The Family Hog (Page 3 of 5)
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By Dave15:
Thanks for the update. Started some 20#ers a few weeks ago, and you can about WATCH them grow! Going to hold back and try AI'ing a pair of gilts come spring. How're you keeping the little ones? Inside or a mix of inside/outside? I'm seriously considering getting a breeding sow or two. Let me know if you'd accept visitors when you get around to AI'ing some gilts.  They're outside, but sheltered from the wind, and have plenty of straw to burrow down in. Doing fine, and it's been COLD, at least for here. I got about 1,000' of FREE 6' chain link a few years back, so am fencing in sections about 25'X75' with a hot wire inside.Plan on rotating sections every 6-12 months, to let them till and fertlize future garden patches, Took down a 20X40 building for someone and used some of the wood and siding to make a little pig hut. (noticing a trend: I'm CHEAP! Scored over 500# of out of date dog food (more to come) and it's the base of my feed-18% protein.And did I mention FREE!) As far as the AI, my wife has done dogs, cows,etc, so I'm leaving that up to her. There are vides available as well. Ask for them in your local Blockbusters!
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I have to say, it was this post that make me break down and join. I have been looking at Chickens and hogs for my two main animal stocks. Rabbits where my second choice over hogs but I just love pork and I can smoke it for long term storage as well. I was a little worried about the feed side as I would have to stock grain aside from my long term stock for my family.
Your setup looks great so far. I think they might root up some of your fence as they get bigger. Plus when they put their back lets into it, they can push over just about anything. |
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Originally Posted By y3k:
I have to say, it was this post that make me break down and join. I have been looking at Chickens and hogs for my two main animal stocks. Rabbits where my second choice over hogs but I just love pork and I can smoke it for long term storage as well. I was a little worried about the feed side as I would have to stock grain aside from my long term stock for my family. Your setup looks great so far. I think they might root up some of your fence as they get bigger. Plus when they put their back lets into it, they can push over just about anything. Welcome. 
They might root up the fence, but I don't think they will. They have great respect for that hot wire. They have grounded it out a few times though.....mostly by pushing their mineral block under the wire. As you said, they are amazingly, phenomenally strong. |
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Ok, we ate our first of the ham from the last set
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
It was soooo good and I don't usually like ham I was the hit of the christmas party. (it was our ham) Ok, 2nd set are set for a date with destiny first week in Jan, I think this time I want to use finisher feed. When I should I start? 2 weeks before end? 3 weeks? 4 weeks? |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Ok, we ate our first of the ham from the last set OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was soooo good and I don't usually like ham I was the hit of the christmas party. (it was our ham) Ok, 2nd set are set for a date with destiny first week in Jan, I think this time I want to use finisher feed. When I should I start? 2 weeks before end? 3 weeks? 4 weeks? I'm still dithering on whether I should switch to finisher. Why are you doing it? Product fattier than you would've liked? Other reason? |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By y3k:
I have to say, it was this post that make me break down and join. I have been looking at Chickens and hogs for my two main animal stocks. Rabbits where my second choice over hogs but I just love pork and I can smoke it for long term storage as well. I was a little worried about the feed side as I would have to stock grain aside from my long term stock for my family. Your setup looks great so far. I think they might root up some of your fence as they get bigger. Plus when they put their back lets into it, they can push over just about anything. Welcome.
They might root up the fence, but I don't think they will. They have great respect for that hot wire. They have grounded it out a few times though.....mostly by pushing their mineral block under the wire. As you said, they are amazingly, phenomenally strong. Keep us posted on your progress and any learning curves. I think its a great idea. Like I said, its something I am going to go with in the next 12 months I hope. I am working on my chicken education right now. |
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I like this thread and I have deed restirctions against Hogs BUT I live in the county on 5 acres and have no home owners assoction so I don't know who would care. A couple of my neighbors have raised 4-h hogs and they have the same deed stuff.
I have raised a lot of rabbits don't have any at the moment, they're only problem here is they can't take high temps very well but then I think hogs have the same problem. I have been hunting wild hogs and taken 3 in the last 3 months, two around 100 pounds and 1 over 250, the big one is at the smoke house for curing and processing, the little ones I did myself. Just cooked the front shoulder like a brisket and the back ham I injected a pork marinade and slow cooked it, tasted great also cooked one of the backstraps as pork chops. Currently don't have feral hogs on my place but they within a few miles in all directions of me. |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Ok, we ate our first of the ham from the last set OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was soooo good and I don't usually like ham I was the hit of the christmas party. (it was our ham) Ok, 2nd set are set for a date with destiny first week in Jan, I think this time I want to use finisher feed. When I should I start? 2 weeks before end? 3 weeks? 4 weeks? I'm still dithering on whether I should switch to finisher. Why are you doing it? Product fattier than you would've liked? Other reason? Actually the first set of pigs we didn't use finisher on and I think they were a little lean (maybe) I suppose mostly I want to experiment and see what kind of weight they put on. Last Monday they weighed from 137 to 172 pounds. (since Sept 15th, when they weighed 35, amazing!!!) |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Ok, we ate our first of the ham from the last set OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was soooo good and I don't usually like ham I was the hit of the christmas party. (it was our ham) Ok, 2nd set are set for a date with destiny first week in Jan, I think this time I want to use finisher feed. When I should I start? 2 weeks before end? 3 weeks? 4 weeks? I'm still dithering on whether I should switch to finisher. Why are you doing it? Product fattier than you would've liked? Other reason? Actually the first set of pigs we didn't use finisher on and I think they were a little lean (maybe) I suppose mostly I want to experiment and see what kind of weight they put on. Last Monday they weighed from 137 to 172 pounds. (since Sept 15th, when they weighed 35, amazing!!!) And you're butchering in a few weeks? 
When we raised swine for 4-H they wouldn't even let you keep the pig at the fair if it was less than 200 and you couldn't show if it was less than 220. As of 5 years ago when I was more into it the ideal market weight was 260. |
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Originally Posted By y3k:
I have to say, it was this post that make me break down and join. I have been looking at Chickens and hogs for my two main animal stocks. Rabbits where my second choice over hogs but I just love pork and I can smoke it for long term storage as well. I was a little worried about the feed side as I would have to stock grain aside from my long term stock for my family. Your setup looks great so far. I think they might root up some of your fence as they get bigger. Plus when they put their back lets into it, they can push over just about anything. Although we raise a little bit of everything, rabbits are THE livestock, esp if you are just getting your feet wet. Easy to raise, odor and noise free, and very prolific. Lets you get used to livestock care on a small scale, same with butchering/procesing. I recommnend them over chickens for getting started.Get a couple does and a buck,and you'll be eating PLENTY of rabbit before too long. We eat 100+ a year here, some years considerably more. |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By Skunkum:
In your middle picture, it looks like you are using the corner on the right side as a gate (judging by the chaing and clasp). You probably should wire the bottoms of that corner together- one little shove and they are out of there! ETA: If a pig can get his snout through a hole, he can work his head through it. If he can get his head through it, he can get his whole body through it. They can be real escape artists! Good points and sharp observation. I was hoping to keep that as a gate for a while, but I think I'll wire it closed tomorrow.  That reminds me of growing up on the farm... Wake up in the morning, go out the back door to do the chores, and WTF!?!?!
There's a PIG ON THE FRONT DOORSTEP!!!
HOW TF DID YOU GET OUT!?!?!? [>:/] Some of them can be like little F*ckin' HOUDINIs or something! 
That grass is TOAST too! 
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"An unloaded gun is about as helpful as a Wellstone supporter...Utterly useless in real life situations."-100w_Warlock
"An unloaded gun is about as helpful as a Wellstone supporter...Utterly useless in real life situations."-100w_Warlock
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Originally Posted By SigOwner_P229:
Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Ok, we ate our first of the ham from the last set OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was soooo good and I don't usually like ham I was the hit of the christmas party. (it was our ham) Ok, 2nd set are set for a date with destiny first week in Jan, I think this time I want to use finisher feed. When I should I start? 2 weeks before end? 3 weeks? 4 weeks? I'm still dithering on whether I should switch to finisher. Why are you doing it? Product fattier than you would've liked? Other reason? Actually the first set of pigs we didn't use finisher on and I think they were a little lean (maybe) I suppose mostly I want to experiment and see what kind of weight they put on. Last Monday they weighed from 137 to 172 pounds. (since Sept 15th, when they weighed 35, amazing!!!) And you're butchering in a few weeks?
When we raised swine for 4-H they wouldn't even let you keep the pig at the fair if it was less than 200 and you couldn't show if it was less than 220. As of 5 years ago when I was more into it the ideal market weight was 260. 3lbs a day they are gaining!!!, they'll be mid-250's in 3+ weeks. Don't want to let them get too big. It should be perfect (I hate scheduling so far in advance, but no choice, it's about the only game in town to have them butcher) |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Ok, we ate our first of the ham from the last set OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was soooo good and I don't usually like ham I was the hit of the christmas party. (it was our ham) Ok, 2nd set are set for a date with destiny first week in Jan, I think this time I want to use finisher feed. When I should I start? 2 weeks before end? 3 weeks? 4 weeks? I'm still dithering on whether I should switch to finisher. Why are you doing it? Product fattier than you would've liked? Other reason? I have heard to avoid potatoes for the last three weeks or the pork will be "watery". I am not sure what that means. Some of the best pork I have ever had was finished on non-standard things, like really cheap pecans and sweet potatoes one year. I am waiting to see how pork finished on hybrid spagetti squash tastes this year. |
Bemused mainframer, bitter conservative, Houstonian.
"You can't tell how far a frog will jump until you punch him," - Senator Hillary Clinton.
"You can't tell how far a frog will jump until you punch him," - Senator Hillary Clinton.
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Y'all might want to reconsider your decisions about skipping the finisher ration. I'm just going from old memories here, but I don't recall there being much difference in the % protein between the grower and finisher formulas (maybe 16% vs 14%?). I'm thinking that the main difference was in the feed additives, the 1 or 2 pounds per ton of feed mixed that includes stuff like trace minerals, vitamins, etc. Some of that "etc." might include "medications" that really should be withdrawn for a couple of weeks before the animal is used for food.
The feed store sales clerks probably don't know what all is in the formula but you should be able to compare the ingredients labels to see whether that is the case. You don't really want to be eating antibiotics if you don't have/need to. |
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Feral, thanks for the recent updates.
Now is a good time to start thinking about how you are going to transport them to the slaughterhouse if you have to do it vs having them picked up. I'm guessing that the trailer in the picture will be used to haul them. You'll want to make sure you can get them into the trailer without a bunch of fuss, so I recommend that you remove the self feeder from them a couple of days before you plan to haul them and manually feed them in a trough you can move around. Feed them about the same time of day you expect to be loading them. Don't feed them at all on the day before hauling. On the day you haul them you can let them see you pour feed into their trough that you are wisely going to put into the front of the trailer just before you herd them into the trailer. The plan is for them to jump right into the trailer to eat. DO NOT RELY ON THE PLAN! Have the trailer backed up close to a panel you can open to the trailer so they cannot escape! Block off both sides firmly and try to find something to block off so they can't go UNDER the trailer. If, as always seems to happen, one of them won't go in, block the others into the front of the trailer so they don't get back out while you are chasing the stubborn one. You could probably remove a couple of panels from corners of your pen and use them to fence off the area between the pen and trailer. Also, this will reduce the size of the pen to your advantage when dealing with a hog that doesn't want to load. Do not rely on a wall of bales of hay/straw to keep them directed, although it might be a good idea to use them against the outside of your panels to keep the hogs from seeing freedom. Plywood panels would work, too, if staked solidly. If you get desperate, remember that hogs like to see where they are going. I've seen them backed into a trailer by putting a bucket over their head. The hog will try to back up and as long as you can keep the bucket shoved up over his face he will keep backing up to get it off. A plywood panel works about the same way, just keep blocking off in front of him. Keep the panel all the way to the ground, though. I have also seen pigs put on a "lead rope", a length of clothes line with a self-tightening knot/loop that is placed over a front leg. It has to get above the hogs "elbow" joint so it won't slip off. They don't necessarily lead very well this way but they don't get too far away, either. My last suggestion is that if you are supposed to have them at the processor's early in the morning, load them up the afternoon before. Let them spend the night in the trailer. |
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Pay the $40 to have the truck come to your place to do it.
worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY Also, i was told by the butcher that we shouldn't feed them (lots of water, no food) in the 24 hours before they come. |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Pay the $40 to have the truck come to your place to do it. worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY Also, i was told by the butcher that we shouldn't feed them (lots of water, no food) in the 24 hours before they come. I'd do it......but nobody around here operates a kill truck. Gotta haul 'em. |
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Originally Posted By Skunkum:
Feral, thanks for the recent updates. Now is a good time to start thinking about how you are going to transport them to the slaughterhouse if you have to do it vs having them picked up. I'm guessing that the trailer in the picture will be used to haul them. You'll want to make sure you can get them into the trailer without a bunch of fuss, so I recommend that you remove the self feeder from them a couple of days before you plan to haul them and manually feed them in a trough you can move around. Feed them about the same time of day you expect to be loading them. Don't feed them at all on the day before hauling. On the day you haul them you can let them see you pour feed into their trough that you are wisely going to put into the front of the trailer just before you herd them into the trailer. The plan is for them to jump right into the trailer to eat. DO NOT RELY ON THE PLAN! Have the trailer backed up close to a panel you can open to the trailer so they cannot escape! Block off both sides firmly and try to find something to block off so they can't go UNDER the trailer. If, as always seems to happen, one of them won't go in, block the others into the front of the trailer so they don't get back out while you are chasing the stubborn one. You could probably remove a couple of panels from corners of your pen and use them to fence off the area between the pen and trailer. Also, this will reduce the size of the pen to your advantage when dealing with a hog that doesn't want to load. Do not rely on a wall of bales of hay/straw to keep them directed, although it might be a good idea to use them against the outside of your panels to keep the hogs from seeing freedom. Plywood panels would work, too, if staked solidly. If you get desperate, remember that hogs like to see where they are going. I've seen them backed into a trailer by putting a bucket over their head. The hog will try to back up and as long as you can keep the bucket shoved up over his face he will keep backing up to get it off. A plywood panel works about the same way, just keep blocking off in front of him. Keep the panel all the way to the ground, though. I have also seen pigs put on a "lead rope", a length of clothes line with a self-tightening knot/loop that is placed over a front leg. It has to get above the hogs "elbow" joint so it won't slip off. They don't necessarily lead very well this way but they don't get too far away, either. My last suggestion is that if you are supposed to have them at the processor's early in the morning, load them up the afternoon before. Let them spend the night in the trailer. Excellent advice. Thank you for taking the time to post. I'm gonna build a chute out of hog panels up to the back of the trailer. I'll follow your advice regarding the feeding strategy. I suspect it'll be a bit of a challenge to get three hogs into a 2-horse trailer, but we'll see how it goes. |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By Skunkum:
Feral, thanks for the recent updates. Now is a good time to start thinking about how you are going to transport them to the slaughterhouse if you have to do it vs having them picked up. I'm guessing that the trailer in the picture will be used to haul them. You'll want to make sure you can get them into the trailer without a bunch of fuss, so I recommend that you remove the self feeder from them a couple of days before you plan to haul them and manually feed them in a trough you can move around. Feed them about the same time of day you expect to be loading them. Don't feed them at all on the day before hauling. On the day you haul them you can let them see you pour feed into their trough that you are wisely going to put into the front of the trailer just before you herd them into the trailer. The plan is for them to jump right into the trailer to eat. DO NOT RELY ON THE PLAN! Have the trailer backed up close to a panel you can open to the trailer so they cannot escape! Block off both sides firmly and try to find something to block off so they can't go UNDER the trailer. If, as always seems to happen, one of them won't go in, block the others into the front of the trailer so they don't get back out while you are chasing the stubborn one. You could probably remove a couple of panels from corners of your pen and use them to fence off the area between the pen and trailer. Also, this will reduce the size of the pen to your advantage when dealing with a hog that doesn't want to load. Do not rely on a wall of bales of hay/straw to keep them directed, although it might be a good idea to use them against the outside of your panels to keep the hogs from seeing freedom. Plywood panels would work, too, if staked solidly. If you get desperate, remember that hogs like to see where they are going. I've seen them backed into a trailer by putting a bucket over their head. The hog will try to back up and as long as you can keep the bucket shoved up over his face he will keep backing up to get it off. A plywood panel works about the same way, just keep blocking off in front of him. Keep the panel all the way to the ground, though. I have also seen pigs put on a "lead rope", a length of clothes line with a self-tightening knot/loop that is placed over a front leg. It has to get above the hogs "elbow" joint so it won't slip off. They don't necessarily lead very well this way but they don't get too far away, either. My last suggestion is that if you are supposed to have them at the processor's early in the morning, load them up the afternoon before. Let them spend the night in the trailer. Excellent advice. Thank you for taking the time to post. I'm gonna build a chute out of hog panels up to the back of the trailer. I'll follow your advice regarding the feeding strategy. I suspect it'll be a bit of a challenge to get three hogs into a 2-horse trailer, but we'll see how it goes. You MUST get video of this part. I'm sure it will be a hoot. BTW, be careful. R. |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By Skunkum:
Feral, thanks for the recent updates. Now is a good time to start thinking about how you are going to transport them to the slaughterhouse if you have to do it vs having them picked up. I'm guessing that the trailer in the picture will be used to haul them. You'll want to make sure you can get them into the trailer without a bunch of fuss, so I recommend that you remove the self feeder from them a couple of days before you plan to haul them and manually feed them in a trough you can move around. Feed them about the same time of day you expect to be loading them. Don't feed them at all on the day before hauling. On the day you haul them you can let them see you pour feed into their trough that you are wisely going to put into the front of the trailer just before you herd them into the trailer. The plan is for them to jump right into the trailer to eat. DO NOT RELY ON THE PLAN! Have the trailer backed up close to a panel you can open to the trailer so they cannot escape! Block off both sides firmly and try to find something to block off so they can't go UNDER the trailer. If, as always seems to happen, one of them won't go in, block the others into the front of the trailer so they don't get back out while you are chasing the stubborn one. You could probably remove a couple of panels from corners of your pen and use them to fence off the area between the pen and trailer. Also, this will reduce the size of the pen to your advantage when dealing with a hog that doesn't want to load. Do not rely on a wall of bales of hay/straw to keep them directed, although it might be a good idea to use them against the outside of your panels to keep the hogs from seeing freedom. Plywood panels would work, too, if staked solidly. If you get desperate, remember that hogs like to see where they are going. I've seen them backed into a trailer by putting a bucket over their head. The hog will try to back up and as long as you can keep the bucket shoved up over his face he will keep backing up to get it off. A plywood panel works about the same way, just keep blocking off in front of him. Keep the panel all the way to the ground, though. I have also seen pigs put on a "lead rope", a length of clothes line with a self-tightening knot/loop that is placed over a front leg. It has to get above the hogs "elbow" joint so it won't slip off. They don't necessarily lead very well this way but they don't get too far away, either. My last suggestion is that if you are supposed to have them at the processor's early in the morning, load them up the afternoon before. Let them spend the night in the trailer. Excellent advice. Thank you for taking the time to post. I'm gonna build a chute out of hog panels up to the back of the trailer. I'll follow your advice regarding the feeding strategy. I suspect it'll be a bit of a challenge to get three hogs into a 2-horse trailer, but we'll see how it goes. That advice is very good. DO NOT let them see freedom. If you use push boards, use solid boards. Be sure everything is tight, they'll try to get out any way they can. And most of all, plan on it being 4 times as difficult as you think it will be, because it will likely be much more difficult than most anticipate. |
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I'd take Skunkem's advice and even go a little farther.
If possible park the trailer in their pen a week before kill time, then move the feed trough inside the trailer a couple days after that and feed them inside the trailer the last 4 days. The 1st day they might be reluctant but by the 4th day you'll have to fight your way back out of the trailer. You were right about not feeding them on kill day or the evening before. But you can still give them a small scoop full to lure them into the trailer. Just give them enough to get them in their and slam the door. Don't worry about getting 3 hogs in a 2 horse trailer, you could probably get 10 in a 2 horse trailer if you packed them in. We used to pack them in the truck so tight that we (when I was a kid) walked on their backs and if you slipped and slid down between them you had a situation and probably got some black toes before you scrambled back up "on top." I grew up on a commercial farrow to finish hog operation in the 70's, I miss those days!!! |
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Originally Posted By FirefighterEd:
If possible park the trailer in their pen a week before kill time, then move the feed trough inside the trailer a couple days after that ....! I'm liking this idea a LOT. It will solve a lot of problems I think. My biggest worry with getting these pigs loaded is that one or more will escape because we have no proper loading chute. My second biggest worry is that somebody'll get hurt because we have no proper loading chute and a hog decides to zig when it should've zagged. Moving the trailer into their pen will alleviate those issues completely. Need to work on that. Thanks for the suggestion. |
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Have a 5 gallon bucket ready during the loading in case things don't go as planned. Place bucket over the pigs head and they will immediately throw it into reverse and try to get out, simply keep the bucket on their head and guide them where you want to go. Use their tail for your front sight.
I would rethink the statement that hogs would not be a good animal for SHTF. Hogs are omnivores, they will eat darn near anything. Cleaning fish through the guts to the hogs, same with birds, we used to skin out grouse what did not go into our pan went into the hog lot. Granted they might not grow near as fast if you are just giving them scraps instead of pounding in the grain but they will feed out. My Grandpa told me that one of his jobs as a kid during the depression was to go door to door and collect the neighbors garbage in a bucket, then take it home and feed it to the pigs. |
A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. ~ Edward R Murrow
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Originally Posted By JimM44:
After you put the cattle trailer in the pen, build a wooden ramp from the back to the ground so they just walk in this will make it a lot easier. My trailer already has a ramp. All I have to do is drop it. Then it has an interior door with a sliding half door. Pigs could go through the half-door and it would slide closed behind them. 
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Originally Posted By ONG:
My Grandpa told me that one of his jobs as a kid during the depression was to go door to door and collect the neighbors garbage in a bucket, then take it home and feed it to the pigs. I have a nice reference book on swine that actually has average calorie and nutrition data on several forms of "institutional food waste". IIRC, the best food waste came from military bases. |
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Originally Posted By FirefighterEd:
f possible park the trailer in their pen a week before kill time, then move the feed trough inside the trailer a couple days after that and feed them inside the trailer the last 4 days. The 1st day they might be reluctant but by the 4th day you'll have to fight your way back out of the trailer. Your pen IS big enough and this is the best idea yet. All you have to do is hem them in a corner long enough to get the trailer in.... |
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Originally Posted By Skunkum:
Originally Posted By FirefighterEd:
f possible park the trailer in their pen a week before kill time, then move the feed trough inside the trailer a couple days after that and feed them inside the trailer the last 4 days. The 1st day they might be reluctant but by the 4th day you'll have to fight your way back out of the trailer. Your pen IS big enough and this is the best idea yet. All you have to do is hem them in a corner long enough to get the trailer in.... I was thinking about getting them in their hutch and throwing a hog panel in front of it, or even a piece of plywood. They won't be able to see the trailer getting backed in as the area where I'd do it is behind the hutch. Put some pans of mash in their hutch first, and then I'll just need somebody to watch 'em while we back the trailer in and repair the fence (which won't take much.) Get 'em used to feeding in the trailer for a couple days, then go out the night before and close 'em in. This is very workable I think. 
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| Updates? Bacon? An amazing escape story where you rode and angry hog across the countryside like Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove riding the bomb? Enquiring minds want to know! |
Bemused mainframer, bitter conservative, Houstonian.
"You can't tell how far a frog will jump until you punch him," - Senator Hillary Clinton.
"You can't tell how far a frog will jump until you punch him," - Senator Hillary Clinton.
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Originally Posted By trwoprod:
Updates? Bacon? An amazing escape story where you rode and angry hog across the countryside like Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove riding the bomb? Enquiring minds want to know! I was sloppng them the other day and had one of the Yorkshires shoot between my legs to get at the slops.....almost took me off my feet. That count? 
No new reports on these hogs......they still draw breath. Had their water freeze up the drinking bowl the other day....that was a PITA, but fortunately easily fixed with a bucket of hot water. The tank heater keeps the water in the tank from freezing but the drinker bowl is exposed. Hauling water down to them is a PITA......or so Mrs. Feral tells me. 
Processing date still to be determined.....sometime mid to late January. Still have 100# of grower on hand and I want them on finisher ration for at least a couple weeks before I take 'em. I've learned a lot with this batch. Things I'll do differently next time: 1) They get a floor in their hutch. If I have time, I'll build a more proper hog house as well. The maxi-hutch has worked, but I'd prefer a different arrangement. 2) Pen geometry will change. I want two paddocks. One to be used to bring them halfway to finishing weight, then the other for finishing them out. That way I can start reconditioning the first paddock while the pigs are finishing in the second. 3) Need either a proper loading chute or a pre-made fenced off area that I can back the trailer into a few days prior to loading. Got a dozen more hog panels the other day.....hopefully that'll be all I need. 4) Their drinker and feeder are gonna go on hardwood pallets so those areas don't turn into mud soup as they have with the current arrangement. 5) I would like to have dedicated electric to the hog pen. I would LOVE to have a 4-season water source. |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
I was planning on moving the trailer into position and building the on-ramp for the pigs today. Had a flat on the trailer and that delayed things......was only able to move the trailer into position......didn't get any work done on the fencing. 
The pigs, basically, have to go.
They've turned their pen into a swamp. No way in hell could I back the trailer in there and hope to get it out again.....gonna settle for getting it close and constructing an enclosure that guides 'em in. They're big and ornery.....definitely nothing left of the fun little piggies that were here 3 months ago.
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm71/feral_ee/IMG_0287.jpg http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm71/feral_ee/IMG_0292.jpg <a href="http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm71/feral_ee/vids/?action=view¤t=MVI_0300.flv" target="_blank">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm71/feral_ee/vids/th_MVI_0300.jpg</a> Oink! They are looking good! Now is the time to find a local doughnut shop that will let you take their stale pastries! |
Bemused mainframer, bitter conservative, Houstonian.
"You can't tell how far a frog will jump until you punch him," - Senator Hillary Clinton.
"You can't tell how far a frog will jump until you punch him," - Senator Hillary Clinton.
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Man, most of the rain has been going around us, but ours was a swamp last week.
Lots of wind last few days, then mid 60s today, and into 70s tomorrow, will dry it up quick. I was glad to see some rain: softened our concrete ground up and let the pigs go DEEP. They have ridges up a foot to foot and a half, and holes about the same.Really working the ground over.Going to dump in a bunch of manure from when we clean out under the rabbits,and a couple truck loads of aged horse manure and let them work that before we move them off. County across the river's local paper had a piece about a 10 YO girl who is breeding her sows by AI! I recollect seeing her poster over at her county's fair this fall.Pretty informative display. May have to call her if we get hung up! (currently rethinking my tentative plan to breed one of mine in May/June) Might just get another 3 feeders come next fall again, but would like to try the AI route and see how we do.. |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
They've turned their pen into a swamp. No way in hell could I back the trailer in there and hope to get it out again.....gonna settle for getting it close and constructing an enclosure that guides 'em in. Wow! They really did a number on that area compared to the first photos you posted. Bet they love to roll and root around in that mud. How big area do you have them in? +1 on the two paddock system. Dealing with any animal its best to have an area that can recover while the other is being grazed. |
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Originally Posted By georgiarebel6165:
Originally Posted By Feral:
They've turned their pen into a swamp. No way in hell could I back the trailer in there and hope to get it out again.....gonna settle for getting it close and constructing an enclosure that guides 'em in. Wow! They really did a number on that area compared to the first photos you posted. Bet they love to roll and root around in that mud. How big area do you have them in? +1 on the two paddock system. Dealing with any animal its best to have an area that can recover while the other is being grazed. Yeah, it's pretty torn up.
At a guess, the pen's probably 25' X 40'. |
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Pigs'll go to the butcher a week from Monday.
Bought their last feed today......400 pounds of finisher ration. They're big, but they aren't gaining weight like they used to. Too cold for good weight gains....too much time shivering. I'm expecting nice lean meat on these guys. I think the Duroc probably is running about 250 pounds. No real point in measuring him now. Hauling their water is a PITA. It's not an issue in warm weather as you can just run a hose. In cold weather....it's an issue. Fortunately, Mrs. Feral does a good pack mule imitation.
It's snowing pretty good here.....pigs don't care too much. Here are some pics.......I'll probably regret the last one as I don't, as a rule, post pics of myself, but hey, it's ARFCOM.
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Hauling their water is a PITA. It's not an issue in warm weather as you can just run a hose. In cold weather....it's an issue. Fortunately, Mrs. Feral does a good pack mule imitation.
Awesome stuff! How long will those last you and Mrs. Feral? Feel you pain about the water. I've got plans to have all mine route underground using PVC. You probably won't be able to do that in your neck of the woods until spring. Better not let Mrs. Feral see the pack mule comment  
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“Only the black flag will bring the North quickly to its senses, and rapidly end the war.” General Stonewall Jackson
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Originally Posted By georgiarebel6165:
How long will those last you and Mrs. Feral? Feel you pain about the water. I've got plans to have all mine route underground using PVC. You probably won't be able to do that in your neck of the woods until spring. Two of the hogs are sold to other folks.....I'm hoping we realize about 120-140 pounds of meat from "our" hog. That should supply us for 4-6 months, considering we'll be buying chicken meat as well. We'll do some spring hogs so I'm not really worried about running out of pork. I won't raise cold weather hogs again.....no point to it when you can raise 'em when the weather's warm. So running water to them shouldn't be an issue with future crops.
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Heck, I'm not THAT far south of you, and it was near 50 again today!
Spitting rain now, but none of that nasty white stuff yet this winter. Supposed to get COLD next week though. I'll put the kids to work hauling water if I need to shut the barn line down. And scored 48# of out of date dog cookies for the oinkers! I've only fed my three 2 bags of store bought food in the last 5 or 6 weeks, but my free food pile is starting to get small, FAST! ETA: Love the last pic!-haven't got top the point of going in armed yet myself, but my oldest boy always carries an able club! Says it "gets their attention" if they get a little too rambunctious! |
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Ours have a date with destiny this monday. Almost 4 months to the day after we got them. I'm very impressed, they grew very well. We'll measure them tomorrow, but 3 of the 4 are over 250 I'm sure. Freaking huge. One (the one we are keeping) is probably 210/220 ish or so. She's not as big, don't know why, real healthy, just didn't grow as fast as the other 3. But real long, should get a lot of bacon!!!!!!!! (smoked, cured, homegrown bacon, unbelievably good.
They run out of food tomorrow, they are going to be pissed. I'll let you know final weights. I agree with the hauling water, 5 gallons at a time, 10 to 15 gallons a day. Damn. I'm fat and old, I don't want to be humping buckets of water. |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Originally Posted By Hanz:
Feral has things so well though out he even has the right brake on his SBR for the pig pen
Good eye.
Seemed appropriate. Today I'll build their loading chute into the trailer. Sucks that there's snow on the ground now, but I can only blame myself for that. Procrastination is never a good thing. There are times when the thought of settling in on the couch and watching television for an afternoon is appealing. It's probably a good thing we don't have television.
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Originally Posted By Feral:
I won't raise cold weather hogs again.....no point to it when you can raise 'em when the weather's warm. So running water to them shouldn't be an issue with future crops.
I was going to wait till fall to get the next batch, but now the kids want to raise some for the fair. I've read that it takes a LOT more feed to put 100# gain on a hog when temps are over 80F, than it does in cooler weather, but have never paid much attention. Plus, we get more free food in the fall, so that also has to figure in. Guess I should have weighed feed, etc as we went. I'll make the kids do it next round, and TRY to get some numbers together. |
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Originally Posted By Dave15:
I've read that it takes a LOT more feed to put 100# gain on a hog when temps are over 80F, than it does in cooler weather, but have never paid much attention. I have some good refernce numbers on sine weight gain at different temps, Dave. Gimme a minute and I'll dig 'em up and edit them in to this post. You'll find them quite interesting. I envy you that free food, that's for sure. |
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Pigs want to be about 70 degrees
Too cold means they burn a lot of energy trying to stay warm Too hot means they spend a lot of time cooling off. But they still gain weight when hot, if they can stay cooled off. but, they eat all the time, it's a function of gaining weight that's key. |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Got my fencing up to get these hogs loaded. Gonna feed 'em in the trailer for a few days before hauling them. A week from tomorrow they'll get a surprise when they get their evening feed.  I'd post the info on pigs' weight gain at different weights and temperatures but the button for the Advanced Editor that let's you do tables seems to have disappeared. I'll post it later. ETA: Tried to put that table in......looks good in the editor.....then posts a bunch of gibberish.  |
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Originally Posted By Dave15:
I'm FLUENT in gibberish!
Here's that info....it's from van Loon's Small Scale Pig Raising. the book is a little dated, so I wouldn't be surprised if modern hogs gain a bit faster in moderate temps. 
I interpret this as suggesting that April/May will probably be the best time for getting the next batch of feeder pigs. |