It's been a while since I posted something about these girls.
They just go about their daily business of eating, sleeping, rooting, playing and .....
escaping.
Well, it is not a daily business, the escaping, but often enough. Little bastards.
This lot doesn't seem to grow as fast as our previous pigs. In my opinion that is probably because we don't feed these ones 'finisher'. They are fed with fermented oats and barley, barley meal and whey (to which they are addicted) We also give vegetables and fruit from time to time, but it's not their favourite. You'll get their full attention when you come with a bucket of fresh grass clippings. Nom nom nom.
At this rate they'll be here for a while yet. That's fine by me.
Patricia xxx...x
Patricia, we had the same problem of escapees...only ours were chickens...it went on for weeks, till I challenged my girls to prove to me that humans are far more intelligent than animals. They weighted every wire fence bottoms with roof tiles, and they've been happy and content inside the big pen since:) Sorry about your Irma...it's always sad when that happens:(
ReplyDeleteI'm okay with our hens escaping the large enclosure they normally live in. We don't clip their wings either, just so they have more chance to escape from a fox or mink attack.
DeleteOn the photo above you see they are actually residing in the garage after a mink attack when they were locked up in their house for the night. We lost 4 hens and our beautiful rooster. :'(
Ooooh pigs and chooks, not for me I'm afraid. May they grow and lay and give you satisfaction
ReplyDeleteAh, but they're lovely. :)
DeleteI'm not an expert on pigs, but to my unpractised eye those ones of yours do look a bit lean. The exercise gained when escaping must keep them fit!
ReplyDeleteThey don't only look lean they don't grow in size either. I once dreamed that we had been sold micro pigs.
DeleteThey don't seem to be gaining weight or condition do they! If they are consistently rooting around in a stony area rather than enjoying their larger space they could be deficient in some minerals and are looking for it themselves, just an idea. Free range pigs are very good at self medicating but sometimes they just can't find what they are looking for.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your chicken :-( We have one that looks as though she doesn't want to be here anymore at the moment, I'm keeping an eye on her.
Hmm ... Maybe we should think about supplementing their food with finisher. I am wary of the ready mix food pellets but at least all they need is in there.
DeleteThanks for bringing this to my attention.
It is sad when you see they don't want to go on anymore. We acted quickly yesterday. I first thought she was egg bound but deteriorated fast.x
I have seen sows chewing stones, my gran said it is because the piglets takes so much out of them during pregnancy. I think Sue could be right about the minerals. They also eat mud. Kind of like a salt lick block for horses? call the breeder?
ReplyDelete