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Stormcrow



Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 33
Location: Lincolnshire
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 6:37 am    Post subject: Pigs and chickens Reply with quote
    

We keep a couple of pigs in a local primary school which share an enclosure with the chickens. They all get along fine. Recently, we have noticed that the hens have started laying in the pig ark, rather than their nest boxes. We strongly suspect that the pigs are then eating the eggs. Apart from separating them, does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can get the hens to return to laying in their nest boxes?

Chickem



Joined: 27 Mar 2009
Posts: 3958
Location: Sunny Devon
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 6:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

That's a tough one

Have you tried a fake egg in the nesting box to "show" them where to lay?

Stormcrow



Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 33
Location: Lincolnshire
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 7:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They just don't seem to be going into their own house. I am assuming that they are enjoying the heat form the pigs.

LynneA



Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 4893
Location: London N21
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 9:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

On a blog I follow, one of the guy's weaners has been seen chasing, catching and eating a chicken

Pig fencing has been made much stronger as a result.

Bodger



Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 9:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You're lucky. This current set of weaners have definately caught and eaten a couple of my pigeons when they've ventured into the sty. Going back a fair few years ,I can also recall a brood of ducklings being decimated by a sow when they attempted to walk across her run.

Mrs R



Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Oh yeah our pigs regularly catch chickens. Sadly a couple of times they've failed mid-hunt and I've had to cull an escaped but badly mauled one But the chickens never seem to learn, they love hanging around with the pigs, warming their feet on their backs etc. even though they have the entire world to free range in.

crofter



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 9:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mrs R wrote:
Oh yeah our pigs regularly catch chickens. Sadly a couple of times they've failed mid-hunt and I've had to cull an escaped but badly mauled one But the chickens never seem to learn, they love hanging around with the pigs, warming their feet on their backs etc. even though they have the entire world to free range in.


Will it not be because they are trying to steal the pig food?

Mrs R



Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 10:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They always steal the food yeah but they tend to get 'got' when thy're wander a bit close and forget to watch out and move quick enough, whether there's food around or not....the pigs are always waiting for their chance! Especially one sow who has a real taste for them.

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 10:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

No, they definitely hang around in there when not hungry - some pigs are fine and will let them perch on their backs, others will eat them at first opportunity.

crofter



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mrs R wrote:
They always steal the food yeah but they tend to get 'got' when thy're wander a bit close and forget to watch out and move quick enough, whether there's food around or not....the pigs are always waiting for their chance! Especially one sow who has a real taste for them.


Sounds horrific.

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 10:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mrs R wrote:
Especially one sow who has a real taste for them.


That would be the one that was trying to eat an escaped weaner the other day?

Mrs R



Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 10:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

it is!

interestingly the ducks seem to get away with it - a little group of them even cuddle up to the tamworth boar at night quite happily. I think he provides fox protection

Mrs R



Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 10:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rob R wrote:
Mrs R wrote:
Especially one sow who has a real taste for them.


That would be the one that was trying to eat an escaped weaner the other day?


Yes. And she tried to eat me one time IIRC! Maybe she should go

Green Rosie



Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

My ducks, before they took a one way journey to the freezer used to spend loads of time in the boar's pen and he took absolutely no notice of them even if they got near his food. He is a bit laid back though!

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 11 3:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Our chikens used to perch on our pigs until we moved the pigs to the second field.

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