[HAWK]

Hello all
I am new to this forum so please be gentle with me!
We will be buying a 30 acre place before the end of this summer, but I like to prepare myself in advance.
I have lived on a working farm & a small holding in the past, in this case though we are considering keeping pigs, not many, just a couple at any one time for meat.
We would also like to bring on free range meat chickens......I have never kept pigs before & have only ever kept poultry for the eggs, just with the occasional 'extra' cockerel going in the pot, now because of this I know just how little meat there is on a free range bird of the wrong breed meat wise.
Most of the 25 acre field is going to be for horses, one of which is mine, there is a 5 acre field which could be set up for rotating pigs rooting pens of a really decent size.
Any advise would be welcome while we prepare our thoughts & ideas.........I have never kept any animal without finding out about them first.
Hazel

[jameslindsay]

Hi Hazel. good luck with your plans.

[HAWK]

Thank you very much & pleased to meet you.
Hazel

[Sandy]

Hello, not really a land owner but do keep chickens and a pair of Ducks, 30 acres will keep you busy, my only advice is get some nice wellies and enjoy owning some land!!!

[HappyHippy]

Hello and welcome from me in South Lanarkshire 
I can't give a lot of advice on the chickens as, like you, only have them for eggs at present - but I believe hubbards are a good choice.
For your pigs - you'll need your CPH holding number and a herd number before you start. Have a look on SEERAD's website and contact your local animal health office for the herd number - the property may have a CPH number already if it's not part of a larger holding that's being sold. If you can get yourself on a pig keeping course that would be a good start, but there aren't too many this side of the border. Alternatively a couple of good books on pig keeping (I like Starting with pigs by Andy Case) a friendly local pig keeper and this forum will keep you on the straight and narrow. 5 acres gives plenty of room  for weaners, fattening for the freezer you don't want to give them too much room (it'll take longer to get them to weight) half an acre is more than enough for 3-4 I'd reckon. You'll need good fencing with a strand of barbed wire around the bottom or for moveable fences (good when you're rotating) two strands of electric tape at about 8 and 20 inches from the ground should contain them (notice I say should, have a read through the old posts about escaping pigs!) A shelter or arc - if you're only raising them Spring - Autumn (which for weaners is ideal, avoid keeping them over winter with all the rain we get up here - it's not fun trailing out to them twice a day in the mud!) a temporary affair made from bales of hay would suffice or you can invest in a more permanent arc.
If there's anything else you need to know just ask away, we're just outside Lesmahagow and have a couple of Kune kunes, you're welcome to visit and see my piggies and get a feel for them, cup of tea waiting - just pm me if you fancy it.
Karen x

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome. Seems a pity not to use it to produce more food rather than just horses, but that's just my opinion.

[little blue]

hello and welcome   

[Daisys Mum]

Hi and welcome from The Borders, I have 3 Oxford Sandy and Blacks just now they will be going for meat around the end of November, the area that they are in will then be harrowed, rolled and seeded for the next batch next spring. This is the 3rd batch that I have had on the same area and it is amazing how well it recovers. If you are only going to have a couple at a time I would suggest definately have them spring/summer, they seem to do less damage to the ground then. We have 4 horses here as well as 6 shetland ewes with their lambs, about 30 hens 11 ducks and 6 turkeys. Turkeys are destined for the table at christmas. As you are devoting so much land for horses are you going to be doing liveries?
I did think about it before we got all the other animals but decided that I did not have the patience to deal with demanding horse owners 

[Hilarysmum]

Hi welcome,  as for advice re pigs:  Pour yourself a very large glass of wine, sit in front of the computer and read the whole of the pig section on this site.  I doubt you will be left with many unanswered questions.  Enjoy.

[Sandy]

Hi from Clackmannan, love pigs but only eat them not grow them!!!!

[Rosemary]

I did think about it before we got all the other animals but decided that I did not have the patience to deal with demanding horse owners 

When I first bought my horse, he was at a yard owned by a former dairy farmer who was just starting doing livery, because he wanted something with less hassle than dairy farming. He sure picked the wrong enterprise. 

[JulieS]

Hello and welcome from Devon 

[Pony-n-trap]

Welcome from Aberdeenshire!

If you are used to liveries, even of the grass livery type I'm sure you will cope with the horses, its just the owners can as said previously get a bit demanding, not enough grass, too much grass, whether your fencing is adequate and whether you have any stables for emergency box rest etc.  I would give horses a go if I had the land but I am aware of the issues that come with the owners,  I have 4 of my own but am very contented being away from the politics of a livery yard.

We have chickens and ducks, all young and not laying yet, any extra cockerels or drakes will go in the pot eventually.

We have 9 ewes (lost one the other week), 18 lambs at foot and 6 orphans now weaned and in the field.

Pigs are on the list for next year.

Good Luck with your move and your plans for your smallholding, it'll be great fun!