How to Raise Pigs Naturally on a Small Farm

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1 How to Raise Pigs Naturally on a Small Farm Before we started to raise pigs naturally, we discussed what that would mean on our farm. Since then, many litters of piglets have arrived, showed off how cute they can be, were weaned, fed for a few weeks, or even months in some cases. All were sold and the waiting time would begin again.

2 The sows had some time off after each litter, to gain some weight, rest and completely dry off. Then, Charlie would welcome them back into his pasture area and the breeding cycle would begin again. We started raising pigs with two sows and Charlie, the boar. Soon after another sow was added.

3 Wet, early spring weather leads to mud, no matter what you do. Learning to Raise Pigs Naturally We have learned a lot about how to raise pigs naturally on our farm. It s been a bit of trial and error on some issues as we tried some conventional ideas, and some of our own. One thing we knew from the start, we wanted the pigs to have as close to a natural existence as we could provide for them, in captivity. The project was started by one of our adult children and he has been successful with the whole thing. Inspired by books on pasture rotation, and sustainable

4 agriculture by Joel Salatin and Gaining Ground by Forest Pritchard, we learned about how to raise pigs naturally in a pasture setting. We agreed, from the start, that a certain level of cleanliness would be necessary. There were large fenced pastures available but it was a limited space. Fencing in more pasture ground might be possible in the future but it would have to wait. And we have neighborhoods and a road near the farm so security and safety were of high importance. What We Felt Was Important The other thing we agreed on was that we absolutely did not want pigs living in close, crowded conditions of filth and manure. Raising pigs naturally has added a new dimension to our small farm.

5 Instead of using cement slabs and metal fencing, we used run in stalls open on one side, soft straw and sawdust bedding, along with pallet barriers with wood fencing. The entire area is wired with electric fencing and the interior of the pig acreage is broken into different parcels, fenced and wired. This allowed us to separate pigs as necessary, give the sows some space to raise the piglets and the piglets to be weaned. Raising Pigs Takes a Lot of

6 Preparation Make no mistake, it was a lot of work to get this set up to raise pigs naturally. The buildings were already in place as the area had previously been used as horse paddocks. But they needed repair and needed to be pig proof. escape. Pigs love to And, when separated, they like to try to get back together. Charlie and Mariah and Layla were quite the bonded family. When each sow would deliver, or right before if we were on our game, she would be escorted to a birthing room with a fenced in area surrounding some lush green grass and weeds. She would be pampered with lots of table scraps, fresh composting veggies and extra hay and feed. The babies would thrive and follow Momma around. All well and good, but while the sow was being treated as queen of her pasture, poor Charlie was looking on from the other side of the fence, forlornly.

7 What Really Happens in the Pig Pen I think this is a good time to back up and explain some pig behavior. Telling you how good the sows are and how Charlie hates to be alone, might lead you to think we treat the pigs as pets. This would be far from the truth. We respect the possibility that the pigs volatile nature means they can turn on us at any minute. A sow protecting her piglets is a force that you do not want to cross. We respect that and take precautions. A pig board is a must between you and the pig at all times. If the piglets need to be handled, at least two people should be on hand, so one can keep an eye on momma. Pigs might be cute and they sure are smart but they are still livestock and have a volatile nature.

8 How We Handled Things Charlie missed his sows and they missed him too. They all paced the fence line trying to spend quality time together. With future litters of pigs we tried something a bit different. Layla delivered first and was moved to a maternity suite. Three weeks later Mariah delivered her litter but instead of moving her to a separate area and run in shed, we left her with Charlie.

9 A lot of references will tell you that this can end badly with the boar killing and or eating the piglets but if you observe pigs in the wild, that does not happen. While Charlie may not take an active role in raising the piglets, he doesn t bother them, either. He behaves the same as he always does towards Mariah and is tolerant of the babies. Hopefully this won t change and of course we keep a close eye on the whole situation. The piglets don t stay long on our farm before moving on to who ever buys them.

10 Rotating Pastures Rotation is one key to our pig operation. This allows the vegetation to regrow and the fields from being over filled with pig manure and mud. Since this system works with nature instead of against it, the vegetation regrows quickly and a lush green area is ready for use every three months or so. Of course, if we have a rainy season like we did this spring and early summer, its hard to keep anywhere from becoming muddy.

11 Escape Artists at Work Keeping pigs from escaping takes some vigilance and they do eat a good bit of food, vegetation and grain. We try to feed them as naturally as possible but we do have to supplement with some grain. More woodland will be fenced in eventually, and we will see how they do with a more wooded environment, too. No matter how long you farm or homestead, there is always something new to learn. That is my idea of a life well lived. Learning to raise pigs naturally fits into our farm goals.

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14 Looking for more information on raising fresh pork? Homestead Honey Sausage Making Livin Lovin Farmin 20 Ways Livestock Can Make You Money Pig Pens or Pig Pastures by Timber Creek Farm Raising Miniature Goats, Cows, Chickens and Sheep

15 Raising miniature goats, chickens and livestock is possible on a small homestead. The more people who are moving towards a simpler way of life, living more self sustainably, are still interested in having a family milk provider. When you are raising a smaller family on a smaller homestead, you don t need a full size milk producer. What makes miniature livestock a good choice? Small breed livestock need less pastured, fenced land, less grain. In addition, these miniature members of farm yards produce less waste. In many cases, raising miniature goats and other livestock of smaller stature makes a lot of sense for the modern homesteader.today, many families want to return to the agrarian roots, but don t have the money to buy a large ranch and raise full size cattle, goats, pigs or other livestock. A smaller homestead, of a few acres, allows these families the room to grow vegetables, and also keep some livestock for the family s needs.

16 Are Nigerian Dwarf Goats the best choice? Choosing to raise miniature goats or cows and other livestock allows the family to fit more production into the family homestead. Lesa Wilke, author of Nigerian Goats 101: Background & Basics (2015) and creator of the popular Better Hens and Gardens blog ( states Nigerian Dwarf goats are becoming quite popular because they re small, cute, low maintenance, and very productive for their size. They don t require pastures, are easy to handle and house, and can provide milk, meat, brush control, and fertilizer. They are the size of a medium to large dog, so they re an easy homestead addition regardless of whether the homestead is large, small, rural, suburban, or urban. For us, it was the small size, brush control, and incredible tasting milk that caused us to choose them for our farm. Lesa Wilke

17 Points in favor of Miniature goats and livestock Most breeds of miniatures have decent dispositions,along with the smaller size. These qualities allow them almost pet status in the family. Along with the smaller size comes less feed intake and less manure waste. The feed conversion for most miniature livestock is very good. When making the decision about raising miniature goats Miniature livestock are still larger than many family dogs. If you don t have the strength and fortitude to handle a large dog, you may not be able to handle raising miniature goats and other miniature livestock. Be realistic about your personal strength and abilities before acquiring any size livestock. Because the miniature goats, cows and sheep usually have sweet, docile dispositions they may not bite but kicks can be dangerous! What care is required? The same items of care needs to be performed on miniature livestock as it does on the full size versions. Hoof trimming, worming, milking, shearing, health checkups all need to be done. Check to see if there is a livestock veterinarian in your area. While some forms of care could be performed by any licensed veterinarian, these animals are still livestock with the specialized needs of livestock. Finding an urban veterinarian willing to come out to your farm and trod through mud to help an ailing cow, miniature or not, is unlikely. Fencing, Housing, Equipment Unless you want to go collect your livestock from the neighbor s garden, make sure you have the correct fencing for

18 the animals you choose to raise on your farm. Even though the animals are shorter, pygmy goats for example, are very good at jumping over fences. Raising miniature goats, cows, or pigs means you still must supply the animals with the correct fencing, housing and equipment. A milk stand will forever change your life and keep your back from hurting, too. Consider placement of the run in shed or mini barn. The best setting for the shed or barn is with the closed back side of the shed facing the wind. What are the benefits to raising miniature goats and other livestock? Nigerian Dwarf, Pygmy, and Dwarf Nubians goats are a few of the breeds of miniature goats. Lesa Wilke, in her book, Nigerian Goats 101:Background and Basics, has a chart showing the different breeds of goats and the milk yield. Nubian goats produce more than other commonly raised breeds but the Nigerian Dwarf is a solid performer in milk production. At a fraction of the size of a full grown Nubian doe, the feed savings and space requirements are much less. Which breeds have miniature counterparts? There are miniature versions of the Nubian breed available, too, although the Nigerian Dwarf breed is more easily found. The Nigerian Dwarf is an actual breed,originating in Africa for dairy needs. Crossing a Nigerian Dwarf with a full size Nubian or other dairy breed of goat, leads to a smaller version of the breed. They appear to be smaller Nubians. The milk production of the miniaturized breeds is from 65 % to 75% of the full size goat. Other smaller goat breeds include the Pygmy, Kinders, and the Pygora. Pygora s are a registered cross between a pygmy and an angora. Pygoras are generally raised for their soft fiber and sheared like sheep or alpacas.

19 When seeking a breed for raising miniature goats, checking with your local breeders for their feedback is a good place to start. Miniature Cattle, Dexters and Lowlines Highlands, Raising miniature cattle for both meat and milk can be accomplished on small homesteads. It is important to keep in mind that the same challenges that pertain to full size cattle will still be in play, but on a lessor scale. Cattle are mostly grazing animals. Your full size cattle will need grazing area or to be fed good quality hay until market size is reached. Miniature breeds of cattle are often browsers as much as grazers. This means they will be happy to do some land clearing for you, eating weeds, and brush as well as the

20 grass. The amount of feed needed will be less with the miniatures and the Highlands will thrive on low quality brush, due to their heritage as mountain cattle. Highland Cattle The Highland breed is gaining in popularity. The breed is versatile and hardy. The feed conversion is reportedly very good. In addition, you can t argue with the cute factor of the miniature Highland breed! Be prepared if you are squeamish about raising your own meat source. These miniature cows have a very high cuteness factor. Dexter Breed Dexter Cattle, Lowlines, miniature Jersey and Miniature Zebu are other popular breeds of miniature cattle, recognized by the International Miniature Cattle Breeder Society and

21 Registry. The Dexter breed is an ancient breed from the mountains in Ireland. Dexters were not developed from miniaturizing a standard breed. Lowlines Lowlines are short, smaller versions of the standard Black Angus. You will appreciate the characteristics of great meat quality and yield is still available in the smaller, shorter version of the Black Angus breed too. Just as when raising miniature goats, raising a small herd of miniature cattle can be a dual purpose venture in both food production and land clearing. Also, keep in mind that goats, sheep, and cattle are herd animals and will not do as well when you only keep one. You will need to keep two or more of the species you choose to raise. Are there miniatures in pigs, sheep and poultry? Pigs, Sheep, Ducks and Chickens all have miniature versions of breeds. Some breeds of pigs are smaller than the standard market hogs we commonly see on farms. KuneKune pigs are becoming more popular. A note of caution is in order. All pigs grow to be sizable animals. Even the smaller breeds will grow rather large and you need to take this into consideration before attempting to raise smaller breeds of pigs. Miniature pigs also include the small pot belly breeds, although those are not commonly raised for meat but are kept as pets. What are Babydoll Sheep Babydolls sheep are actually a small Southdown sheep. These minis are much smaller than the full sized sheep breeds. They are good foragers and grazers and not very needy in terms of extra care. The standard run in shed and a good low fence, plenty of available water and a vet familiar with sheep,

22 should get you off to a good start with this smaller breed of sheep. Ike, our mini southdown, chats with the piglets about the rules of the grassy field. Call Ducks and Bantam Chickens When you see the Call Ducks, a breed of miniature duck, you might want a whole flock. While they can be rather pricey to get started with, Bantam chickens are usually more of a bargain. Bantam chickens are much smaller than a standard size chicken. Coop space, and feed and water consumption is less than the standard chickens also. As with other minis, production is somewhat based on size. Three Bantam eggs equals one large egg from a standard breed of chicken. The bantams are prone to broodiness, and make very good Mother Hens. Bantam chickens are a good choice for children starting to raise chickens on the homestead. When you choose bantam

23 chickens you often get very docile chickens, although the roosters can get a little feisty. Give Raising Miniature Goats, Sheep, Pigs and Chickens a try. If you are planning on raising miniature goats, or any other miniature breed of livestock, prepare your land as you would for any livestock. You can get by with less land and less costs associated with feed. The end result will be a more self-sufficient homestead for your family. Have you considered raising miniature farm animals?

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25 May Review from Timber Creek Farm May Review of What s Happening on Timber Creek Farm May went by in a flash for us here at Timber Creek Farm. The month was incredibly busy with garden planting, new farm

26 animals to care for and new pens to build. One of my favorite things about spring is fresh Strawberries! The plant I started two years ago is producing nicely and I can often get a dish of berries from it. Not enough to be making pies or canning jam yet but the plant is thriving and spreading out runners. At the beginning of May I found a really nice pen that was expandable and sturdy for the pullets to be in outside the coop. This worked well, for a few weeks but by the end of May the pullets had again outgrown the pen and needed to move again. The babies had just learned that I wanted them to return to the coop at bedtime and would fly back into the coop. Now they are in a different area and again, I need to train them where to go at night. They will learn quickly though. A treat of mealworms or a little bit of scratch helps with the training.

27 Just because they are cute as they can be, here s a photo of Sable Margaret and her momma, Raven. Sweet little girls. Jack and Josie, Sable s brothers, have a new house and pen right next door. So now every bunny has lots of space and a nice airy house to sleep in during the hot weather. Bonus, we were able to build the new pen using materials we already had on the farm! cost was $0! So except for my husbands sweat equity the The pigs loved the green growth in the fields. It doesn t take long for them to clear a field! But since it is the

28 growing season and the weeds love to grow quickly, the fields regrow quickly. Sometimes I just like to walk around the farm and take photos of whatever strikes me. This bell is one of my favorite scenes to photograph. Which way do you prefer? The one with the trees or the close up of just the bell?

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30 Watermelon is a great treat for the birds when the heat climbs. It is full of vitamins and minerals in addition to adding fluids on a hot day. The chicks weren t sure at first what to do with it, eat it or stand on it. learned that it is sweet and delicious. The bees are hard at work and doing well. But they quickly They have a lovely

31 new sign set up thanks to the talent of my neighbor and fellow beekeeper. Caught a few pictures of some funny goat faces! expressions! Look at these

32 I hope you and your household had a good month of May. to head into June and the beginning of summer? Ready

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