Piggie Accommodation

It's the time of year to start thinking about pigs again. I bought 3 weaners this year along with two pals. Now before they arrive there are a few bits and pieces that need to be done in preparation for them. People often ask "How do I get started in pigs" and to be honest pigs don't need too much TLC and are happy out just rooting around, one thing they do need however is a house of some kind and to be securely fenced in. As you can see from the below picture we buy our pig house flat pack from IKEA.

So a few days ago myself and Graham set about getting the pigs run set up for them. They need plenty of shade in their run and we have found the rougher a piece of ground it is the more the pigs like it as they have more to root up. They are amazingly efficient at clearing ground including briars, nettles and any other nasties you could mention and leave it weed free and ready for sowing. Our run is about a third of an acre and has plenty of trees. It is also pretty wild as you can see which is no harm at all.

We set about strimming around the exterior in order for us to be able to put up an electric fence. You are recommended to have 3 strands of electric wire or tape to keep the little escapologists in! Pigs might not look it but they are fast, super fast and sneaky along with it so be warned and make sure your fencing is up to the job!

Finally we built the house. This is a simple job and we use crates, stakes and roofing felt to create a "rustic" style pig house. The pigs don't seem to care mind you so long as it is warm and keeps the rain and wind out. We will be picking the pigs up in the next few days so fingers crossed that it will go smoothly.