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blowin · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject: on moving pigs

Extract from an ancient document :-
( You can believe anything you like when it comes to pigs ) .

I just sloshed around in the muddiest pig-field I have ever seen . Had to bring the 3 little ones into the barn for fear they would drown . Actually they aren't that little anymore and it was one hell of a game . I coaxed the first one in with a bucket of food but the other 2 didn't want to know . One eventually got wrestled to the ground and carried inside by the burly young lad who helps me out . He didn't want to know after that , either , so the 3rd one got lifted up by the back legs and was wheelbarrow-raced into the shed ! It turns out that is actually the way it should be done , would you believe , but the pig obviously didn't think so at the time .

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

A bucket placed over its head works as well. Providing its arse is facing the way you want to go that is. Very Happy

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blowin · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:16 pm Post subject:

I will remember that for another time but this lot were actually spooked by the bucket . On reflection it was never a regular feature in their feeding regime so they wouldn't have associated it with anything nice . I am now training them to recognise it . Hopefully they will then follow . Wink

Rebecca · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:14 am Post subject:

I always tap the bucket and shout 'piggy piggy piggies' at the top of my voice at feeding time ... it trains them to leg it over to me, and it entertains the neighbours to hear my pig calling shrieks!
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blowin · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 12:01 am Post subject:

Came across this old post and thought I would add a couple of observations with the benefit of a bit more experience :
Train them to come to a bucket by tapping or shaking it and calling them every time you feed . Get them used to taking food from the bucket . They will usually then follow where-ever you lead --- provided that you keep moving so it is just beyond their nose and don't have too much feed in there . If they get their snouts into the bucket and cause the food to tip onto the ground they will stop and eat that . Once they are no longer really hungry they will feck off in all directions when you bang the container . At that point you should get a bucket full of something you can drink yourself . Wink

Second observation to follow in due course on account of already having had half a bucketfull tonight .

macconraoi · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 12:19 am Post subject:

We move pigs around a couple of times a week,a hungry pig is easily led as long as a couple of people are around with boards,I would not move pigs on my own.
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patsonline · Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 39 Location: North Mayo

Obviously a wise man Macco!

blowin · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:06 pm Post subject:

macconraoi · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject:

Well we move pigs every week from field pens into a trailer or fresh ground,the boards are not meant to be pig proof (strength) but big enough to shield the escape route but light enough to lift with one hand.We never move pigs unless they are hungry,They simply won't move after a feed.
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Guest · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:11 am Post subject:

You obviously know what you are doing then Wink

. I have watched experienced handlers who made it look easy until I tried it myself !
My comments are partly in the context of looking for advice such as yours and partly as observations which might inform total novices and/or amuse anyone at my own expense .
One way which proved quite effective with pigs which got spooked as soon as they lifted their heads out of the bucket and realised that they had moved beyond their familiar territory was to create a corridor with electric tape . It wasn't connected to a power pack and some of it was only just off the ground but it did keep them on the intended path , which was quite wiggly and had plenty of things which might have attracted them off course on either side . This obviously relies on them being familiar with the tape to start with .
One specific question : can you lead them by the ear ? That was apparently suggested and demonstrated on a recent tv prog .