Winter Feeding...

[gingy pig]

I'm just curious about this, most of our pigs are outside in well insulated hutches, but with the weather now getting much colder, does anyone feed different foods to compensate for extra calories that they must be using to keep warm?
i know when we had goats we would give them oats or sugar beet as extra calories.
just wondered if there was anything extra to give along side hay,pellets & veg? most of our pigs have never been chubby so dont want any weight loss over winter.
thanks x

 

[eileen]

you could give corn on the cob,maybe a few more roote vegetables,eg parsnips,carrots.only in moderation.i have givn a handful of readigrass between two pigs twice a week,but mine are in a non heated shed,but have not lost weight.I'm not sure about oats,someone who has more experience with this maybe able to help.Just a suggestion heatpads are very good a night for helping to keep them warm,i use one heat pad between two piggies,place cover on pad ,lots of hay on top.

 

[Swissgreys]

I don't have anything helpful to add about feeding, but I think it would probably be a really good idea to continue with regular weighing over the Winter to keep a really close eye on their weights (which it sounds like you already do).

 

[gingy pig]

thanks, yep got heat pads split between them,might get some different hays to keep them interested & eating as much as possible

 

[eileen]

Thats a good idea @gingy pig ,mine love orchard grass never any waste,it is expensive,Hay experts do it it large boxes and smaller bags,its more cost effective to get large packs if you can stretch to that.Isave ten pounds a month until ive enough to buy the very large box.!

 

[gingy pig]

just had a look & woah that is eye wateringly expensive! looks lovely though, but cant afford to order from them as get £12.99 delivery charge to isle of wight , which is a shame as have some lovely stuff :-(