Pigs - Things to do this Month - October
Signs of good health:
a healthy pig is a lively, active and interested animal- good appetite
- soundness, no limping or signs of discomfort
- joining in with ‘the gang’, a pig on its own in a corner is not a healthy pig
- bright, clear eyes, no discharge
- moist muzzle, no discharge
- firm droppings
- good skin condition, no scabs or continual scratching
- haired breeds should have smooth, lustrous coats
- no coughs or sneezes
General Care
- Now the weather’s cooler, try to provide some shelter for your pigs against wind and rain, so they don’t get chilled
- Oiling the pigs’ skin can help keep it in good condition
- Keep pens and runs clean to deter pests and flies
- Pigs are intelligent, playful animals – so provide them with safe toys: balls, skittles, traffic cones and pipes will all provide hours of fun! Old tyres are popular but may contain hazardous wire. A broom head fixed to a wall will provide a welcome scratching place.
- Your pigs will enjoy a daily ‘grooming’ session with a stiff brush; it will keep their skin in good condition and time spent with your pigs makes you more alert to the first signs that something is not right with their health.
- In addition to clean drinking water (a pig will need up to 10 litres of water per day) try to provide a clean ‘wallow’ for your pigs, not only does this help them keep cool, but the mud also acts as a ‘sun block’ in summer and an overcoat in winter!
Feeding Your Pigs
- In addition to their pelleted ration of feed, pigs will enjoy a wide range of fruit and veg to supplement their diet and provide a bit of culinary interest!
- Remember, it is illegal to feed any kitchen waste to pigs
- Now autumn is here I’ve been asked by a lot of people about whether it is safe to feed ACORNS to pigs. Traditionally, in forest areas, pigs were released into the woods for ‘autumn pannage’, to eat the various autumn nuts. In fact, acorns, whilst being poisonous to ruminants and horses, constitute a very nutritious addition to the pig’s diet but should never be fed to in-pig sows. They’re best dried for 6-8 weeks before feeding up to half a kilo to baconers and a kilo to suckling sows and adult boars. Being largely a carbohydrate food, overfeeding will cause constipation; a plentiful supply of water will help mitigate this potential effect.
- BEECH MAST (limited nutritional value) and CHESTNUTS (in Corsica and Tuscany the local boar-like pigs are turned out into the Chestnut forests to feed, this results in meat that is significantly higher in healthy polyunsaturated fats than that of domestic pigs fed on a grain-based diet. This also imparts a unique flavour to the meat that is highly prized locally).
- APPLES, including windfalls, will soon be plentiful and will be relished by your pigs, but have little food value so ensure they don’t ignore their usual rations in favour of the apples.
- Pigs will also enjoy ROSEHIPS – a rich source of Vitamin C, and HAWS – both in small quantities (no more than a small handful).
- As winter approaches, you can add some cod-liver oil to the pigs’ ration (no more than half a teaspoon per day for a young pig) – this contains the two ‘sunshine’ vitamins: A and D.
Pigs in Winter
It’s not too early to think about preparing for winter, and with memories of last winter, it’s best to prepare for the worst!
- Check the pig’s housing and make sure it’s completely waterproof, a wet pig can quickly become chilled
- Site the entrance to the pig ark (or house) away from the prevailing wind
- You can make a simple ‘porch’ to the ark using straw bales to either side with a sheet of plywood lashed on top – this will help keep a dry area at the entrance and help prevent bedding getting wet
- Pigs will keep warm if they have a dry, deep straw bed, so make sure you have plenty of bedding ready for colder weather – especially as straw is likely to be scarce and expensive this winter