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Camile · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject: Sunburnt ?

Hello guys,

I think the pigs got sunburnt yesterday ! believe it or not in Ireland

I don't think it's much to worry about because they feed well enough this morning, and it's raining so it had a chance to cool them down somehow.

Any ideas or suggestions
Thanks,
Camile

blowin · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject:

They do seem to sunburn quite quickly , particularly on the back of those floppy ears . It doesn't seem to bother them but they can get quite nasty blisters which could become infected . I guess you could use the same sunblock cream as you use on yourself but there must be a cheaper alternative .
It is important that they can get into shade and ideally a muddy wallow in summer .Good luck Wink

Torc · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 108 Location: North Clare

I have the same problem - or, rather, my three new weaners have. We've had quite a sunny few days.
My 12-year-old daughter has been chasing them around trying to squirt them with spray-on sun block. Maybe when they are more used to us we will be able to get close enough to do a proper job.
I was thinking of making a 'cattle' crush with pallets so I can get a good look at them. It would also make sense if ever I needed the vet or they had to have a jab.

macconraoi · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

They need a wallow,a muddy area to roll around in.Natures sunblock Wink

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Torc · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 108 Location: North Clare

The wallow is a good idea and I must try and make one but the sunburn is mostly on the back of the ears.
Looks like the weather has solved the problem anyway.
Do pigs get tanned or will they burn again if the sun comes back?

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

I think they get a bit crispy at the edges..... Laughing

Camile · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 9:27 am Post subject:

I like crispy ears butit's a tad too early for them yet ..

What I did instead of spending big money on sun cream .. was to fill up a bucket with liquid mud (from their wallow) and shower them with it ..

they didn't like it much but they are well protected now I think ..

and days like today, I simply get some mud from their pen and rub their head with it .. the joy of having them tame enough to do what you want with them ..

the only downside is that they think I need some too so shake their heads and cover with me it too ..

ah well .. the joy of pig keeping .

Camile

Torc · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 108 Location: North Clare

Hi Camile,
My three are still too timid to let me rub them and they are probably still sore from the sunburn. I built a pig crush at the side of their sty with a couple of hinged boards so I can pin them in, one by one, and squirt them with Aldi/Lidl cheapo sun block.
I'll try the mud pack when they are better.
Long-term, I've planted alder trees along the boundary of their run and in the corners (outside the electric fence) so in yeaars to come their successors will be living in a wood. They are forest animals after all.
Next year I'll look for hairy, dark-skinned breeds.
Regards,
Torc

blowin · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:25 am Post subject:

Torc · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 108 Location: North Clare

I've now tamed them enough to allow me spray them with factor 30 while they are eating. I've been doing this every morning for the past week and it's a pain in the neck.
I tried the wallow but here in north Clare the water goes off when the sun shines (no, I won't be voting for them) and I have to bring buckets from my water tank.
The long-term solution is a row of trees along the south (sunny) side of their paddock. I've started this with alder, outside the fence, but it won't do much good this year.
I've been looking at those sun-umbrellas in Aldi and am tempted to put one along the fence but I'm afraid my neighbours might laugh.