Keeping Pigs

[sewer rat]

Don't wanna keep chooks but think I might get 3 or 4 weaners next year. Anyone out there experienced in keeping pigs outside. ?

[Stacey Steve]

First of all you are going to have to put up stock fencing to keep the blighters in. I think you will find that you have to have some sort of shelter for them to get out of the elements as well.

They are great though, I used to have a neighbour who had pigs and I used to give him a hand with them at weekends. Beware of boars though, they can be evils sods.

[Snadger]

I'd love to keep a 'Stone age pig' but unfortunately we're only allowed chooks at the allotments, which is more than is allowed at most allotments!

Why not chooks SR? I thought the free range eggs would have went down really well with your boxed veg?

Good luck with the pigs btw and keep us informed how you get on with them!

[Stacey Steve]

When I signed up for my 3 plots, I said to the council officer "OK, I can order in the herd of pigs now", she asked if I was serious, which I said yes. She desparately went through the rules to see if I could keep them but there was nothing to say I couldn't. She looked really worried untill I told her it was just a jolly jape on my part.

They would really ruin the ground though, although on the plus side you would know exactly where your manure was coming from.

[lynda66]

i'd love some pigs, i worked on a pig farm years ago, and we used to teach them to sit and fetch lol ....... ok maybe not a good plan if you're going to eat them, basically think of a fence you need to hold a rhino, and double it .... if theres a slight weak point in a fence, they will find it, they are great fun though.

[sewer rat]

I get my freerange eggs from the farm next door - they have 40,000 free range and woodland chooks, so don't need chooks, but quite fancy the pigs - and they would live on my waste veg and trimmings (though also proper nuts etc.) As far as ruining the ground, I look on it as cultivation / weed control . fertiliser application. I could incorporate the pigs into my crop rotation

[bubblewrap]

Pigs ask Madderbat? She's kept one for years.................................................................................ME!

[Polly Fouracre]

Sewer Rat, we are in the process of fencing our field into quarters with the plan of keeping three or four pigs and half a dozen lambs for fattening as well a good strip of land for veg.
I have plans for a straw house for the pigs if you would like them, warmer(I think) and certainly cheaper than a traditional ark.

[lynda66]

I have plans for a straw house for the pigs if you would like them, warmer(I think) and certainly cheaper than a traditional ark.

but i thought the best piggy house was one of brick, so the wolf doesn't huff and puff them down

[FionaH]

I would love pigs. Havent got the room and Hubby would go spare!

[Alison]

Would love to keep them and did look into renting a field a while ago just for this purpose. OH was even keener than me but we've not done anything about it yet - maybe one day.....

Oh, and somebody has just told me that you can do an online course on pig keeping on the River Cottage site for £20, don't know if it's any good but may be worth investigating.

[Matt.]

Take a look at river cottage forum. They have loads of small hoders contributing and even a pig section I think. All the advice you'll need for keeping and slaughtering. I read it every now and again even though I'm extremely unlikley to ever keep pigs

BUT they there are some people who offer a "grow your pig for you" service. The idea is you pay upfront the cost of a weener, the feed, injections, keeping plus some profit for them and at the end of it you get a slaughtered/butchered pig. Some offer the opportunity to visit and learn about pig keeping and maybe butchering the carcass.

I suppose its a bit of a novelty but at the end of the day you still get a lot of meat for your money and you know how it lived/what was fed etc. I'm trying to get some of our friends interested in buying a leg each...!!

Could be another money spinner for you Sewer Rat?!

[Polly Fouracre]

Take a look at river cottage forum. They have loads of small hoders contributing and even a pig section I think. All the advice you'll need for keeping and slaughtering. I read it every now and again even though I'm extremely unlikley to ever keep pigs

BUT they there are some people who offer a "grow your pig for you" service. The idea is you pay upfront the cost of a weener, the feed, injections, keeping plus some profit for them and at the end of it you get a slaughtered/butchered pig. Some offer the opportunity to visit and learn about pig keeping and maybe butchering the carcass.

I suppose its a bit of a novelty but at the end of the day you still get a lot of meat for your money and you know how it lived/what was fed etc. I'm trying to get some of our friends interested in buying a leg each...!!

Could be another money spinner for you Sewer Rat?!

That sounds like a good idea!!

[OverWyreGrower]

Check outMusings from a Stonehead. He keeps pigs on a croft in Scotland, lots of good information (and they sell weaners too).

We had previously looked at a couple of weaners, but after reading through all the DEFRA regulations etc, decided that it wasn't worth it
As I understand it, you are not supposed to feed them kitchen scraps etc. and there are a whole host of rules and regulations about feeding, transportation, slaughter etc.

Instead, we have "sponsored" a pig and a lamb with some friends, and closer to Christmas, will have half a pig and half a lamb for our freezer....

[Polly Fouracre]

O.W.G. I believe the feeding of kitchen waste is only relevant if you want to sell your pork-though someone else may know differently!
I think that only waste that contains (or, has contained) meat is banned?