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Author Topic: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass  (Read 7303 times)

mamapapapig

  • Joined Jun 2011
kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« on: June 16, 2011, 11:15:22 pm »
our kune kune pigglets are three months old. we have had them a few weeks now and they are in a mixed pasture area. they eat all the broad leaf weeds but they are just digging up the grass. we have moved them  :pig:to prevent them destroying their paddock and we are feeding them a handfull of pig nuts each a day as they seem so hungry.
when will they graze?  :pig: ???

HappyHippy

  • Guest
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2011, 11:48:38 pm »
Sometimes they graze straight away, but more often they'll tend to root a bit when they are young and grow out of it as adults.
I've also heard of Kunes that in one location will root everything up, but when moved to a different holding they graze happily - it would seem that not all grass is the same to Kunes  ::) Mine seem to like quite a bit of clover in their diet. You could try sectioning their area into 2 and rotate them to see if that makes a difference, it'll also let one area re-grow while they are on the other.
Hope that helps,
Karen  :wave:

mamapapapig

  • Joined Jun 2011
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2011, 12:06:39 am »
we have sectioned them off so that we can move them about. they are wonderfull little things to watch too.

Roxy

  • Joined May 2009
  • Peak District
    • festivalcarriages.co.uk
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2011, 12:36:34 am »
A handful of pig nuts does not sound much?  I gave my kune kune piglets a large scoop between them.  They are about 8 months now, and I cannot fill them.  Fruit and veg are what they like.  They have churned up their field, and eaten all the grass, so I pick them a big pile from the lane ,and they love it.

HappyHippy

  • Guest
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2011, 07:49:26 am »
I give mine around 1lb of pig nuts each per day - split into 2 feeds. Agree with Roxy, they'd eat non-stop if they could  ;)
They are great to watch - even better to get in with and give 'em belly rubs. Call me mental but I was rubbing noses/snouts with some of mine yesterday (after I'd given theirs' a quick wipe lol!) and they really love to play with the straw when you fill their arc - that's really entertaining  ;D

thestephens

  • Joined Mar 2011
  • aberdeenshire
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2011, 07:51:30 am »
i would say that they should still be getting their pig nuts (1lb per piglet) our pglets are the same age and they constantly come running with a mouthful of grass, so far so good, no rooting.........YET!

Roxy

  • Joined May 2009
  • Peak District
    • festivalcarriages.co.uk
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2011, 05:48:42 pm »
I do the belly scratching, and talking in a daft voice - passers by on the lane will think I am strange, but never mind;. Never done the kissing them bit yet.  Arrived at work the other day, was there a while, dealt with a man come to fit a blind - passed a mirror, and realised I had numerous bits of straw in my hair, and a black smear on my face - oh dear :)

Beewyched

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • South Wales
    • tunkeyherd.co.uk
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2011, 07:20:06 pm »
I do the belly scratching, and talking in a daft voice - passers by on the lane will think I am strange, but never mind;. Never done the kissing them bit yet.  Arrived at work the other day, was there a while, dealt with a man come to fit a blind - passed a mirror, and realised I had numerous bits of straw in my hair, and a black smear on my face - oh dear :)

Are we supposed to look any different then?  ;) ;D
Tunkey Herd - registered Kune Kune & rare breed poultry - www.tunkeyherdkunekune.com

little blue

  • Joined Jun 2009
  • Derbyshire
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #8 on: June 17, 2011, 10:52:41 pm »
I know that feeling ...  went to work on Wednesday and throughout the day, kept finding more spots of "mud" (could well have been a mud/pig poo compound!)  in different places on my clothes!!
So I remembered why I try and avoid visitig the pigs when I'm "dressed" for work!

My dad has "gardening shirts"  ... I have whole grades of clothes for going to work, going to town, going to my parents' (!) etc, gardening, animal tending, then mucking out!!
Little Blue

Tudful Tamworths

  • Joined Aug 2009
    • Liz's website
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2011, 01:50:09 am »
Could it be that the grass is too long? If it's tall and tough and stalky, it won't be as palatable as young, fresh grass. Put a topper or strimmer over it.
www.lizshankland.com www.biggingerpigs.com
Author of the Haynes Pig Manual, Haynes Smallholding Manual, and the Haynes Sheep Manual. Three times winner of the Tamworth Champion of Champions. Teaching smallholding courses at Kate Humble's farm: www.humblebynature.com

Beewyched

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • South Wales
    • tunkeyherd.co.uk
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #10 on: June 21, 2011, 09:09:57 pm »
I know that feeling ...  went to work on Wednesday and throughout the day, kept finding more spots of "mud" (could well have been a mud/pig poo compound!)  in different places on my clothes!!
So I remembered why I try and avoid visitig the pigs when I'm "dressed" for work!

My dad has "gardening shirts"  ... I have whole grades of clothes for going to work, going to town, going to my parents' (!) etc, gardening, animal tending, then mucking out!!

Thought it was just me  ;D mind the going to work clothes are on a "career break" in the wardrobe & the animal tending ones are getting lots of use at the mo  ;)
Tunkey Herd - registered Kune Kune & rare breed poultry - www.tunkeyherdkunekune.com

little blue

  • Joined Jun 2009
  • Derbyshire
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #11 on: June 21, 2011, 10:11:26 pm »
My o/h wanted some things from the shop earlier ... as I went to the car, I asked him "are there hoof prints on my back?!"  - the little goat kid is still at the climbing stage & I hadn't bothered changing!

Good job the neighbours are used to us, and in several shops in town I'm known as "the goat lady" or the "one with pigs/chickens/animals"  :D
Little Blue

princesspiggy

  • Guest
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2011, 08:44:39 pm »
Thought it was just me  ;D mind the going to work clothes are on a "career break" in the wardrobe & the animal tending ones are getting lots of use at the mo  ;)

is it not quite normal to have a muddy snout mark on ur jeans?
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Beewyched

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • South Wales
    • tunkeyherd.co.uk
Re: kune kune pigglets wont eat grass
« Reply #13 on: June 28, 2011, 09:45:19 pm »
Thought it was just me  ;D mind the going to work clothes are on a "career break" in the wardrobe & the animal tending ones are getting lots of use at the mo  ;)

is it not quite normal to have a muddy snout mark on ur jeans?
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Totally abnormal at the mo not to  ;) ;D
Tunkey Herd - registered Kune Kune & rare breed poultry - www.tunkeyherdkunekune.com

 

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