Baby Pig. Now What?

[joshuabardwell]

Try a nose ring. If that doesn't work, put a 3' chain onto it. Of course, you have to have a fence/pen, but the nose ring should keep him from rooting out.

Nose rings are controversial among some pig farmers. A pig's nose is one of the most sensitive parts of its anatomy--analogous to our fingertips. It's one of the main ways the pig interacts with the environment. Ringing a pig's nose is much more of a handicap than just stopping it from rooting. Also, some farmers report that, after a few months the pigs get desensitized to the ring and just go back to rooting like before. IMO, best to let a pig do what a pig needs to do, and rooting is a big part of that.

 

[jinman]

Jim,
I thought nose rings were installed when they are smaller (younger). Can you really ring a nose the size of Oscar's?
hugs, Brandi

S-E-D-A-T-I-O-N is the word for today boys and girls. I think that's the way they uh. . . "modified" Oscar so he would stay home. I doubt you would be able to hog-tie Oscar and get a ring in his nose without some sedation. Perhaps a squeeze chute might work, but that would cost more than a house call from the vet to put Oscar under for awhile. As much as Oscar hates electric fences, that might also work. He does need to be contained because Eddie's mom is probably not gonna be happy when Oscar eats her posies or roots up her flowerbeds.

 

[jinman]

I just had a thought that I wonder why I didn't think of earlier. Since Oscar hates electric fences so much, I'm thinking a modified invisible fence setup might work. The collar would have to be a big one, but it could work.

 

[J F]

Have you looked at Oscar's neck? :laughing: Maybe a harness would work. :confused3:

 

[EE_Bota]

Were it me, I'd build a very slight (cheap and easy) electric fence for testing and training purposes. Go hot-ground-hot on the wiring, and use a good fence charger. Tie lots of ribbon on the fence so he can see it, and then just see how he does. I used to keep hogs in an electric fence, and it was a challenge at times, but mine were feed restricted (brood sows.)

 

[txdon]

S-E-D-A-T-I-O-N is the word for today boys and girls. I think that's the way they uh. . . "modified" Oscar so he would stay home. I doubt you would be able to hog-tie Oscar and get a ring in his nose without some sedation...

Oh great, first a nose ring, then tattoos, then supply him drugs. Whats next the initiation into your gang.

 

[jinman]

Oh great, first a nose ring, then tattoos, then supply him drugs. Whats next the initiation into your gang.

Tagging boxcars, of course.:laughing:

 

[txdon]

Tagging boxcars, of course.:laughing:

OH no, please Not - PIG GRAFFITI!

 

[bindian]

OH no, please Not - PIG GRAFFITI!

:laughing::laughing::laughing:
hugs, Brandi

 

[TBDonnelly]

OH no, please Not - PIG GRAFFITI!

In the 'hood that would be known as: PigFiti ! :laughing:

Don