of the 3 boars, one (or possibly 2) have good markings and conformation so if anyone is looking for a boar to keep for breeding then please message me.  I'd really only be happy letting all 3 boars go together unless someone already has suitably aged companion.
Thank you to all who offered help on this subject.
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Plan for tomorrow

Tamsaddle

  • Joined May 2011
  • Hampshire, near Portsmouth
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #37 on: March 05, 2014, 08:19:44 am »
I was wondering how it had gone, but sure you made the right decision cancelling at their age.   It always amazes me the incredible speed they put on weight and size in the first 3-4 weeks.   If you ever need to castrate in the future doing it before they are 6 days old is ideal, and you can also learn how to do it yourself once you've been taught how - not difficult or gruesome at all.    They are incredibly cute in the video you've posted, look really happy and energetic - lucky mum, lucky piglets - hope you find them a good new home! 

P6te

  • Joined Jan 2012
  • South Derbyshire
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #38 on: March 05, 2014, 12:12:52 pm »
Thanks Tamsaddle,
Next time I'll make sure they are done early but on this occasion for a variety of reasons it didn't work out that way.
Regarding the 3 boars, I'm happy to keep them but if someone is on the lookout for good breading stock I'll part company as per my earlier post.
Pete
Live for today
Plan for tomorrow

shygirl

  • Joined May 2013
Re: 3 Boars to be castrated ... suggestions to seperate them?
« Reply #39 on: March 05, 2014, 01:00:54 pm »
its all experience. once you start breeding then you suddenly appreciate a barn with stalls and solid doors and walls.
we managed breeding pigs with outdoor sties and stables but it was tricky and on our wish list on the new place is plenty of barns, byres etc even if it means we can only afford a tiny cottage.

btw your place looks really lovely.  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

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