Post by Amanda on Feb 8, 2013 12:41:36 GMT -5
Going to get piggies tomorrow! I'm so excited. We are driving 3 hrs to get them, a long way, but I don't care. (hubby was a little difficult to convince but the puppy dog face came through again!) They are about 9-10 weeks old. Should I worry about traveling with them for such a long distance? If so, what should I do to try to keep from having a sick pig when we get home?
Found on craigslist. Here's a pic. I'm pretty sure the one with the white face on the end there is the girl that he's saving for me. (the description he gave me over the phone matches it anyway) And the cut male that I'm getting also has the white stripe on his face and white snout. Aren't they cute?!!
They are a red wattle and hereford cross, which from what I've read sounds like a good choice for a homestead style farm. I'm completely knew to this and have been trying to sift through the boards when I can to get info, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. We are going to put them in a temporary pin, which will be pretty good size, but I would like to transition them to the pasture. My problem is that we have pasture on our side (smaller) and that's where the barn is and where I keep my milk cow and any small calves we have at the time. I don't want to put them across the road where I can't keep a good eye on them, at least not at first. I plan on seeing how things go and learning most things as I go, and I'm sure pasture arrangements will work themselves out before they get real big and bored in the small area we have planned. I'm also thinking I will go out and let them out into the pasture and hopefully get them trained on the electric fence. I've heard that they really respect the electric, but it seems like most people still use the hog wire around the outside as well. Is that just to keep out other animals, or is is likely that they will escape with the electric fence alone. I've also heard contrasting stories about the cows and pigs together, so I'm thinking I should be careful with that. To begin with, I'm sure I will have to worry more about the pigs being chased away by Millie than the pigs attacking her. Anyway, I'm rambling...just thinking thinking thinking about getting my little piggies tomorrow and what fun it's going to be!
They will also be a valentines present for me and my daughter. She doesn't know yet, so it will be a surprise for her. She actually wants a bunny, but I'm hoping she will be happy with a pig instead! Something that can give back to the family. :-) I've decided they will both be ours...don't want one of us to end up with the cut male which will be in the freezer this time next year. I'm wanting to have little piggies with the gilt as well when she gets old enough.
So many piggy plans!!! Oh yeah...Farm Fever here!!
Please give any advice on food, shelter, training, fencing, health concerns, the red wattle x hereford breed, the best way to keep a mud puddle, when you don't have a natural mud puddle (I thought about using a tractor tire like the tire watering systems but filling with mud instead of drinking water...just don't know how difficult it would be to keep it wet.), and anything else you can think of! I am looking forward to hearing all of your inputs.
With all this excitement and leaving early enough to get there by 7am, looks like I won't be getting ANY sleep tonight! lol!
I will have to post pics once we are home and chaos settles down.
~Amanda
Found on craigslist. Here's a pic. I'm pretty sure the one with the white face on the end there is the girl that he's saving for me. (the description he gave me over the phone matches it anyway) And the cut male that I'm getting also has the white stripe on his face and white snout. Aren't they cute?!!
They are a red wattle and hereford cross, which from what I've read sounds like a good choice for a homestead style farm. I'm completely knew to this and have been trying to sift through the boards when I can to get info, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. We are going to put them in a temporary pin, which will be pretty good size, but I would like to transition them to the pasture. My problem is that we have pasture on our side (smaller) and that's where the barn is and where I keep my milk cow and any small calves we have at the time. I don't want to put them across the road where I can't keep a good eye on them, at least not at first. I plan on seeing how things go and learning most things as I go, and I'm sure pasture arrangements will work themselves out before they get real big and bored in the small area we have planned. I'm also thinking I will go out and let them out into the pasture and hopefully get them trained on the electric fence. I've heard that they really respect the electric, but it seems like most people still use the hog wire around the outside as well. Is that just to keep out other animals, or is is likely that they will escape with the electric fence alone. I've also heard contrasting stories about the cows and pigs together, so I'm thinking I should be careful with that. To begin with, I'm sure I will have to worry more about the pigs being chased away by Millie than the pigs attacking her. Anyway, I'm rambling...just thinking thinking thinking about getting my little piggies tomorrow and what fun it's going to be!
They will also be a valentines present for me and my daughter. She doesn't know yet, so it will be a surprise for her. She actually wants a bunny, but I'm hoping she will be happy with a pig instead! Something that can give back to the family. :-) I've decided they will both be ours...don't want one of us to end up with the cut male which will be in the freezer this time next year. I'm wanting to have little piggies with the gilt as well when she gets old enough.
So many piggy plans!!! Oh yeah...Farm Fever here!!
Please give any advice on food, shelter, training, fencing, health concerns, the red wattle x hereford breed, the best way to keep a mud puddle, when you don't have a natural mud puddle (I thought about using a tractor tire like the tire watering systems but filling with mud instead of drinking water...just don't know how difficult it would be to keep it wet.), and anything else you can think of! I am looking forward to hearing all of your inputs.
With all this excitement and leaving early enough to get there by 7am, looks like I won't be getting ANY sleep tonight! lol!
I will have to post pics once we are home and chaos settles down.
~Amanda