Has anyone ever raised pigs?
I am thinking about getting a couple pigs. I have limited experience with horses and cattle, but I want to know if I'm getting in over my head with pigs.
What advise can ya'll give me?
What advise can ya'll give me?
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Problem is with any animal you raise to slaughter, your kids will get attached to them, and they may end up being yard art rather than in your freezer. 0 -
No matter how good your fence is, if they want out, they will get out.The price of feed now is so you really cant save raising them instead of going a buying a slaughter size pig. 0 -
Move to Lasalle parish in Louisiana!! It is open range in that parish and all you have to do is mark your porkers (slits in ears, sort of like western brands)and turn em loose to fatten up in the swamps. Don't cost you much to raise em, just throw out a little corn now and then to keep them comming round.
Now this was a few years ago but it may still be the same. If you run over a pig in the road, you just bought it, since the pig has the right of way. When I went overseas from there, I gave an uncle about 50 head since I would be gone. Tom0 -
I've heard that it is one way to get rid of a body, if you have to. [;)] 0 -
..bad idea! If you need a whole pig to roast, go to your local pig farmer, he'll be more than happy to sell you one of his...then the fun begins...[;)] 
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Don't listen to decon 2, just go get yourself a couple, they make good pets.[:D] Besides, it'll be a life altering, learning experience. [:o)] 0 -
Most of the post are correct.
However you won't save any $ unless you slaughter yourself.
A group of us country boy's slaughter 10-12 every year. Two full days not counting making the lard or curing .0 -
The meat dept of our local Food Lion grocery store sells whole pigs for BBQs etc. At least a week's warning is requested. 0 -
I know I really would rather do steers but the way my property is laid out I really don't have enuff roaming room for them. I have 3 acers but it is odd shaped with a long strip that goes back about 900 feet off the main open spot of the property. That is why I thought of pigs, as I have this pen that used to be a dog run that does not get used anymore.
I'll kick it around some. But I would like to get some more animals around here.0 -
Hey, give it a try, what's the worst that can happen. It only takes about four months max to raise a "feeder" pig to market weight and it doesn't cost much to get the feed from a grain mill to feed a couple of them. You won't be out much, or for very long.
Keep track of your own costs and decide for yourself whether you wish to do it again. If you got a couple fairly soon, you could have them ready for July 4th and have a pig roast of your own.[:)]0 -
ring their nose to keep'em from rootin,
Use Hog wire panels and use a hot wire to keep'em from pushing the wire and no bigger pen than you have you should be able to find a small unit made for pets and gardens
Check with your local grocers and see if can get their old produce and the local bakery to get their day old /out of date products
There's lots of things you can do to raise pigs cheap, IF you are raising them for yourself.
What is the favored hog down your way ?
Also down your way when they butcher do they scald and scrape or skin'em out?0 -
quote:Originally posted by dlrjj
Hey, give it a try, what's the worst that can happen. It only takes about four months max to raise a "feeder" pig to market weight and it doesn't cost much to get the feed from a grain mill to feed a couple of them. You won't be out much, or for very long.
Keep track of your own costs and decide for yourself whether you wish to do it again. If you got a couple fairly soon, you could have them ready for July 4th and have a pig roast of your own.[:)]
I actually want one pig for something I have been kinda planning but have not announced on the forum yet.
I was thinking this summer of inviting GB forum members out for some shooting and BBQ. I will have my shooting range all finished and thought it might be fun to have a GB get-together for those in the area or willing to come out this way. I will also have a big bon fire pit built and a keg of beer.
Just a thought of something to do durring the summer.[:D]0 -
There for a minute I thought you were going to say you were going to raise them to do some "Elmer Keith" tests with some of your artillery 0 -
quote:Originally posted by dpmule
ring their nose to keep'em from rootin,
Use Hog wire panels and use a hot wire to keep'em from pushing the wire and no bigger pen than you have you should be able to find a small unit made for pets and gardens
Check with your local grocers and see if can get their old produce and the local bakery to get their day old /out of date products
There's lots of things you can do to raise pigs cheap, IF you are raising them for yourself.
What is the favored hog down your way ?
Not really sure. This is something that I just recently thought about and have not done alot of checking yet. I will talk to my nieghbor too as he raises a number of farm animals (although he has no pigs) and may have some insight for me.0 -
I think you've got enough people in your area to have a pretty good outing and BBQ come summer. Good Luck. If I can help you with some more information, feel free to e-mail.[:)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by git_r_done
quote:Originally posted by dpmule
ring their nose to keep'em from rootin,
Use Hog wire panels and use a hot wire to keep'em from pushing the wire and no bigger pen than you have you should be able to find a small unit made for pets and gardens
Check with your local grocers and see if can get their old produce and the local bakery to get their day old /out of date products
There's lots of things you can do to raise pigs cheap, IF you are raising them for yourself.
What is the favored hog down your way ?
Not really sure. This is something that I just recently thought about and have not done alot of checking yet. I will talk to my nieghbor too as he raises a number of farm animals (although he has no pigs) and may have some insight for me.
Hampshire, Yorkshire, or Landrace always seemed to be some of the calmest to raise around here. The Duroc group could be harder to hold in pens for some reason, but were fairly hardy.0 -
I worked part time for a hog farm in high school and we use to feed them paunch ,which is undigested food in a cow's stomach. They seemed to love it , also cows blood was used. They got it from the local meat packing plant. The blood was kind of scary to use because they loved that stuff. Had another kid cut his hand in the sow's pen and they pulled him down and was trying to eat him.He was pretty roughed up but survived. I think pigs would eat fooey if you threw it over the fence[:D]...Bull[8D] 0 -
Been to a couple farms where i'm not sure if the farmers were raising the pigs or the pigs were raising the farmers.... if you know what I mean.[;)][;)] 0 -
The only pig farmer I know is one of the most patient men I've ever met with a jaded wry sense of humor. Says the pigs made him that way, also says he loses money raising them, but, does it as a hobby, contributing a pig or so to charity events yearly as well as having the big party now and then. Fun guy to talk with.
Don't forget that everything is edible except the squeal.0 -
I saw Deliverance, I know what you want those pigs for. Have a cousin who is a DVM that spent years in charge of contract pig farming for Wayne feeds. He still consults (in the mid-west). There are a lot of medical problems associated with large scale pig farming that you are unlikly to see with a couple of barn yard pigs. There are piles of books around on pork raising and husbandry. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by spryor
quote:Originally posted by tapwater
...Had them for FFA through high school and a couple years after. Ran a feed mill for a few years. What do you need to know? I used woven wire fence, with one hot wire on the inside, 12" off the ground.
Never too much fence for em from what I hear. Major pains, and
smell bad.
pigs don't smell bad, chickens smell bad.0
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