Pig Fencing Advice Please

[bonniethomas06]

Hi All,

Our little porkers are fast outgrowing our garage and we are almost finished with their sty.

We have bought an arc, which is fabulous and was v. easy to put together.

I just wondered if anyone had experience with fencing pigs in? We have inhereted a nice wooden fence around the area - it is a three bar equine post-and-rail type fence, with the bottom rail approximately half a metre from the ground. We thought that the pigs might get underneath, so have sunk some stock wire fencing about 20-30cm (depends on where the tree roots are) deep and stapled this to the inside of the wooden fence.

Does this sound right to keep three gloucester old spots in? It is really crucial that they do not escape, because we live on on equestrian centre, and our LL has priceless racehorses in the surrounding fields. Apparently horses hate pigs so we have been allowed to keep them on the strict proviso that they don't get out!

Not sure how cunning they can be - does anyone have any experience of this ? I would be grateful for any suggestions.

Thanks

[red]

n my limited experience they are not that escapologists - just if they find a way out they take it. they might root under your fence?

we have ours lined with old corrugated iron sheets.

[sortanormalish]

In general they don't get out unless an oportunity presents itself, BUT if they do get out you had better make a big fix fast. Once they know they can get out they won't stop looking for ways out, and they spread the word! The fastest and easiest fix is to eat the escapee before he can spread the knowledge (regardless of size). Or you can string a couple strands electrified barbed wire on the inside of the post (be sure to use step out connectors so the woven wire doesn't ground your stranding).

[theabsinthefairy]

We kept our pigs in place with electric sheep fencing, a few shocks to their wet snouts certainly helps to fix their boundaries. Ours never bothered to escape except when they were hungry, then they dug up the fencing stakes to let themselves out into the wider field, but stayed in there even though there were easy exits under the higher barbed wire fencing because there was enough to keep their tummys occupied.

Not sure about the horses hating pigs though, ours lived cheek by jowl - separated by electric fencing, quite happily, in fact, Milla would lean over the fencing into their pen to steal titbits of beetroot and turnip if she could get away without a shock.

[bonniethomas06]

Thank you for the advice guys - I think we will remember two important things:

1. Keep bellies full at all times
2. Put electric fencing on the inside of the fence.

Now just have to work out how to get three hefty pigs from the garage accross the 1/4 mile stretch to the sty! (they don't make leads for pigs!?)

[Bonniegirl]

Some of you must have very well behaved pigs! lol A hotwire is the way to go, we used to be able to keep our adult kune kunes behind a single strand hotwire, which was great as you could allow them to graze anywhere. Smaller pigs squeeze through the tiniest space, we had hurdling kune kune piglets, it was quite amazing how they managed to get out of things.
So your's know the hotwire is there and so they have a quick, short, sharp lesson, tempt them near enough so they get zapped, they won't forget.
Hope they stay confined for you ;D

[red]

oh yeh i have barbed wire (much that i hate eth stuff) at groudn level - and along the top of the corrugated iron fence too.

[theabsinthefairy]

We could move our pigs around by waving a tempting bucket in front of their noses and giving them an odd treat as we led them to where they wanted to go, alongside a short horse training whip dragged along their flanks to remind them to keep moving. Could not get the hang of that board thing they use when showing pigs!

[bonniethomas06]

Well they are now in their new enclosure - we have electric fencing and stock fencing as well as wooden fencing - so they had better not escape. Every now and again you hear a little squeal if they get a shock, but they seem to be learning. They seem happy - we moved them in a dog crate in the end. As soon as we opened the door they went flying out and did a lap of the area - so funny, their ears were flopping about and they are so ungainly and clumsy when they run.

Since, all they have done is wallow in mud and sleep. Will put some pictures up soon, but thanks for the advice.

[Pennylane]

Well done sounds like it all went well. I used barbed wire along the base of the fence as was scared of trusting an elec fence...We had a couple of very hairey mad moments over the years of pigs breaking free when moving them..look back and laugh now but stressful at the time....once was when a bolt of lightening suddenly struck and spook them and Us ...never again..too old for all that malarky anymore