Diet suggestions for 3 new piglets?

[Deleted]

Hello Everyone,

Well I just got the word that the three pigs that I put a deposit on are ready for pick-up! I am getting 2 males for the freezer, one in the fall and the other in spring, and 1 female that I plan on keeping for a breeding sow. I've been told that they are weaned but still drinking milk.

My goal is to be able to provide an entirely home-grown diet. I have available to me more milk than I know what to do with and also plenty of eggs (I did read that these need to be hard-boiled so I'm ready for that). Unfortunately, the garden is suffering this year due to all of the wet weather so I probably won't be having a lot of surplus from there. However, I don't mind buying bulk carrots or dried split peas or something THIS year if I know that NEXT year I can grow it on farm myself. I just really want to avoid a pre-mixed ration if possible. Oh, and I do plan on feeding kelp free choice... if that's okay. Now I'm doubting myself again...

I've been looking through the other threads but I was hoping for some suggestions that were a bit more specific in their detail than just generalities. When I read that people feed bread to their pigs (for example), I don't know if that means a couple of slices or a couple of loaves! I am probably over-worrying this but this is my first time with pigs and I just want to make sure I don't inadvertently make them miserable or sick.

Also, if you have a source that you would recommend that could help someone like me that wants to do their own ration thing without a CLUE how to start, that would also be greatly appreciated.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to everyone and thank you for any help that you can provide.

[kristi]

Hi! So sorry not to have seen this before. With the long weekend I haven't had much time to get on here...probably the same with a lot of us or you would have heard from several of us by now.

I feed as much naturally as possible, but I'm not opposed to feeding commercial feed to make up the difference. They need lysine (it's in corn) and protein to grow well. This is from what I read and what I have experienced with raising our own. We feed all the extra milk we have, garden "stuff", boiled eggs, cotton seed meal (protein), rice bran (fat), and a commercial pellet.

If you feed bread it's loaves, not slices. They will eat a LOT. You can feed them and go out an hour later and they'll act starved again. However, you can feed them to the point where they're absorbing all the can and they're just pooping out the excess, so you're wasting feed. So...don't over-feed as it's a waste.

I've not been doing the pigs long and you may have someone else tell you not to do something I do. That's ok. I believe what works for some doesn't work for others so no matter what you hear you're going to have to be the judge of how your pigs are doing.

Good luck. And pics are required.

[Deleted]

kristi,

Thank you for your response. After I started this thread I started at the very oldest posts and started reading them, in order, one at a time. It has taken a LONG time and I've only made it about a third of the way though them all, but one thing became very apparent- this topic has been discussed A LOT! So, rather than ask everyone to go to the trouble of re-posting their opinions for the hundreth time, I think I'm going to start a new thread with my proposed diet and have people critique it. I did want to let you know that I appreciated your help though. Loaves of bread, not slices- check!

Stacey