[aluetkids]

Hello,

My name is Alue and it is a pleasure to meet you all. ~big group hug~ I have 40 acres i would love to do something with so I'm on here looking for advice. From what I have read so far this community seems well versed as well as nice to those who need the help(which sadly, is hard to find occasionally).

I'm considering pretty much every animal type I have been told about. I'm a little uneasy about owning pigs though. I have several children running around and I've been told some horror stories from relatives. I'd like for the animals i get to be educational and maybe have the kids help out as much as possible...so any thoughts are welcome.

Glad to get to know you all!!!!
Alue T.

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome.

Re pigs; most animals have the potential to be dangerous to small humans but well brought up pigs and well brought up humans seem to get along just fine. And pigs are so interesting and intelligent to keep, yoo. Lots of folk with lots of pigkeeping experience on here.

[Wizard]

Welcome Alue I am wondering what horror stories about pigs we had 5 lads and we always had 2 pigs until we left the farm I was a child and youth bought up on a farm and can recall no one having any bother Getting out running in a neighbours and ploughing the lawn yes but nothing a bit of grovelling wouldn't put right

[JulieS]

Hello and welcome from Devon 

What horror stories have you heard about pigs?  Maybe we can put your mind at rest about them.......Pigs are fantastic. We have a lot of children visiting and staying and they love them too.

[Hilarysmum]

Pigs can be very dangerous when it comes to the furniture .....

[Hilarysmum]

MY OH wanted to make the comment that any animal can be dangerous if not treated correctly -   

[Fleecewife]

Hello and welcome Alue, from Scotland.    How about Jacob sheep?  The breeders group in America is widespread and supportive and your children could show them in the 4H classes.  They are stunning animals, look good in your pastures and for those not fit to show - well, they taste lovely too 

[aluetkids]

lol glad to meet you all horror stories include the neighbors pig trying to eat my mother's leg when she tried to pet it....I will defiantly look into Jacob Sheep fleecewife...thanks for all the responses!!!

[Sandy]

Hi from Clackmannan central Scotland.....lot's of space to play with so what about some rare breed of sheep or goat!!! I only have chickens and 2 Ducks!!

[Hilarysmum]

Honestly, most pigs are very gentle its very unusual for a pig to attempt to bite.  Try GOS or any other lop eared type pigs available in your area, I am positive you will be very pleasantly surprised at how gentle they are.

[pottsie]

Welcome from Windmill, County Durham, really jealous youve got so much land, i have tried quite a few different animals already including pigs and they have all been great fun the girls love them (goats were harder than all the rest) i think i would put in an orchard, that would be great for fruit and later your pigs could run around eating what falls.

Rob. 

[Hilarysmum]

       and felling the trees to eat what doesnt fall....

[gingerninja]

Hi Alue and family welcome from sunny cornwall , uk , ear - marking some of your land to grow food for your new extended family would be a good idea - then at least you know that you dont have to spend out too much in the winter - although showing my ignorance , i'm not really sure what a winter would look like in your neck of the woods.

[hexhammeasure]

hello alue, lucky you on the land. we (wifey and me) are planning to move to texas in 8 years and buy around 50 acres which I was planning to put a big shed in the middle and split the surrounding land into 4 then each year  rotate with :-

1 - pigs to turn over the land
2 - chickens to scratch the land down and level it off roughly
3 vegpatch and beet feeds for winter feeding the pigs
4 grass paddock resting to grow a cut for hay

[Cinderhills]

Welcome.  I'm a newbie too.  How about goats?  They have fabulous personalities.  They must have shelter though as they hate the rain.