moving pigs from the barn to the outside pasture

naturegurl · #1 05/04/06, 09:55 AM

We have two 425lb+ pigs that are about one year old. Last Fall we moved them from their outdoor pen to the barn for the winter. Moving the pigs was quite a choir, considering it was our first year owning pigs and we had no idea of what we were doing. My boyfriend grabbed the pig's ears, while I grabbed his back legs. We kind of wheeled barreled them into the barn. Needless to say that this was not fun for us or the pigs. Does anyone have a better ideas? Besides investing in a trailer. Thanks.

agmantoo · #2 05/04/06, 11:59 AM

Here is how to accomplish the move. Using whatever woven type fence wire you have make a large wire hoop. The circle (oval actually) of fence wire needs to be about 4 ft by 6 ft. Next totally blank of the walls of this oval with black plastic where you cannot see through the fence anywhere. Place this over the hog and start crowding the hog in the direction you want to move. The hog cannot see out and it will move in the direction you force it. Since the hog cannot see through the fence it will be smart enough not to try to crush through the fence and you can slowly move the animal.

TxCloverAngel · #3 05/04/06, 02:43 PM

agmantoo..

What a great idea!!!! (writing that one down for future use)

I just always fed my hogs eggs out of my hand/pocket.
They would always follow the lady w/ the eggs anywhere!

Good luck

John Schneider · #4 05/04/06, 03:10 PM

That's a great idea. Just a question though Naturegirl...why do you put them in the barn for the winter? I don't know where you're from, but I live in N. Canada and our hogs are very happy to be outside year-round. I think it would be healthier for them to be outside anyway. All they need is a three sided shelter with lots of straw. On sunny days where it is still many degrees below zero, they are out in the fields rooting in the snow and enjoying the day in the sunshine as opposed to their dark shelter. Anyways, certainly not trying to tell you how to run your operation...I am just always curious about other people's operations.

milkinpigs · #5 05/04/06, 06:35 PM

I just use a bucket of milk to move or load my hogs in the trailer.....never had any of the problems I've heard others have had. James Harriot tells of two ladies that would leave a trail of biscuits (cookies) from one pen to another.

naturegurl · #6 05/05/06, 10:10 AM

Thanks amangatoo will give that technique a try, sounds like it will work well.

John I live in Maine so it gets colder here in the winter, but it's certainly alot colder up in your neck of the woods. I had no idea that pigs could be kept outside during the winter. I just thought like all our animals they like to be kept in a nice warm space for those cold months.

John Schneider · #7 05/05/06, 10:41 AM

Well, I am guessing that Maine is still pretty darn cold with the ocean wind and moisture. We get a lot of sun here in Alberta even though the temps. might be minus 20 degrees. They seem to do just fine even in minus 30 temps although at those temps, they spend most of their time in the huts together. A nice warm barn is probably appreciated.