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Marie · Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Galway

We have 2x 4mth old duroc x GOS and .....ugh! Crying or Very sad

The garden is ruined as they keep escaping. They are bolting the electric strand and going under chicken wire and digging the garden or greeting us at the back door.
They are so ...full of energy and devilment. Is there more docile breeds more suitable to easier fencing or what have other people tried. They are getting a strong bolt from mains electric but they seem happy to suffer in order to get freedom.
I also find that i need to check fence at every feed as they are always earthing it by digging up electric posts or earth up banks to reach the wire.

Any suggestions?

Camile · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

Hi Marie,

I'm afraid it sounds like my 2 for the last few months .. they might be a few weeks without escaping .. then one day off they go ! never far though ..

but once we were talking to someone by the polytunel (50m away from the pigs) .. and I was saying you haven't seen the pigs yet .. and there they landed beside us ! f£$%^ers ..

the only solution was putting sheep wire behind the electric wire .. and that cuts the escaping for about 90% ... but still has to be checked and all ..

ah well .. they will be pork by next week so won't have much trouble no more from them ..

Good luck
Camile

Marie · Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Galway

I think so we'll have to grin and bear. Looks like more work in the spring to level and reseed the garden!
Just another two mths at least to deal with Crying or Very sad

Is there calmer more docile breeds?

clancy76 · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject: saddlebacks

We had some duroc crosses too and the same story breaking out killing chickens, up the road on us i dont no if its the duroc in them but i there is a rogue element in them very noisey too,we were keeping them with young saddleback weaners,we sold the duroc crosses and the saddle backs are much calmer now,personally i dont think you can beat saddlebacks for a docile temperment maybe its the lop ears,i wonder are other lop eared pigs the same nature.

phil · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject:

I'm not a fan of electric fences for pigs,i think your much better off with pig wire and well driven posts,it will cost a bit more but it will save falling out with the neighbours.

dara · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 186 Location: Mayo

I keep a couple of Durocs and while they are very active haven't found them any real problem. Befor the fox took them my chickens used to follow the sows around looking for whatever was thrown up and all the pigs completely ignored them even when a hen would jump on board for a lift. The most docile breed we have are the Large Blacks followed by the GOS - in fact it's hard to shift these out of their territory at all once they feel at home.
I think your fence could be a lot to blame. From my experience the nylon/wire woven stuff isn't much good for either holding pigs or transferring a good shock. Pigs will tend to go under rather than over a barrier so you must make sure the first strand is low enough to stop this but as some young pigs can jump as well as a dog you also need to consider this as well. I use steel tying wire - which if strained well is a good barrier in itself and you get full metal contact if they try to breech it - if it's operating at 5000 they will only try it once or twice. If the fence isn't working properly, say through earthing, some pigs will take advantage of this. The only breed that I've heard can't be held with e-fencing alone is wild boar.
Lastly when buying weaners try to get ones that have been outside with their mothers, (at least for the second stage of weaning), as all young pigs learn everything from their mothers including respect for electric fencing.

Marie · Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Galway

I got a better solution Wink

I have asked my dad if i can move them to his farm for their last 6 wks or so. He has an old pig sty that will do the job once we clear out the stuff in it.Problem sorted! They'll prob finish better indoor with the winter weather and all.
Now back to sorting out the garden