HEALTH
The one rule of thumb to remember when
raising pigs is that if they go off their feed, there is a real problem. One that needs to be addressed immediately. A hog's primary goal in life
is to eat. If they stop doing that, start asking questions.
FENCING
You will not be able to hold a hog in
with goat wire, or barbed wire. Our pigs are on pasture, and the fencing
is goat wire, but, there is a single strand of electric fence inside the
perimeter of the goat wire, and that is what they respect. Generally after
they touch the wire once, they will not risk touching it again, which
makes it a very effective fencing element as even if the power goes off,
they will still assume that the wire is hot and stay away from it. Never
make gates out of electric fencing if you ever hope to have the pig cross
through that gate. It ain't gonna happen. They don't forget. If you want
to build a simple small pen to hold one hog, bear in mind that pigs can
root under and go over and break through things you wouldn't expect them
to be able to . Particularly a boar who gets wind of a sow in heat, or a
sow that is seeking a boar. If you use wood, use two by sixes at least, if
you use hog or cattle panels, make sure they are attached to posts that
are deep in the ground and staple them very well. Top to bottom. Above
all, use common sense. Do not surround a pig pen with metal panels or
plywood. They cannot get air to cool them off in the summer. Your pen is
only as good as the effort and construction that you put into it. Ask
yourself, would I be able to make myself comfortable living in the
elements in that pen? Generally a contented animal will not have a reason
to break out. Also don't pen them in with any trees that you care to
keep, as eventually they will de bark it and root it up and the tree is
no more.
WATER
Pigs need a constant supply of fresh
water and the best method I have found is to install a water nipple. Make
sure that all plumbing other then the nipple is outside the pen as they
will root up buried plumbing in a heart beat. Using tubs is not effective
as they will tip it to lay in the mud. Unless you plan to be on hand
to fill the tub two or three times a day, don't use tubs.
FINALLY...
Have a plan. If you buy a small pig to
raise and put in the freezer, and are not prepared to slaughter this
animal, start making arrangements early to find a butcher who will handle
the task. If you cannot transport the animal, make sure that the butcher
is prepared to collect it and take it to be butchered. Many times, in
rural areas, the local high school will have a meat department where the
kids learn about slaughtering and butchering and it is highly cost
effective to do it this way, but generally you will have to bring the
animal to them. Be kind to the animal. Take care of it and feed it well,
always keeping in mind your goal. Otherwise you will end up with a five
hundred pound pet named Porky and still no meat in your freezer.
