How much space should I allow for 2/3 pigs?

[RobH]

Hi, I'm planning on getting 2/3 piglets to fatten up this spring and I'm looking for some guidance on how much space I should be allowing for them. My plan is to fence off 2 areas about 10m sq and rotate them over the 25 weeks or so I have them.

does this sounds about right? can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks, Robert

[Roughlee Handled]

The more the better I think 10m square is a little on the small side but it really depends on the land. If clay soil then more.
Do you have two areas of 10m or only 10m?

[too many girls]

i think you need to speak to Roughlee Handled, he knows about pigs, i'm afraid i have yet to go down the pig keeping route.

[too many girls]

oops, he beat me to it

[RobH]

sorry, just to clarify. I plan to fence off 2 areas each 10m x 10m.

[Potiron]

 Any idea of what breed of pigs you would like Robert?

[RobH]

I'm thinking GOS or saddleback.

I'm booked on to a keeping course in a month or so time which will helpful give me a better idea of what to go for as a first timer.

For now now I'm just trying to get an idea of the space needed which of course will be breed dependant.

[Roughlee Handled]

Sorry for the delay I had to find this info. My books shy away from the actual amount of land you need and I knew I had read it somewhere, the only place I could find the info when I started was here
http://www.rivercottage.net/EdibleProjects~Livestock/237/GettingStartedwithPigs.aspx
"For a pair of pigs you should fence off an absolute minimum of 150 square metres."

10m*10m = 100m squared  so you have 200m squared. Enough for two pigs I would not go for three.
 
Soil
If you are on clay then your area will not last very long if we have a prolonged wet spell.

Breed
Some breeds are more likely to turn the soil over than others eg the Kunekune are not supposed to, but I have no experience of them.  You will need shade for your pigs and a water supply. A tap within 50m is ok but you will have to supply alot of water for them if it gets hot.

[Potiron]

 Me again,
            Robert, there is a web site, its for Brits living in France who keep rare/old breed pigs, lots of them are first time keepers and most of the admin. have keep pigs for years hence the name.  http://www.pigsinfrance.com  they might be able to help you.

[RobH]

Thanks very much for you help!

[Martin]

Some breeds are more likely to turn the soil over than others eg the Kunekune are not supposed to, but I have no experience of them.

I have 2 Kune Kune in an orchard of just under 1 acre (trees are well fenced!). Supposedly grazing pigs, but in my case they have dug over most of the ground, and I'm not sure what grass they will have this summer. Its likely I will have to get electric fencing to divide the area into three so I can allow some of the grass to recover.

[RobH]

Hi Martin, thanks for your advise. are your 2 kune kune your first pigs? would you recomend the breed?

[Roughlee Handled]

.............. I'm not sure what grass they will have this summer...............

Summer???


They sound like pets to me.

[Martin]

Yes, I should have said, they are pets.
We got them to keep the grass down in the orchard.
I suppose no grass amounts to the same thing.
They are small (ish) so I wouldn't  recommend them for meat production.
Extremely friendly and sociable. I do recommend them.
More information at the British Kune Kune Pig Society here.

[GilbertJessop]

I'm a big Large Black fan - rare breed, won't root too much, very phlegmatic, excellent all round pig.
http://www.largeblackpigs.co.uk/