Along the Trail at Briden Farm
Woodlands Pastures, Happy Pigs, and Rotational Pastures
This is where the Pigs we’re about two weeks ago….
The little house is made of mink cages and has been sitting here for the past three years. It provides just enough wind break and Shields them from the rain. It was put here for Lara, and her brothers Curly and Moe when they were wee piglets! Last year it served Lara and her two daughters well. This year, it was really too small, but they still used it. Usually they don’t get housing in the Summer. It’s warm enough and they find shelter under trees and such.
This next picture is a little confusing. Look closely and you’ll see 4 wires. That’s because I’m removing one fence and leaving the other for now. The one around the pasture where little house is I’m taking up. I’ll be moving it, and the white plastic stakes, for the new pasture I’ll setup today for the pigs new pasture.
If You look at the White Stakes You’ll see there are two close together.. They form the gate that I open to let the girls move from one pasture to the next. Every two weeks the girls move to new ground. Note the wires, two white on one pasture and one with black and yellow. I prefer the yellow and black, and the one I got from PARMAK seems like it almost has like a rubberized coating to it. My favourite for sure!
Notice that there were no pigs in these photos! None in the old pasture and none to be seen in their current pasture! Hmmm…
Actually I wasn’t worried, I knew that while they were probably sleeping and hadn’t heard me sneak up on them, they’d soon hear me! They did …
These girls are gentle giants. Lara weighs about 650 lbs, maybe more. Her daughter’s father was a red mangalitsa boar pig and they’re smaller than Lara’s Berkshire breed. Thus her daughters won’t reach her size, but they each weigh about 450-500 lbs. Yet, even though they’re big girls I can go in and give them scratches and pats and sometimes Lara and I even do a little jig from time to time! She loves to dance!
This is the pasture I set up today for Lara and the girls…
As You can see it’s a mix of soft and hard woodlands with some grass in the corner of it. The girls will love it. The past few years we’ve had rain, heavy rain, around the first of July. There’s nothing in the forecast, but it’s been really dry, water levels are low, and I’m expecting the rain will come. The girls will be in this pasture for at least a week, up to two. The softwoods, pine, spruce, and maybe balsam fir, have branches that will help provide the protection from the rain and wind. It’s warm enough neither rain nor wind will bother to much. However, I’ve been planning the pastures so they’d be here if they need the extra cover if the rains come.
This photo will help You see just how big the girls really are…
These girls really are quite precious. We’re hoping to breed them this Fall, for Spring Pigs. If you’re interested in getting a Piglet or two from us next Spring please let us know…