The Taming of the Pigs

Since the piglets arrived (and left, and arrived, and left again!) about a month ago we have been working on building a trust with them. Once it became apparent that they were too flighty to investigate the electric fence slowly but surely we had to take fast action before they decided to depart full time. We built a four foot high strong mesh fence with round posts roughly every meter. The mesh size was only a couple of inches, sheep fencing would have been useless because piglets are small enough to jump through the larger gaps.  Just above grass level and at pig shoulder height we strung around electric ribbon fencing. When the pigs were released into their new and improved enclosure they again made repeated runs at the fence for a good two minutes, but this time when they got pinged by the electric fence they couldn't just bolt out through it.

Once they calmed down they never went near the ribbon fencing again, and after two weeks turning the soil in their miniature 'training enclosure' we removed the mesh fencing. Four strands of electric ribbon fencing now contains them and can be easily moved around to new ground as they need it.

Why do we use ribbon fencing rather than wire fencing? Because a pigs eyesight isn't great, especially if they are are lop eared breed as the ears effectively act as blinkers, but they do learn where the wire is and avoid it. When the time comes to move the fencing, or the pigs, they won't want to cross the line where they've learned the ping exists. If you use wide ribbon electric fencing they can see it clearly and associate the ping with the ribbon rather than the area, so will readily move across the line once the fencing is removed. We find they might still need a little encouragement.

As you can see these piglets who ran the first few days are now well on the way to relaxing in their new home. We spend a few minutes with them during several sessions each day, not just at feeding times, so that they don't expect to always get food whenever we enter their pen.

Comments

[Podchef]

Did ye know you can train pigs like dogs?? Try it. Everytime you feed them--especially if ye do it in a specific spot--name the spot. I feed mine in a portable wooden trough. Sure they knock it about and move it, but it's sturdy enough to take the abuse, but still light enough-until I give myself a hernia--to move it back. So when they were little pigs, I called "Pigs, Pigs. . .trough" everytime I filled the trough for them, even though they were swarming round me wellies. Know that they're full grown hogs and they charge the fence when they see me coming round the corner with their buckets, I can call "Traaaa-ough!" and they head over to their trough and dance around until I'm there to start dumping food in it.

Now that it's apple season and the trough is usually knocked over or moved and I want it closer to the fence where I feed them I have modified this by dumping a bucket of apples on the ground and calling "apples". This buys me some time to set the trough to-rights and keeps me from getting a broken thigh as they rush me for goodies. They always come to the fence when they see me, but it's fun to call "Apples!" and watch them head off and look around before I throw them now.

I wouldn't worry about becoming too attached by training the pigs--unless you go overboard and create a star. . . .--it just helps you handle them when they get larger and has helped us make it easier for our girls to feed them as part of their chores when we're busy elsewhere.

[bigbucketgirl]

Oh bless those pigs! Our neighbour had a pet pig(i know 'pork' was one of your tags! but she had the pig well trained! she'd been given it(runt? walked funny? can't remember) and it used to answer to calls of "Morning!" and "bucket" !It was a huge thing but went where it was told! she was grateful...at 5ft 5 she didn't have the strength to argue.

Found your blog the last couple of days and am thoroughly enjoying reading through. thankyou.

[Maria Kinsella]

hi Rebecca, I was delighted to see your two piglets when I visited last week. They looked very happy and chilled out and interested in me, a newcomer...well done.

Thanks for the chicken casserole too...yummy chicken....

Maria

[cliodhna]

hi, I remember seeing Ripleys Believe It or Not and he said that the pigs always preyed before eating. it turned out the pigs were trained not to eat until he said the word 'Amen' like Podchief was talking about

hey, I am having a giveaway on my blog. Would be cool if you came and joined! x clio

[cliodhna]

hi, that should be prayed.... not preyed...

[Péitseoga]

little black pigs, so cute! and i'd say there will be very fertile soil where their pen has been, for more veggies!

[Rebecca (Sallygardens Smallholding author)]

They are nice little piggies now, growing every day. They enjoy a back scratch and come running when I call 'piggie piggie piggies'!

[wire mesh fence]

What cute pigs! Hope they don't get out again!