30 April, 2010
Rain yesterday left the potato field too wet to till today, so I decided to crack on with fencing off an additional pair of pig pens. The new pens will be at the top of our hill, which means they will be for summer and autumn use only. The site is too exposed to the weather, particularly the wind, for winter and spring use. I managed to get the first strainer post in by lunchtime, then set out the stobs (intermediate posts) along a string line. In the afternoon, I knocked the stobs in with the 20lb post knocker—which is a cheap alternative to lifting weights in a gym.
As I worked, Harvey supervised from the comfort of his groundsheet. He’s not keen on lying on cold, wet ground so, when I brought the groundsheet out to lie on while squaring the bottom of the strainer hole, he claimed it for himself. I later told the Other Half we should get Harvey a dog coat printed with the words “Lapdog Wannabe”.
Any news from the lab on the mystery pig illness?
I’m interested in more info on how you make your fences. Do you have a post anywhere on that?
I’m building a pig yard at the moment to house my first trio of pigs (just raising some weaners for meat to start with). The meat will be shared among three families, but they’ll be housed on my land. I really want to make sure they don’t get out.
I read a recommendation to use barbed wire just off the ground all around the bottom, to stop the pigs from digging under the fences. Would you agree with that?
I’ve looked into electric fencing, but I’m wary of the cost – since we haven’t raised pigs before, I don’t really know if we’ll do it again. I’d like to think we will, but I’m realist enough to know that only time will tell
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I’d love to hear of your experiences and recommendations!