Author Topic: What do you all use as bedding for pigs outdoors? (Read 4702 times)

Azzdodd · « **on:** January 12, 2015, 11:30:27 pm »

What does everyone use for there pigs outdoors? Mine currently have lots of straw in there ark but the sows seem to be collecting everything the dig up into there 'nest' plastic etc I've been taking this out are they cold? They have a really thick straw bed

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2015, 01:33:41 am »

My sow digs up reshes and takes them in to help her structure her bed, bedroom and wind break. I don't interfere, just give her more straw when she looks like she needs some.

She likes to make a mattress of mostly straw, with high sides (higher than her) made of straw and reshes, a windbreak inside the door ditto, and then a pile of just fresh straw to push her head into.

Her ark has a wooden floor raised off the ground. The metal arc is corroding a bit in places where it joins the floor; she blocks these gaps with trampled soil and reshes. I was clearing some of this out one day and she made it very plain that she'd spent some time doing this and did not appreciate my interference!

She also makes an entrance mat by strewing reshes in front of the door, so that she (and I) can get in and out of the ark without sinking into the mud.

devonlady · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2015, 08:05:26 am »

I agree, give them loads of straw and they will make their own arrangements. As Sally says, any surplus they will fashion into a doormat!

shygirl · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2015, 08:34:25 am »

we had a shaving base and straw on top. enough to sleep under.

Tiva Diva · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2015, 09:51:11 am »

We use straw too, though our sows also carry in bits of wood, bracken, dry grass etc. to decorate their beds. The mangalitzas tend to scorn their arcs unless it's very windy or wet. They carry in mud (deliberately) and seem happiest in a nest of strawy mud, which makes it a bugger to clean out!
We have one bloodline of OSBs who all seize bundles of their straw, cavort joyfully around the pen and then drop it and repeat the performance. Then they complain that there's no straw in their ark

Dan, we need a cavorting/dancing pig icon - mouthful of straw optional!

Azzdodd · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2015, 10:25:38 am »

I'm glad it's not just mine who do this then

just give them some more straw which the weaners are looking for missed grain in

HappyHippy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2015, 05:54:57 pm »

Yup, straw for me too and plenty of it.
We've got a little kunekune sow who likes to feng shui her arc/pen/field

there's always a mouthful or two very deliberately carried and placed - she obviously likes it 'just so' and doesn't like it if you try to put it back. Funnily enough, her offspring do the same thing

sabrina · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2015, 01:16:29 am »

I use straw and sometimes hay if I am waiting for more straw to arrive. Pigs seem to be happy with either and make into a warm bed.

JMB · « **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2015, 07:34:35 pm »

We get through tons of straw because we have one of Happy Hippys Feng-Sui pigs (Brother the pig) who loves to decorate the field. Xxxxxx

Fowgill Farm · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2015, 08:49:40 am »

We have pigs outside in arks and inside in the byres/stables, both have copious amounts of straw (too much according to my OH

)
The pigs in the arks make big high walled nests in the back of the arks and use a layer of straw in the doorway for sunbathing on when the sun puts in an appearance!
The inside pigs tend to gather all the straw in one corner of the byre/stable and again high walls are the order of the day.
My pigs have positively HATED all this very windy weather maybe that's beocoz they're GOS with big floppy ears! just watching the weather now and its looks like they'll all need topping up again this afternoon.

Mandy

Waterside · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2015, 01:50:19 pm »

Straw or hay in arcs and barn, local farmer cuts our fields and we swap our hay for some straw and barley we spout as feed. We also use dead bracken in late winter/spring on the ground.