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

Anyone care to suggest the best size trailer for three adult pigs?

blowin · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:02 am Post subject:

I think the trailer could be a lot smaller than you would imgine but from experience a critical factor is that it is fully enclosed , that is to say that little or no daylight should be visible above the sides or rear door . Boris the " flying boar " got his nickname from jumping thru a gap no more than about 18" high above a 4 1/2 ft door at the back of a narrow horse trailer and he was a big animal ! I have pics somewhere . Meanwhile Bref might add a word in confirmation of this story .
Sir Porky might also tell a tale or two ! Laughing

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

I know Blowin. Whoever said pigs can't fly never tried to coral them into a trailer with a sheet of galvanised iron - as I once did. Oh the pain and the shame of it!
But seriously, I'm buying/making up a new trailer for three pigs and wonder what floor space I should have. In the past, I had an 8x4 foot floor and they had way too much space.

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

Problem I've found is that if they don't perceive the space is big enough they won't go into it. And keeping the first one in a confined space while the others load might be more hassle than it's worth.

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

Good point Dara. The last time I had to load two pigs, I put the trailer in their run the night before with straw on the ramp and threw a few apples inside and waited, and waited. In the morning I threw some more food inside and they trotted in.
I did have to run an electric fence around the trailer though as they were chewing the tyres and hubs off the trailer.
I think I'll try 6x4 feet and see how that works.

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

Like the tyre biting. Got bogged so I had to leave my 35x in the field with my pigs a couple of years ago. When I jumped in to start it the next day nothing happened - they had pulled most of the wiring and all the hoses out.

sir. porky · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 59 Location: west of Ireland

Yes blowin is correct i could tell a good few storys about the transport of pigs. A few years ago i delivered a sow up to dara, well i arrived at dara,s place we sat and had acup of tea and a chat (20 or 30 mins) after i went to reverse the trailer up to dara,s shed only to notice 25 missed calls on my phone and ringing again, i answered to find the wife on the phone telling me in a mad panic she had found the said pig at the side of the road only half a mile or so from home abit shaken and bruised, well as you can imagine i was well shocked and we had to return and reload her.
Another time i lost a pig over the back door at 40 mph and saw her through my rear view mirror sumersalt down the road onil to get up and start rooting up the grass verge. so yes be warned and make agood job of your trailer. P.S we always used to take pigs to slauter in the back of a old escort estste. no ascape!