Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6375 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
Susan gets a little scared of Piggy - after all Piggy outweighs both us us combined.
My neighbor, an Ozarker from way back says I could walk the Miss around at the heel and swears he has never seen the like.
When we first got some wieners we bought 4 hog panels and arranged them in a movable pen. We moved it around until they were a couple hundred pounds and then one day they met me on the back porch wondering when I was gonna get up and feed 'em.
The deal is, at some point they need a GOOD fence. Not a climb-proof fence but an excavation-proof one. While we can we are using a hot-wire at 6in. which is perfect. Though I have been cussed in the most profane Pig-Latin a couple of times, it only hurts for a second and they are smart enough to learn.
So smart in fact I have had folks tell me pigs know when the fencer goes down...
You need a piggy Kathy! _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6375 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
You are welcome Lump!
Pigs are really fun, I won't say FUN about many other food animals.
I guess I would caution about planning to not buy much feed. They will eat most anything if hungry but scraps are probably not the best supply unless you have a bunch. You need to remember their eating habits are much like yours - plus:
They eat like pigs.
And they, just like you, need fuel for the boiler. If they aren't gaining, they are losing and that means they are burning what you have already fed them just to survive and getting skinnier rather that fatter.
Chickens and compost piles eat scraps.
Post some Pics! _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
Quote:
You need a piggy Kathy!
You need to tell that to Carlin! Today I mentioned a potential new goat to purchase (a friend has for sale) and he said, "We already have more goats, chickens and kids than we can handle!" I'm not so sure he's ready for another variety of critter yet
Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 276 Location: Rural Western Idaho
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
Pops wrote:
You are welcome Lump!
Pigs are really fun, I won't say FUN about many other food animals.
I guess I would caution about planning to not buy much feed. They will eat most anything if hungry but scraps are probably not the best supply unless you have a bunch. You need to remember their eating habits are much like yours - plus:
They eat like pigs.
And they, just like you, need fuel for the boiler. If they aren't gaining, they are losing and that means they are burning what you have already fed them just to survive and getting skinnier rather that fatter.
Chickens and compost piles eat scraps.
Post some Pics!
Will get to pics when I can. (I put my picture on the gallery, but it's not there It was a cool one, too.)
As for pigs being fun, that's what we expected. But this past year during our first go-around, we were surprised to discover we did not find them as delightful as chickens. Chickens kind of are stupid, but have an incredible social system that is fascinating. And some of ours actually walk in the house sometimes. They are very sociable critters with us.
Pigs were just pigs to us. We thought we'd get attached to them, but we didn't. (Sure do like them now that we are eating them, though!)
As for holding back on pellets -- we went wrong with keeping the feeder full last year. They walked away from too much fresh garden waste -- because they "pigged out" on pellets. We will make sure they keep growing, but they are gonna have to do some of it on brussel sprout stalks, etc, this year. We even had them leave some corn cobs laying around at one point -- so you KNOW we were overfeeding them in terms of pellets.
Lumpy _________________ Dean Karnazes : "Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up." --- Jackie Joyner-Kersee: "It is better to look forward & prepare, than to look back & regret."
Last edited by Lumpy on Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6375 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:41 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
Lumpy wrote:
[As for holding back on pellets -- we went wrong with keepig the feeder full last year. They walked away from too much fresh garden waste -- because they "pigged out" on pellets.
Sorry, I didn't read that part - they do get spoiled!
We kinda feed them their regular stuff twice a day and then give then a treat at irregular times. They like a snack it seems. Something they turn up their upturned nose to at breakfast and supper is just right at brunch or dinner or afternoon tea! _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
Been thinking about Ms. Piggy. I don't know - I'd almost rather have mean pigs like my granddad had - I wouldn't feel so mean eating them then
I don't know why Carlin gripes about my critters anyway - he rarely takes care of them. That's my job. About the only thing he does with them is help with my buck goat when he needs work... and carry heavy stuff
And I agree, Lumpy. I love my chickens. They are fascinating... but the goats have them all beat. Entertainment, fascinating personalties (each their own), and fresh milk to boot . I guess that's why I went into dairy goats rather than meat goats... the whole attachment thing.
K
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6375 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
CarlinsDarlin wrote:
Been thinking about Ms. Piggy. I don't know - I'd almost rather have mean pigs like my granddad had - I wouldn't feel so mean eating them then
I know! I've said Don't name your Meat a few times!
I talk to the hens and they cluck, coo and scold, but they don't seem quite on the same wave as me; perhaps I am a pig at heart!
I think if one has a taste, as well as empathy for their sausage (or whatever) making sure that what comes before the grinder, isn't a grinder, seems the most kind.
Joined: Jan 01, 2007 Posts: 208 Location: Pacific Northwest
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
My four (Osama, Pumba, Shredder and Peanut) are going to piggy heaven tomorrow around noon.
Pops do you know what kind of pig Ms Piggy is? She looks exactly like my four. You might try raising two next year, they seem to be less trouble when they have a playmate. You can always sell the other one.
We have a guy that comes to the place, kills, skins, and splits them in half then takes them to the butcher, all for $45 (each). I think it is a fair deal.
I think I am going to take some of the leaf fat this year and try and render it down. I hear it is great for baking, we will see.
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6375 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
careinke wrote:
Pops do you know what kind of pig Ms Piggy is? She looks exactly like my four. You might try raising two next year, they seem to be less trouble.
Mostly Duroc I'm thinking, the Hampshire's are the ones black with a white belt - of course there are many less widespread varieties.
We raised 2 at a time at first for just that reason but they really aren't any easier I'm thinking. They bond with each other instead of the human with the food.
That would be me. _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
Instead of keeping one sow back and having it bred, why not just buy an already bred sow? Mangels would make a good pig food and keep them very busy digging them up.
Joined: Jan 01, 2007 Posts: 208 Location: Pacific Northwest
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
Well my pigs are slaughtered and off to the butcher. I have been feeding them soup for the most part, and it worked out OK, just the right amount of fat.
I let my last pair free feed on pellets and they got way to fatty, so I am pleased with the results. They dressed out at around 190 except for the female who will be around 150.
I saved the Leaf Fat this time and am now trying to render it into lard.
I provided the labor, and my siblings provided the soup and cash to buy and slaughter the pigs. Seems like a fair deal. Looking forward to some nice sausage.
The guy who slaughtered the pigs said they were Durac so it looks like Pops and I were raising the same type. Last time I raised hampshires. Their dispositions seemed the same.
Joined: Jan 01, 2007 Posts: 208 Location: Pacific Northwest
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
As an experiment I rendered the leaf fat of two and a half pigs.
I did it in my crock-pot set on warm, it took about 12 hours. I ended up with about a gallon of lard.
I'm thinking in a crash situation, that would not be enough to last me for a year. So I would probably have to render the back fat in addition to the leaf fat to get enough to last through the year. In addition, I could save the bacon fat and other fat from cooking the meat to use in sauteing vegetables etc.
Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 276 Location: Rural Western Idaho
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
ararboin wrote:
Instead of keeping one sow back and having it bred, why not just buy an already bred sow? Mangels would make a good pig food and keep them very busy digging them up.
Around here buying a bred sow is way more expensive than having one bred (at about 6 months). Probably because it's more of a hassle to take one back to a boar when she comes into heat ... but still worth it, $$ wise.
Lumpy _________________ Dean Karnazes : "Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up." --- Jackie Joyner-Kersee: "It is better to look forward & prepare, than to look back & regret."
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6375 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: Going for the Sow (Mama Pig) + other piggy notes
We have been a little mud-bound (2 all-time record rainfall months in a row) and so miss Piggy is way big.
We are going to have a bunch of fat (which we worked to grow and will pay to get) and I can't find info on how best to store and keep lard and how long it will keep with the various methods.
A little help? _________________ Make a plan and work it:
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You need to tell that to Carlin! Today I mentioned a potential new goat to purchase (a friend has for sale) and he said, "We already have more goats, chickens and kids than we can handle!" I'm not so sure he's ready for another variety of critter yet 
It was a cool one, too.)
