Today was dry at last. Frosty, but a day with no rain. We live in one of the driest areas of the country but we seem to have had more than usual amounts of rain so far this winter. So much so that for the first time one of our pig paddocks has become water logged with large pools of standing water, despite our sandy free draining soil. It has become poached with the footfall of our three sows.
Although they didn’t seem too bothered I don’t think such conditions are good for pigs for extended periods. Nor for me as I splodged my way through to fill the water trough twice a day or to find a dry patch to spread their food.
Fortunately, last year I built a decent sized farrowing house for the sows to give birth. Being currently unoccupied, I have been able to bring the sows ‘indoors’ where they can stay clean and dry but also have enough room to move about, including a small uncovered run area. I’ve got plenty of straw from a nearby farmer to provide a thick bed over the concrete floor. It does involve twice daily mucking out of the run area (they don’t poo in the housing part) but they’re happy and I’m happy.
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| One of my beauties in dryer times |
Although they didn’t seem too bothered I don’t think such conditions are good for pigs for extended periods. Nor for me as I splodged my way through to fill the water trough twice a day or to find a dry patch to spread their food.
Fortunately, last year I built a decent sized farrowing house for the sows to give birth. Being currently unoccupied, I have been able to bring the sows ‘indoors’ where they can stay clean and dry but also have enough room to move about, including a small uncovered run area. I’ve got plenty of straw from a nearby farmer to provide a thick bed over the concrete floor. It does involve twice daily mucking out of the run area (they don’t poo in the housing part) but they’re happy and I’m happy.
Great house for your pig. Was it expensive to make?
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave. I don’t have the figures to hand but probably about £500 for all the materials. The hardest bit was the concrete base. The pointing is not the neatest but the walls are square and perpendicular.
ReplyDeleteI had a saddleback boar who was over 6 feet long when he was culled...I loved that sweet natured guy
ReplyDeleteSome saddlebacks have a long back. Pigs have very individual characters when you get to know them.
ReplyDeleteIt's fantastic that they still have some outdoor space. I have to admit, this concerns me, we are getting pigs and I'm worried about having them outside when it's too wet. When do you think you'll pop them back out?
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine. The paddock is gradually drying out so a little more then they will be back out again, although heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow. The adjacent paddock is fine but I’ve got five young growers there and I want to keep them separate.
ReplyDeleteJust been reading your blog, Catherine. Keeping a couple of weaners for growing on shouldn’t present a problem, although they will plough up the ground.
ReplyDelete