Any one got pigs?

[Aberdeenplotter]

AP- on our previous plot ( council owned) ...back in the mid 90's- one guy had about 4 pigs on his allotment. I think different councils have their own rules on that.

I will look further into this. It may be a registration issue and/or something to do with the stricter rules to do with traceability of food etc following BSE and Foot and Mouth. Watch this space

[super trowel]

I would love one down here too,
Do you think you could keep chickens with them too? Or would the pig just eat them?
Hmmm!

Time to do some research of my own me thinks

[mudpies]

I would love one down here too,
Do you think you could keep chickens with them too? Or would the pig just eat them?
Hmmm!

Time to do some research of my own me thinks

My chickens used to just give the pigs a wide berth, and everyone seemed to get along ok!
You'd have to have at least 2 piggies though, it's not good to keep them on their own. They are intelligent and sociable and love company - sort of the opposite to my teenagers really!.....maybe I could swop the teenagers.....!

[mothhawk]

Pigs can swim

[BarleySugar]

Lovely clear water, no wonder they went for a swim. I couldn't imagine eating them though, and we always reared a pig in the back garden for meat when I was small so I'm not overly sentimental. I suppose you need the right mind set from the start - this is dinner, not a pet.

[RedThorn]

Pigs can swim

Ahh, but can they fly?

[Nicos]

Thinking of 3 now- in case there is a problem with one of them then there won't be one left on its own.


Gosh there's lots of stuff about pig keeping on the internet!

[Nicos]

Ahh, but can they fly?

tsk....only you would come up with that!

[mothhawk]

Ahh, but can they fly?

Anything's possible...

[RedThorn]

touche!

[Hilary B]

Kept pigs for years, 'way back'. If you are planning on a woodland setting, I'd go for tammies (Tamworths), BUT they ARE good at getting where they are not meant to be. We kept 2 tammie sows in an electric-fenced section of garden (actually 2 adjoining minifields, one each) and one of them learned that if she stood close to the electric-fencer unit, and listened for the 'tick', she could rush the fence and get out without the sting.
Tammies also have such personalities that it is even easier to get attached to them than other breeds.
Spots might be a safer bet, because like most 'floppy eared' breeds they are less prone to seek escape routes than the ones with erect ears.
The other thing is that Tammies (and even Tammy crosses) have a distinct (and delicious) flavour as bacon!

[Nicos]

OK- Hilary- thanks for that- very interesting!...our friend whose land it is is very worried about escape artists- outside the electric fencing are acres and acres of unfenced land/ancient woodland - !

Sounds like the Spots would be more suited then?
( not wanting bacon from them- just tender juicy meat)

[winstonwobble]

have you thought about saddlbacks thats what i have and they are really friendly and docile you will never want meat from a butcher again after tasting the meat superb

[Nicos]

Saddlebacks?...tell me more!
Why did you choose them over other breeds?

[mudpies]

We have just had the most amazing roast pork belly....you can't beat 'proper' meat, properly reared.