The Poultry Keeper

Old Man of the 80's · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 305 Location: Wittering, UK

I'm fortunate enough to have a reasonable area of secure woodland at work that isn't used for anything and it got me thinking, get something down there animal-wise to enjoy it. Two ideas I've had so far are either geese or pigs (as the thread title suggests).

Whatever happens, they will eventually end up in the pot, the geese at Christmas and the pigs pretty much all year round.

Can everyone please fire suggestions to me as to what I should go for. I have no real experience with rearing livestock but am very keen to learn.

Also needs to be something relatively easy to look after as I am away for four months next year and the long-haired colnel will probably end up looking after things.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7144 Location: isle of lewis

pigs just make sure that your timings right so the pigs go to saughter before you go away ,then when you get back next load ,they make wieght really quickly Very Happy

suz

sasha.p · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 479 Location: gwent

i would say pigs as geese need to be shut in don't they?from predators but if you are getting pigs i think your fencing has to be good too? Very Happy

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7144 Location: isle of lewis

you pick up pigs at 6 weeks and you can slaughter from 18 onwards i think ,depending on how you want to use them so if you get your timing right it's not to bad ,your fencing does have to be good ,and it's sad when they go
suz

debcat · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:57 pm Post subject:

geese mainly live on grass with some wheat or mixed grain, mine live out most of the year only getting shut in when the weathers really bad, they'd go mad in all the time
They can be really nasty, though some breeds are worse than others

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1349 Location: Leicestershire

Hi

You know you will need a holding number if you keep pigs, and DEFRA will no doubt supply you with endless hoops to jump through, however having said that home grown pork and bacon is just the absolute best and pigs when they are young can be soooo charming, we had one once called Rosemary Roger Trotter (don't ask) the children used to go out and mesmerise her (it involved tickling her on her tummy) she of course would roll over to be helpful. I'd have one tomorrow if I could keep one (or more) in my field. Wink

Itsybitsy

Old Man of the 80's · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 305 Location: Wittering, UK

Grrrrr

Not a big paperwork fan so the needle is swinging to geese at the moment. Suppose the next step is to actually ask someone at work! Past experience has told me that the grown up's get rather irate if I go keeping animals at work on the sly.

traditionalbritishfowlco · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 243 Location: lancashire

but geese need a lot of grass to live on - that siggests pasture rather than woodland? What about turkeys? They're quite at home in a forest, just like chookens!

Old Man of the 80's · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 305 Location: Wittering, UK

To be honest, the geese idea was to get them fattened up for Christmas. Turkey's, not wanting to offend anyone, are a bit ordinary for that time of year and I was after something a bit more special.

I know geese are getting more popular at Christmas, but I've never had one and I understand them to be more hardy than turkeys. (They will live only a couple of hundred yards from a main runway at RAF Wittering and it get's mighty noisy.)

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7144 Location: isle of lewis

mine prefer to live out ,i don't like them doing it but at the moment the girls are out all the time with a bit shelter ,they don't sleep in it Rolling Eyes

dure to the fact i've got to get some poultry saddles Embarassed

this is my turkeys Wink

,don't have geese as the oh willnot let me as he tends to get bitten by them Very Happy

suz

traditionalbritishfowlco · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 243 Location: lancashire

if you're that dead set on geese you need to get them some grazing, they can do without a pond to swim in but they are designed to live on grass and wouldn't appreciate a concentrates only diet I'm sure.

debcat · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:06 pm Post subject:

living on grass they are really easy to keep
mine freerange and have a scoop of whole wheat every night, a shelter in the winter and water
If you're only keeping them till Xmas then they wouldn't reach the nasty stage

Old Man of the 80's · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 305 Location: Wittering, UK

There is plenty of grass available but the woodland would keep them out of sight. Might have a look around to see if there is apatch where the woodland opens up onto a nice large area of grass that is away from prying eyes.

Fencing and shelter isn't a problem, but where can I get geese, and more importantly, how much do they cost? If anyone can recommend a breed and supplier in central/east England I'll be well chuffed!

Cheers

debcat · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:23 pm Post subject:

try having a look through PP mags classified.
they are great birds, shouldn't need much shelter if your only keeping them till Xmas - 3 walls and a roof should do