[rachaelmac]

Hello all. So I moved back to my parent's last year here in Scotland, snap decision - to cut a long story short, I asked my folks to fence off an area of their ground for my two horses. After spending £2,000 on fencing(!!!) I returned to realise that the ground is totally unsuitable for horses, especially as I have a large cob.  The ground has shrubs and is very rooty and rough. I am told pigs would "sort it out". I know NOTHING about pigs and I do not want to buy my own pigs as I know I would get attached and end up looking after them until they die of natural causes - pigs are not pets, right??? I could not send them off to their death - I am one of those weird vegetarians. However.... I could be open to negotiation with anyone who might want to keep the pigs on my ground/loan me some pigs which i could/would take care of until a mutually agreeable time for them to be returned. Is this a ridiculous idea? The ground is just outside of Oban, Argyll. Many thanks 

[HappyHippy]

Pigs can be pets, if you want them to  But when I say pet, I mean as in the same way you'd keep a pet Shetland pony - outside with adequate provision for their needs and welfare 
Kunekune pigs make ideal 'pet' pigs, don't eat anything like as much hard feed as traditional breeds and once mature will usually sustain themselves on grass through the spring/summer, providing they're not breeding.
Check out the British Kunekune pig society for more information.

You might be lucky to find someone who wants to use the ground for their pigs - but most keepers like to have their pigs close at hand to ensure they're being fed correctly and for ease of checking/tending to them (at least twice a day) but hopefully someone close might take you up on your offer.
HTH
Karen

[Cluckinggoodpoultry]

As Happy hippy says pigs can be pets, mine are but they live outside, there are some that take it to the extreme of having them in the house, I'm sure you have seen the programmes on them 


The kune kune's are great but I find if you are wanting to clear ground imo then a larger breed would be better, I have had people come and purchase piglets for this reason. Agree that most pig owners want them close at hand, I fret when Alfie my boar goes away to appease various ladies 


Yes you will get attached to them they are wonderful intelligent animals who interact very well with people, the other alternative you have is to get a farmer to clear it then get it grass seeded, if it is very stony though you would probably have to stone pick, lifting all the stones and boulders etc off the ground and removing them, might be an easier and quicker way to go, especially since you have spent that much on fencing.


Good luck, Kirsten

[waterbuffalofarmer]

No I think it is a good idea, plus you don't then have the trouble of selling them once the ground is ok. I am sure that any pig keepers would be glad to rent land for their pigs. All the best of luck.

[rachaelmac]

Thanks for your replies   Think I will see is I can find any pig owners who might want to send them on a wee holiday to me.  Any takers?? I am happy to look after then full-time for the duration......

[waterbuffalofarmer]

You could of course buy 2 boar weaners and let them clear the ground for you, then you would have a load of good quality pork at the end.