Michael finally finished the pig pen that he has been working on in our barn. We have hesitated for a while on putting the pigs in the barn due to the fact that it is so close to our house. However, there are several reasons that we made the decision to do this. First, the shelter was already provided which meant we did not have to spend any money to make a shelter for the pigs. All we had to do was rearrange the barn and add a gate that we already had on our farm. Second, with winter coming on it is much easier to take care of animals closer to the house. If the pigs had been located far far away, it would have been a challenge to get them water during the winter months. The last time we had pigs the biggest issue during the winter time was the fact that their water always froze. We spent a lot of time thawing out water buckets and giving them fresh water. I am hoping that this will be an easier project with the animals closer to the house and the water hose. Of course the main reason that we didn't want the pigs so close to the house is the odor. The last time we raised pigs we realized that they weren't the nasty smelling things that we had always imagined. However, anything will stink if you don't take care of the "droppings". We will have to be very diligent this time to clean up after them often. (We have 3 strapping young boys that should be able to handle shoveling pig droppings just fine)! We had also wanted to have pigs in a larger pasture, but we just didn't have the time or money to fence off an entire pig pasture. Pigs have a tendency to find a way out of fences that you think are secure. With our last set of pigs, we used electric fence to help contain them. We have never been able to get our electric fences to work here on this farm. Michael even bought a new charger, but to no avail. He has spent a lot of time working on this issue, but in the end we have never resolved it. Maybe next time we get pigs we will have the electric fence up and running and we can put them in a larger grassy area. Now all we have to do is go to pick up the little darlings. We will purchase 2 hogs because they don't like to be alone. Plus it takes 2 to feed our family for an entire year!
grace and peace,
julie
3 comments:
Nifty! How exciting to get to raise your own meat!
We can't wait to have some farm animals... right now we are living vicariously through the independence of others. :)
Geneva
Perhaps you've commented elsewhere, but have you considered deep (carbonaceous) bedding for the hogs? That will absorb the waste as they go, plus in the spring you'll have something for the garden.
I have no experience in the matter, just what I've read online and in books. :-)
Voice in the Wilderness,
I wish you were close enough to come and enjoy the animals with us! Thanks for the support and encouraging words.
Your turn will come too. God is always faithful!!
grace and peace,
julie
haymaker,
we haven't heard anything about that. I am looking forward to doing some research in that area. We were wondering if pig poo could be used for compost, and that will be our next area of research. Thanks for sharing with us.
grace and peace,
julie
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