Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Smallhold Farming and Rural Living => Livestock and Growing on a larger scale => Topic started by: GTFC197 on February 14, 2012, 19:48

Title: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on February 14, 2012, 19:48
just had my order for our next 3 piggies confirmed.  :) :)

Getting 3 more Berkshires (only born last week),  for pork, and possibly one British Lop for bacon & gammons.

Can't wait, (only 7 weeks to go), just hope it goes as well as our first lot did. ;)
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: joyfull on February 14, 2012, 20:07
don't forget those photos  :D
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: scabs on February 17, 2012, 17:27
Here you go:

(http://www.instructables.com/image/FANNWX6CQHEXCFLZ85/Find-Bacon-Fat.jpg)

 ;)
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: jjlittle on February 17, 2012, 17:38
haha lol :tongue2:
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on February 26, 2012, 21:35
3 of these are my new babies
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: joyfull on February 27, 2012, 05:10
lovely  :)
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: scabs on February 27, 2012, 13:31
Aw... beautiful!
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on March 25, 2012, 20:50
Went to an agricultural auction at Bicker yesterday, managed to pick up another one of those 1500ltr containers that we used to make our first pig house, spent  today washing it out,(had mollasses in it), cutting it and now it is ready for our new arrivals on Saturday.

I managed to outbid the person next to me, and he wasn't none too pleased, so he had to mention in a loudish voice that it probably wouldn't hold liquid anyway, quite smugly in a loudish voice I explained what I wanted it for, soon shut him up, a few people were amazed at my explanation, but thought I had a good idea.

Will post photo's on here as soon as we come home with our "boys".
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on March 31, 2012, 15:26
Got our 3 new little "boys" home at last, settling in lovely, :)

 photos will follow shortly. ;)
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GrannieAnnie on March 31, 2012, 16:30
Went to Bicker auction and never popped into say hello?   :(  If you went up the A17 you went past the end of our road, and if you went up the A52 you would have passed the house!  We are only a mile from Bicker Bar!   :D :D
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on March 31, 2012, 16:41
Ooops, sorry, :ohmy:
 not sure where people live around here, will have to come and see you one day, promise. :blush:
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GrannieAnnie on March 31, 2012, 17:13
You said that last year!   :lol: :lol: :lol:

But honestly, we are only 1 mile down the A52 from Bicker Bar, would be lovely to meet you one day!  Joy and I have probably met more forum members than anyone else so far!
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on April 01, 2012, 09:53
came back down A52 last night from Tesco, all the way thru to Donington, not sure what to look for. :(
Oh says it will be nice to come and see you. ;)

piccies as promised.

pic of single pig, is a pig with attitude :ohmy:
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: joyfull on April 01, 2012, 11:35
Annie, we have already met - at the pig and poultry fair last time (or had you and Brian wandered off elsewhere?).
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on April 01, 2012, 12:13
I thought we had, but wasn't sure :unsure:
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GrannieAnnie on April 01, 2012, 14:18
Didn't we miss you though?  Thanks Joy, that definitely rings a bell!

Did you have your daughter or someone with you?
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: Squibbs on April 01, 2012, 22:46
Could you post a pic of your pig house - I am intrigued - and probably going to be sharing a couple of pigs with the neighbours very soon - so it would be great to see what you did
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on April 02, 2012, 11:10
managed to get hold of 1500ltr orange juice tank, made out of a sort of rubber/plastic, laid it down, cut a piece out longways, approx 33ins wide, this is so it sits on the floor on straight edges, stopping it rolling.

A door way was cut at the opposite end to the filler lid, cos lid has breather holes in it, assisting with ventilation of hut, doorway approx 30x30ins.

A euro-pallet was laid inside and covered with straw, this keeps pigs off the floor and dry, easy to clean out aswell.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: scabs on April 02, 2012, 13:50
Great idea! It looks pretty heavy, but have there been no issues with the pigs 'rolling' it over?
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on April 02, 2012, 14:04
not as heavy as it looks, one person can move it about, as for pigs rolling it, forgot to mention that it is secured by a stake on each corner, and one at the back to stop them pushing it.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: Yorkie on April 02, 2012, 20:25
Eee, right proper posh that is, lad  ;) :D
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: scabs on April 03, 2012, 16:59
Very cool.
 :)
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: Squibbs on April 03, 2012, 23:16
Very impressive - thanks
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on April 04, 2012, 09:25
you can find these tanks on Ebay, ;)
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on May 03, 2012, 15:59
our new boys are definitely growing, wouldn't like to try and pick them up now.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on June 11, 2012, 12:51
moved our little fellas onto new strip to clear, only took them just over a month to clear piece in front of photo.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on June 11, 2012, 12:55
this is their next bit, just extended what they have cleared. cut the grass down to keep it off electric fence.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on June 11, 2012, 13:03
They have got all this to clear, each strip belongs to each of our neighbours, and only the first 2 are being used so the neighbours have told us that we can use their bits for our pigs, which also keeps it from overgrowing too much. Where the trees are in the background is a strip of land which we have been told that we can use indefinitely by it's owner as they moved away, sold the house but not the strip of land.

It hasn't been touched for 12 years so when one of our neighbours saw the person awhile ago and reminded her about the strip, she said she wasn't interested in it, so when she heard about us she sent a message to say it is ours to do with as we want.

There is a large fallen tree, and the ground is covered in ivy, bramble etc, so we are going to fence it off, and put a couple of OSB's in it. They will have plenty of shade incase of strong sunlight, they'll love it.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: Yorkie on June 11, 2012, 18:16
Wonderful, thanks for the updates & piccies  :D
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: snowdrops on June 11, 2012, 19:01
If only I could borrow some pigs to clear my allotment of mare's tail :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on June 20, 2012, 00:01
nearly bought these today at Melton Mowbray Cattle Market.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: Debz on June 20, 2012, 09:51
They are beautiful.  I wouldn't have been able to resist.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: Yorkie on June 20, 2012, 21:45
nearly bought these today at Melton Mowbray Cattle Market.

You do realise they're not cattle ...  ;) :tongue2: :lol:
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: joyfull on June 25, 2012, 08:57
 ::) :lol:
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on July 21, 2012, 19:12
finally moved piggies onto next strip for clearing, did a brill of other one next to it.
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on July 21, 2012, 19:13
and you think you're turning me into sausages, dream on. :lol:
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: arugula on July 21, 2012, 19:15
But of course, you will. ::)
Title: Re: new piggies ordered
Post by: GTFC197 on July 21, 2012, 19:23
too true, but not letting on :lol: