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RE: Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

cweick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:23:58 GMT

Well it was a no go to see the sows the Friday after Thanksgiving. I called like I was instructed to do. Never heard back from him, I guess I can chalk it up to technology. Don't know if I should try again around Christmas Holidays or just wait until mid-Feb and see if he has piglets. Oh well...pressing on like my mother says.

RE: Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

cweick — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:04:44 GMT

14 days left until P2 and I do a road trip to Mr. Walker's to see Iggy and Gilbert's mom.

Are there any questions out there that you wish you would of asked the owner before purchasing your pigs? If so, let me know. Please.

RE: Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

cweick — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:45:01 GMT

Hey Mary Ann...doesn't it just take your breath away with these animals? Right now we have close to 30 head of cattle being weaned a make up of steers, bulls and herifers. We have this line backer hereford bull that comes up to the fence and wants to be petted and babied. It just amazes me that they go from 75 lb (our ideal birth weight) to 800 lb at weaning.

It want be long before they are out of their nest and being weaned.

RE: Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

mystnd — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:15:29 GMT

I think you said this drive is less than an hour so any type of litter (including towels) should work. It's my understanding that piggies have a hard time regulating their boby temp for the first 10 days and that is why avoiding wet and drafts is so critical then. By the time they hit 3-4 weeks, they are pretty rugged. Also, you asked me once about youngest age for weaning and my book says not before 5 weeks so you ought to good. By the way, my little guys are 4+ now and they are starting to eat some feed that I sprinkle in their nest area. Mary Ann

RE: Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

cweick — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:49:43 GMT

Okay the sand is out, which is good on my back. Then the only other choices I have is hay or pine shavings. I have no clue if I could get my hands on the corn cob stuff around here. Some one suggested the other day to put a couple of towels in there. So, when the time comes I'll keep and eye on the weather. Depending on when Easter is the weather may be warmer than normal...LOL..

RE: Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

mystnd — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:01:31 GMT

I'd agree with using straw for litter and not having anything wet there. A tarp or old blanket over the top sounds good to me. It's what I did in Nov and it was chilly.

Mary Ann

RE: Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

Farmermom — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:25:46 GMT

C we used either a little hay or shavings in the bottom for litter and we just covered ours with a small tarp then tucked it under the bottom to keep it from flapping then wrapped a large bungie all the way around just under the lip where the top & bottom go together, we didn't do anything about the door. We transported ours in Dec and it can be cold in Maine in Dec and ours transported just fine.

RE: Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

ihenigman2 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:15:36 GMT

i assume youre using the sand for litter and plan to wet it down to keep it from blowing out i may be way off but i dont think thats a very good idea i would use corn cob bedding or something dry you dont want them to get wet at all for the ride home as long as they stay dry they should be fine as far as the wind is concearned thats just my opinion

Transporting Gilbert and Iggy Home

cweick — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:31:20 GMT

I put out a Want to Buy ad out in the Timberland down here. I got a call the other day and picked up the ex-large pet (Blue and for a dog) taxi up from a man. A new one would of cost me over $145 without tax or shipping. I know I could put it together my self. So what I paid for this one was great.

1. We live in Louisiana, should I tape over the two side vent holes of the pet taxi to help keep the wind off the piglets? What about the front door? Do I need to do anything with that (besides keep it closed and lock...)

2. How much sand should I put in the bottom?

3. How much water should I use to wet the sand and when?

Am I over looking anything here?

Any suggestion on how to switch them from well water from Mr. Walker's place and the "city" water that we have at the Homestead. Our well went dry back in 1999.

Thanks.