Raìsing pigs

[encorehunter]

Does anyone here raise pigs? The wife informed me we are going to look at some pigs this weekend. She is wanting two sows and a boar. I have to build a shelter and pen today which shouldn't take more than all day. I'm not worried too much about raising them, but would like any tips if available. We have 35 acres of trees and oak brush, along with 14 goats, way too many chickens, ducks, turkeys and one gourgeous ass. I am hoping to mostly pasture raise them, but the wife brings home a 5 gallon bucket of food scraps from the restaurant daily. The chickens will be mad they don't get them anymore. I have read quite a bit from google, but most is from larger farm settings, not just a few pigs.

[DFBrews]

We never Had boars growing up to dangerous when they got moody artificially inseminated them so we could control when there where going to be litters. They come into heat monthly if I remember right Also you will need farrowing crates so the moms don't crush the babies

supplement the scraps with real feed or else the meat will be soft and without the good firm fat you want

[Dave]

ColoFarmer here raises pigs, or did, and used to sell them by the half or whole hog in the TP.

[Great-Kazoo]

Green Chili on the hoof, yum.. One thing i can say is Do not get in the pen alone when the sows are in heat. If the Boar is with them.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homes....aspx?PageId=1

[encorehunter]

If the boar gets overzealous with me, it will be bacon within a week. I have got the plans bb's of my cold smoker and all the supplies I need to build it. I think I may try and talk her into only a couple sows or a gilt and try it out first. Thanks for the tips.

[PSS]

Just remember hogs like to root. I grew up a decent sized hog farm. We kept our sows on dirt when they didn't have a litter on them and they would turn an area into something that resembles the aftermath of a B52 carpet bombing run.

[JohnTRourke]

We did pigs. Just bought some weaners from leftover show pigs and then raised them to butcher weight. took like 4 to 5 months IIRC. (that's 40lbs to 230lbs)
We didn't try to breed them to start, I'd suggest you not either.

1. pigs are smart. They will get out if you don't build a heck of a shelter. hog panels (not cattle panels BTW), T posts every 4 feet and some people even use hot wire.
2. You can get lots of stuff (feeders, waterers, even hog huts) on craigslist, take a look,they are always on there.
3. If a pig is off it's feed (not eating) it's sick and you better figure it out.
4. pigs are strong as hell (and smart, see #1), make the pens strong.
5. pigs don't sweat, they need some way to keep cool, that's why they lounge around in mud/water. They needs LOTS of cool water.
6. don't name them. trust me on this. it's damn hard if they are named.
7. give them something to do. bowling balls work, pumpkins are hilarious. (they bat it around for a while and then all of a sudden it breaks open "hey, this is food, FOOD" and there it goes)
8. they eat everything. Find a local restaurants that has some stuff that is still good, but not good enough to sell. (bread, etc), keeps your food bill down.

bacon is good.

[MarkCO]

I raised pigs for several years and the above post is good intel.

Also, they will eat your chickens and any other small animals. I would also not start out with a boar. I fed 4 pigs about 40 pounds of restaurant scraps and about 10 pounds of grain when they were in the 200-230 pound range.

[SideShow Bob]

You and your wife need to go and visit someone that is doing this on a small scale. See what it entails and also see if you are ready and can put up with the smell. Pig farming even on a small scale stinks like you can't imagine.

[JohnTRourke]

oh yeah, put the pen downwind and near the neighbors you don't like.

they don't actually need that much space, but yeah, it does stink. they poo a lot.