What is it about this time of year that has me all screwed up? Undoubtedly, it’s the weather. One day it’s a beautiful 70 degrees, the next it’s 30 and I have an all-out panic attack.
It’s winter! Oh my gosh- it’s gonna be snowing ANY. MINUTE.! Just LOOK at what needs to be done! There’s turkeys and rabbits to butcher, chicken coop needs cleaning, the run needs protecting, endless and endless hours of canning to be done, it’s hunting season, and there’s crap everywhere- SERIOUSLY children, pick up those toys or you won’t see them for the next 6 months! I’m setting the timer and if you’re not done in FIVE minutes, mom’s grrrabbin’ the GARBAGE BAG!
This is real, folks. These exact words are wailed as I cling like a maniac to my poor husband- who, by the way, deserves an award for all the ear-bending he gets from me about the duties that seem to be ever-mounting in this little farm life of ours. But truly, as much as it may drive me nuts that my go-go-go you-can-sleep-when-you’re-dead personality hasn’t somehow manifested itself in him, I’m so incredibly proud of that man.
And I don’t think I fully realized it until we got pigs.
Let me explain.
Although my husband grew up in farm country, he was a town kid who didn’t grow up with animals. I was the opposite- I was the girl who went to school with chicken poop on her shoes. Little tomboy girl who grew up in the woods dressing up her chickie-poos in doll clothes. Who once wrote a short story about a couple of much-loved chickens named Tiny Wings and Big Wings, whose “butts fell out”. Yes, in the third grade I knew all about a prolapsed vent, even drew illustrations in said book and detailed about my mom trying to “push it back in”. I can’t make this stuff up, folks.
Fast-forward 10-odd years and Town Kid meets Lady Prolapse. It was love at first sight. {Seriously, it actually was}. But that poor guy probably would not have seen himself where he is now. He takes chicken poop- {and, let’s face it- duck poop, turkey poop, pig poop, rabbit poop- and as a bear hunting guide, bear poop too}– all in stride. He does all the butchering. He can pluck a turkey like a pro. He can harvest 10 rabbits in an hour. He can make fermented feed, aid with the wounded, build fences, sheds, rabbit hutches, and pretty much anything his wife asks for.
But I think he truly became a farmer the day he said to me last winter “Honey, I think we should get some pigs.”
We had discussed the idea prior, and after some debate, he’d decided against it. So this suggestion came as a shock when it did. I remember feeling very proud at that moment. But it wasn’t until after the three little pigs came home did I realize just how proud I would become.
Although we have 100-some odd animals around here, he’s never really shown a true interest in them. But the pigs were different. He liked them. Talked to them. Discussed their personalities. Became actively involved with feeding them. Scratched their heads, backs, bellies. It was the first time I’d seen him a little bit hesitant when it came time to harvest the first pig for our pig roast. And with less than a week to go before the other two are turned into delicious bacon, ham, sausage, chops, roasts, ribs, and more- I’m quite sad to see this all come to a close. But I’m so happy for this experience. To see my husband grow into the farmer he’s become. To know we can do it all over again next year. And to feel the excitement of discussing keeping pigs year-round.
While I reflect on the past 6 months of pig keeping, I really wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned as a first-time pig owner.
1. Let’s talk fencing and pigs escaping. In my research prior to taking on pigs, almost everything I read detailed about how often and likely pigs are to escape- and what a nightmare it is to deal with. I was terrified of this- we live in the woods. Woods full of predators like bears, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, you name it. If they got out, they would be dead. However, I have never had a pig even attempt to escape in the 6 months we’ve had them. We use the PermaNet 10/48/6 from Premier1 which is technically for goats with its 48″ height, but we wanted the extra height just in case a larger animal like a bear came around. The pig fencing is much, much shorter- even a dog could hop over it. The nice thing about portable electric netting is we could move the pigs from one spot to the next (we would just shift the fencing over, without having to move the pigs elsewhere while we moved fence). This meant fresh grass, brush, and other browse for them. They never had a reason to escape, which I think is the primary reason pigs take off. Additionally, pigs need to be trained to the fencing when you first get them. But don’t worry- this training isn’t all that involved. Ultimately, it means the pigs will test the boundaries one, two, ten times and then learn to stay away from it. This training took about 15 minutes on the first day- where we watched and winced every time one of the little guys would touch their nose to the fence.
2. Pigs don’t really stink that bad. Honest. This was another unnecessary fear. My research lamented “Keep your pigs down wind from your house!” We’d planned to start the pigs close to the house when they were young and eventually move them further away when they got bigger- and stinkier. Well, my pigs are still close to the house. They still smell the same. Again, being able to move their living space around definitely helps with this. Areas where they were prior are now well-fertilized and turning to grass. I never once shoveled pig manure. Not once.
3. Pig poop looks like dog poop. Yes, this is something new I learned. Why had I assumed pig manure resembled cow pies? Well, I did. And I was expecting it. But it’s formed. File that one under “I learned something new and vital today.” You’re welcome.
4. They can get sunburn. Especially those that don’t come from pasture or another outdoor environment. I was so scared for the little guys the first time I saw this scabby bleeding behind their ears. I immediately contacted my sweet friend Anna who- along with her awesome husband- provided the squirmy oinkers and made our pig rearing dreams possible. Bag Balm (affiliate link) will fix this and it cleared up within a couple of days.
5. The snout of the pig is unlike any other. That thing’s got some power. When the pigs first learned the joy of rooting, it was simply awesome to watch them pull boulders out of the ground, snap roots, eat grubs, dig dig dig to their little hearts’ content. We have some impossibly rocky, hard, clay-infested ground. You would never know it watching these guys.
6. Favorite treats? Hard boiled eggs (whole, shell on) and bananas. Hands down. And milk.
7. Pigs will run you over at feeding time. It’s best if at all possible to be on the opposite side of the fence when you feed. We feed fermented feed, and that bucket gets heavy- so trying to lift it over the fence and accurately hit the trough with three bumbling heads in your way isn’t all that easy. But entering their fenced area means muddy pig noses all over your pants (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to change my pants in a day!), nips at your boots, and an obstacle course of bodies weaving in and out of your legs as you trip your way to the trough. I found that the key was to throw in some distraction food first. A handful of apples, some eggs, corn stalks, whatever I have on hand. They go one way, you go the other. It works out nicely.
8. Pigs can’t really eat everything. There seems to be this assumption that pigs can and will eat any garbage you toss at them. Not true. Don’t give them tomato plants (the tomato itself is fine), rhubarb leaves, or any post-table scraps that aren’t from your family. If you’re sick or someone else is sick in the house, don’t give the pigs those table scraps. My pigs also turned up their noses at shell peas, green beans, and radishes. They likely won’t care for raw potatoes, but LOVE them cooked.
9. Pigs are not soft. Their hair…it’s coarse. Not soft. Wasn’t expecting that.
10. You do NOT need to feel guilty about naming, loving, or appreciating your pigs, even feeder pigs who will ultimately be sent to the freezer. Everybody has their opinion about this- as I found out. But I will never regret getting to know each of my pigs personally. Nor do I feel ashamed to admit that I have a special fondness for “Joe Joe”, and will greatly miss calling out his name every time I walk by, seeing him dash around the pen like a puppy. A big puppy. An oinking puppy.
So there you have it. Don’t let the scary stuff you read out there deter you from raising pigs. Just be smart about it. And I promise you, you will be rewarded with bacon. As well as the confidence that you can do it all over again.
Shared at:
Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop #22
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Thanks for the informative post. You mentioned your husband plucking turkeys and harvesting rabbits. Do you process your pigs yourself? Do you cure hams and bacon? Does pig meat have to be cured into ham? Or can you just use it like any other meat – like ground, roast or stew cubes? Hope these aren’t dumb questions. 🙂
Hi, Cheryl! Thanks for reading :). Yes, we process all of our animals ourselves, including the pigs. We will be curing the hams and bacon- the ham is cut from the back quarter and needs to be cured into ham. The various other parts of the pig make up the other cuts (see this helpful article and illustration: http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/what-good-is-a-pig-cuts-of-pork-nose-to-tail.aspx). Not dumb questions at all! That is how we all learn 🙂
This was such a great post! I’ve been thinking of adding some pigs to our farm next spring. I have been hesitant as there are so many different opinions and warnings! As someone who has never been around pigs, I appreciate this list greatly.
Go for it, Monica! Truly, you won’t regret it. It’s great because you get to learn as they grow. I think it would be much more intimidating starting out with some big breeders than it is some little feeders :). But I know exactly what you mean about those warnings- I’m a researcher. I wish more of the positive stuff was out there to encourage people, rather than all of the scary stuff. But that’s the way of it. Thanks so much for stopping by.
The main thing I have learned about raising pigs is NEVER try and feed them in good clothes! They always splash something on you.
Thanks for sharing on this week’s OSH Blog Hop!
http://oursimplelife-sc.com/our-simple-homestead-blog-hop-22/
Yes, they sure do make a mess of everything! Thanks so much for visiting, Tracy 🙂
I am stopping over from Our Simple Homestead Hop!
Thanks for sharing your post-
I would love to get a few feeder pigs. I am hoping next spring, we will be ready.
My biggest concern is them getting out and eating my lambs…I have read they will do that!!
Glad to hear of your experience, being positive.
Hi, Sandra! I wouldn’t worry about your feeder pigs eating the lambs. I know it CAN happen- but I think it depends on how they’re raised. I’ve heard they will eat chickens too- but my pigs always had the presence of the chickens sneaking into their pen to share the food from their trough- and never had a problem. You might experience more of a problem with large breeders- a sow with babies or a boar. I plan to raise my pigs with sheep next spring. If they are raised from feeder pig size, it shouldn’t be an issue, especially if you’re planning to butcher them once they reach market weight.
Thanks so much for reading!
Hi there,
Just wanted to say, great post! This was very helpful to me. We’re closing on our first home in a couple weeks and I’m already planning all of the farm critters I can finally get! I feel like a kid at Christmas…
I was going to tear up a big portion of the ridiculously extensive lawn and turn it into pasture, but then I realized that pigs would probably love to tear up the yard for me (and fertilize it too!). How long do you think it would take two pigs to turn over about half of an acre?
Thanks again for such an entertaining read!
Kaya
Hi, Kaya 🙂 So excited for you! Yes, those pigs will quite rather enjoy doing that tilling for you. It probably wouldn’t take long on a lawn, depending on their size. We just got 5 pigs the other day (less than 2 months old) and I’d say they’ve already turned over 1/8 acre in 2 days! It really doesn’t take much- especially if you’re dealing with lawn. We deal with brush, raspberry bushes, etc which is much more difficult than an open grassy area. So I say go for it and you will be surprised by how quickly they will go to work for you. I always choose animal over machine if I can :). Have fun and thanks so much for reading!
Hi Erin, I want to raise 2 pigs for 6-9 months. I have raised goats, LOVED the experience. My question to you is about pigs. I was looking forward to it till a friend recently asked me about ‘manure disposal’. The area I am looking to fence them in is around 200 sq.ft. approximate. They will not be moved. The area is heavily shaded. Fencing is electric net fence. I have a few days queries.
How often would I have to much the ground? How much of it am I going to be looking at daily.? And the stink factor. My friend mentioned that getting to know a farmer and spreading the manure on a field would be the best way to dispose of it. Which is a great idea, but the thought of me hauling pails filled to the brim with pig poo across the highway and toward a field at a distance daily will make for funny youtube videos and stories, I am looking for other practical options and ideas. Ideas that would work for a greenhorn like me. The only thing I have going for me is, in my heart I know I can do this. I ventured into raising chicken and goats the same way – blind, deaf and dumb…I learnt along the way and loved every moment of it. Not regretting any of it only wanting to do more. Reading your post has given me hope, the fire that was put out in me a few days ago is beginning to smoulder now and daring to burn bright ?
I REALLY THOUGHT PIG POO WOULD RESEMBLE COW PIES!!!! But BIGGER!!! Thankyou Erin.
Asha
Asha, thanks so much for reading and for not giving up! Do not be discouraged 🙂 Quite honestly, pig manure is not a big deal at all. It could easily be raked up with a metal rake and shoveled into a 5-gallon bucket. It is not heavy & wet- it’s formed, pebbled. I have studied different manure “calculators” that determine how much pigs produce- and I once read that a 200-pound pig (around butcher weight) produces 0.1-.015 cubic feet of manure a day. Which isn’t very much- and you will likely be starting out with feeder pigs around 50 pounds, so that amount will be drastically less for a long time. I bet when you get your pigs and see how underwhelming the manure situation is- especially with just 2 pigs- you will smile at yourself for even worrying about it ;). I too like to dive in, blind, and learn along the way…and then look back at what my concerns were and how I feel about them now.
As far as disposal- what would I do personally? I would compost it. Have a compost pile set aside specifically for pig manure (I use everything from large rings of fencing to 3-sided compost “boxes” made from pallets). Be sure to add layers of “browns” or cabon materials (leaves, etc) on top after you add manure to that pile. Water and turn it to speed up the composting process. I personally would never use pig manure as fertilizer for the garden for a couple of years at least (unless you are certain it has been composted completely), but would go ahead and use it for non-edibles. The reason being is one time when I was a kid, my friend’s mom used pig manure on her garden one year. He ate a carrot from the garden (unwashed) and subsequently got worms. That whole scene never left me ;). But I do know others use it without issue…so it may just be a personal thing.
If you don’t want to compost it, it really wouldn’t be a huge task to undertake to truck it across the road to a field. I don’t foresee those buckets being filled to the brim for a while 😉
Let me know how it goes! Would love to hear.
Erin
Hi Erin, Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I have decided to go ahead full steam ahead. You said exactly what I needed to hear. ‘Composting’ is do-able. I can do this. Will definitely keep you posted. Thank you SO MUCH ?
Erin what do you use to electrify your fence since you move it around. Solar fencer? Electric? Would love to put them out in the grove but not sure how easy this will be. Usually get pigs young around 2 month and have them through the summer so will be close to 250-300 lbs when ready to the freezer. Do they test the fence as they get bigger? Worried because we have fields surrounding us and would not be good if they got into a corn field.
Thanks
Cheryl
Hi, Cheryl! It’s a solar setup from Premier1. Works very well. Pigs are very smart- so once they learn the electric is there, they stay away from it. I did have an issue with a pig this year who discovered a low spot at the bottom of the fencing while he was rooting around (our ground is SUPER uneven) and discovered he could slip UNDER the fence. But a few tent stakes in the loose spots fixed that no problem. I’d be less worried about them testing or getting out as they get bigger. As long as they have what they need (food, water, shelter, shade), they seem to be really content. 🙂
Super nice to hear from you! I hope all is well 🙂 Miss you gals!
Erin,
We are planning to get two feeder piglets in March next year. My question is what breeds works best.
I have been investigating the different breeds of pigs and of each breed has good and bad points.
Thought you could tell me your thoughts on the subject.
Hi, Terri! It really depends on what your goals/plans are. If you simply want to raise a pig that grows in 6 months and is ready to butcher, then I’d suggest Durocs as I raise- they are known as “the angus” of pigs- delicious red meat, quick growth, etc. If you have a longer time period in which to raise pigs (we only have a 6-month window of no snow) and are looking for a better fat content on your pigs and are willing to take longer for them to grow, you could look into a heritage breed such as Tamworth or Red Wattle. When we eventually get into raising/breeding/keeping pigs year-round, I’ve felt an ideal cross to keep would be Large Black/Red Wattle 🙂 That would be my two cents, for what it’s worth 😉 Best wishes to you in your future pig ventures! It is certainly a rewarding experience.
Thank you so much for this informative post. It helped me jump into the decision to raise pigs. I’m going to use the same fencing as you but could you suggest voltage for the fence? Mine will need to be solar as well as the pen will be far from the house. Did you mount your charger on a post? Any pics you can share? Any updates or suggestions? Thank you!
Hi, Shonte! Here is a link to the charger that we use from Premier1; it has all of the specs listed:
https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/premier-prs-100-solar-energizer-kit?cat_id=245
We have it on a piece of plywood on the ground, tilted just slightly. It is in a south-facing location that gets plenty of sun.
We used electric netting for the pigs for the first two years. The second year, we had them in a much larger area with very uneven ground so we had to put tent stakes in to hold the bottom of the fencing down (otherwise there were gaps). This year, with the addition of our sheep, we’re using the netting for the sheep and went to using livestock panels for the pigs. They’ve worked great too, no problems :). Still love raising pigs, in fact we are getting our own breeder sows this year and will be farrowing our own piglets in the spring :). Pigs have become my favorite. You will have fun!
Thanks so much for reading. Best wishes to you on your pig endeavors. Would love to hear how it goes!
Erin
Hi Erin! My husband and I LOOOOVE pigs!!! We’ve had them two years in a row now and enjoy them so much more than any other animal on our little farm. We have sheep, goats, and chickens as well. It’s amazing how strong they are!!! This year one of our males put his snout under the gate (which is surprisingly secure….or was) and lifted the entire thing up and parallel to the ground. It was hysterical!! I was walking from the house back towards the pig pen and around the barn came this huge pink blob…I had no clue what to think at first! It was such a sight! Luckily the other 4 hadn’t figured it out yet and were snuggled in their house. My dog enjoys chasing them around the fence line. They are quiet, social and friendly animals. I do get quite messy when I’m out there with them but that’s part of living on with animals! 🙂 Pigs have got to be the happiest, cutest animals of all time. 😉 And this year I asked my butcher for the hearts and livers of the pigs! I plan on trying your recipe for marinated pig heart tomorrow!! Do you have a recipe for pig liver? Thanks for your posts. I’m enjoying your site!!! Kate