Considering getting a couple pigs

frustratedearthmother · Nov 24, 2017

I have mini horses and American Guinea Hogs (smallish). They all run together occasionally - usually when the pigs open a gate, lol. Feeding time can get chaotic under those circumstances. There is lots of squealing and grunting and hooves fly, lol. The horses "win" by virtue of size, but honestly, none of these critters is trying to hurt the other - they just want to eat. Even if the horses aim a kick in the pigs direction, they don't haul back and kick with force....they generally just use a hoof to push the pig back. The pigs will back off and come right back. Might help that the guinea hogs are a very gentle pig breed.

I think it comes down to the individual animals... Just gotta see what their tolerance is for the other...

High Desert Cowboy · Nov 24, 2017

Mixing horses and pigs is not a good idea. Several years ago I had a friend try something similar with the pigs next to the horses but separated by fencing. The gate somehow got opened between the two and a pig made it in with the horses and was promptly kicked to death. I would recommend separating them as much as possible for your property. That way accidental escapes don’t turn deadly

Bossroo · Nov 24, 2017

A few years ago a neighbors' pig made it's way into our pasture. Our horse did not like the interloper steeling his green grass, so he made short work of that dastradly beast by turning it into hamburger / choped liver.

farmerjan · Nov 24, 2017

As for the no raw soy. There is an enzyme(?) called trytopin or triptopan or something that makes the protein indigestible. COOKING, or heat, like roasting, changes the composition to make it digestible. Supposedly cattle can consume it raw; yet there is not one dairy farmer that I know that feeds it raw; they all feed roasted soybeans. Maybe you can lower your feed costs a bit, but you also have to be careful how much you feed. Too high a protein will cause them to go off feed and other dietary problems. I know some people who feed bread and milk and corn. The pigs are fatty and don't have that great of a taste. It's okay to supplement but you need a balanced feed to make sure they are getting enough vit and min to grow as well as put on weight. No more than 10% of their diet should be "waste" products unless you are a good enough nutritionist to get it balanced. Finding "cheap" is okay, but not at the risk of having a crummy end result. I would feed a balanced hog ration and add in all the things like veg waste and stuff as an extra. You can feed a fair amount of household waste; don't feed meat. It not only tends to make them more aggressive, but it also can cause problems with a worm or something which hogs can transmit to humans. Can't seem to recall the name. Feed the meat to your cats and dogs.

OneFineAcre · Nov 24, 2017

farmerjan said:
As for the no raw soy. There is an enzyme(?) called trytopin or triptopan or something that makes the protein indigestible. COOKING, or heat, like roasting, changes the composition to make it digestible. Supposedly cattle can consume it raw; yet there is not one dairy farmer that I know that feeds it raw; they all feed roasted soybeans. Maybe you can lower your feed costs a bit, but you also have to be careful how much you feed. Too high a protein will cause them to go off feed and other dietary problems. I know some people who feed bread and milk and corn. The pigs are fatty and don't have that great of a taste. It's okay to supplement but you need a balanced feed to make sure they are getting enough vit and min to grow as well as put on weight. No more than 10% of their diet should be "waste" products unless you are a good enough nutritionist to get it balanced. Finding "cheap" is okay, but not at the risk of having a crummy end result. I would feed a balanced hog ration and add in all the things like veg waste and stuff as an extra. You can feed a fair amount of household waste; don't feed meat. It not only tends to make them more aggressive, but it also can cause problems with a worm or something which hogs can transmit to humans. Can't seem to recall the name. Feed the meat to your cats and dogs.

Trichinosis?

farmerjan · Nov 24, 2017

Yeah trich is what I was thinking but then I couldn't remember and didn't want to tell someone wrong. Anyway, hogs were used to dispose of unwanted carcasses years ago and they will catch/attack/eat unsuspecting animals like chickens, cats, anything they might get their mouths on. Some can co-exist perfectly, but some won't. Females have been known to attack and eat their own young, especially if they get caught and start squealing, the sow can go nuts and will be biting everything even the piglet, in their hysterical state. Most feeder pigs are not mean....But do not tempt them and don't create a problem by feeding meat.

Simpleterrier · Nov 24, 2017

Wow guess I'm not the norm. My pig pen is right next to the horses. And my first pen was a movable pen in the horse pasture. Now if the pigs got loose I wouldn't bet they would be alive. I've had my pigs eat snakes and have gave them meat not much. Maybe the fat off of a steak or some chicken. I haven't noticed a difference in temperaments. I've also feed raw eggs

Simpleterrier · Nov 24, 2017

I do feed a hog grower from the mill and also apples of an old apple tree. The grower I give in a gravity free choice feeder. Just keep it full and give them.water and wait .

rbruno · Nov 27, 2017

I wouldn't think a horse would stomp a pig to death. I will make sure whatever fence I use is overkill for the horses and the pigs to make sure the don't escape into the horse pasture. Thanks for the info on the soy. I do not want to or anticipate taking on breeding at this time. Just want to start small and see how it goes. I will make sure if I do get some soy from my neighbor it is cooked and in small amounts.

Baymule · Nov 27, 2017

Make sure to post lots of pictures when you get your pigs!

Considering getting a couple pigs

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Considering getting a couple pigs

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