Electric fences aren't required for hogs, however they are the lowest cost for large areas. Hog panels are, at least in my area, about $25 a piece and are 16 feet long. T-posts are around $5 each and you'll need at least four to hold the panel in place. So you are looking at about $50 to put up 16 feet of fence. High tensile hot wire is about $100 for 4000 feet. A wood post on each end and T-posts about every 20 feet. Minimum is three strands. Also needed is an energiser and insulators. You can string up a lot of fence for a fraction of the cost of panels. Just in case you are tempted, never use welded wire, they will push right through it. Field fence will hold them, but don't expect it to look pretty for long.
Kids and livestock, another subject. Farm stock are not pets. They aren't for cuddling, petting, or playing with. They are large/strong creatures that can cause injury or death. Treat them like you would a busy highway, loaded firearms, or a swimming pool, teach your kids limitations and supervise. Kids learn hot wire just as quick as farm animals. The fence does not contain them, they can walk right through. However, the shock hurts, and they learn not to touch it. The pain is so psychological that I can remove the wire and they won't cross into the new area. Touching a hot wire is not fatal, were it I would have died a hundred deaths. Older kids can be told, young ones need to be watched. If they touch the wire, it is usually only once.
Since you are new my suggestion is to start small, say two or three weaners next spring. Use seven hog panels, make a square with four of them. When they have exhausted the soil, set up the next three alongside, so you have two squares. Remove the middle panel and let the pigs work the fresh side. Later replace the centre panel and remove the three surrounding the old section, building a new square on the other side and removing the old end/ new centre pane . Don't invest in a mill yet, either use commercial feed or find a local source that grinds grains. You'll harvest in the fall and be done with them. At that point you'll know if hogs are right for you or not. You may give them up, you may just raise homegrown pork for you and your family, or you may decide to raise stock and recoup expenses.
I'm with you about naming food. My sister inlaw is a 30yr old kid no doubt, every animal on the farm gets a name. She asked my 3yr daughter what the next cows name should be; my daughter and I came up with the name; "#4" Which I thought was pretty fantastic.
For now the hogs are a no go, but we're going to be looking for a proper beef cow. I'm hoping that persistence will prevail and we'll have some Berkshire pigs in there soon. I'm keeping this thread saved so I'll have a reference when the times comes. Also the grist mill is something I'm sure they'll be very interested in very soon.
Thanks for the time you put into this thread CN and everyone else, I appreciate it and your time has been greatly appreciated and will be put into action before too long.
I wouldn't jump in this time of year anyway. When spring rolls around try selling the idea. Like I said, start with two to raise up for butcher to try it out before going bigger. The mill isn't really necessary for that few, unless you are going to raise chickens and want to grind their feed as well. Here is the model I have. I would have preferred the hammer mill, but Mrs. CN didn't want to spend that much. Keep an eye on the forum, next time I slaughter I'll be posting a thread. I'm also toying with the idea of having a farm journal thread next season.
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