[nutterly_uts]

I've had a look through the pig forum and not spotted a post that answers this so forgive me if there is one.

On another forum  someone posted that if you want to create a new veg patch, especially in a weedy area, it is a good idea to have a couple of weaners to churn and fertilise the ground and to remove a large % of the roots.

Is this a good idea for someone new to pigs? Am more than happy to supplement their feeding as needed but it sounded like a good way to clear space I want and to trial out some pigs before committing to them properly.

What size space would be best for 2-3 weaners? Is there a breed or breeds better suited for this? Is it a completely stupid plan?  I am long off doing this, just wondering if its doable and/or sensible

[Caroline1]

That's exactly what I did with my first pigs (they went a few weeks ago). They did an amazing job clearing/eating the weeds, ploughing up the ground and fertilizing as they went. I got 2 saddlebacks and put them on about 1/4 acre which was more space than they needed really but they cleared pretty much all of it.

[clydesdaleclopper]

I did it and they ended up turning up so many buried seeds that the area is now 80% docks.

[harmony]

Lots of people use pigs for this purpose. All pigs dig. They will still need feeding. It is more a case of rooting to supplement hard feed rather than topping up with feed. You will have a lot of pork from 2/3 pigs so think about what you will do with it. You will have a cleared area for growing, tasty pork but then you will want more pigs!!!

[Caroline1]

Yep I already want more pigs pleased we only did 2 initially so not too over run with meat

[nutterly_uts]

Lots of people use pigs for this purpose. All pigs dig. They will still need feeding. It is more a case of rooting to supplement hard feed rather than topping up with feed. You will have a lot of pork from 2/3 pigs so think about what you will do with it. You will have a cleared area for growing, tasty pork but then you will want more pigs!!!

I've said 2-3 pigs cause I wasn't sure if you can just keep 2 together? I am also unsure of how much of an area they'd need, or can I pick my plot and just use them to clear it?

[Clarebelle]

This is exactly what we did last year. The 1/4 acre veg plot was completely over grown so i fenced it off and stuck two weaners in there. We bought in feed but they supplemented this by eating and digging up the weeds.

This has NOT gotten rid of all the weeds, this year the area is home to vegetables but i need to keep on top of weeding. However, if the pigs hadnt dug it up for me first then doing the work myself would have been impossible without machinery. I would highly recommend this method to get you started.