Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

Hi Morhogs
Thanks for the advise.
would love to here more about the rear breed. First intention would be to
rear two pigs for the freezer but like all goood ideas that may change as
we get fimilar with the pigs.We had alot of snails in the garden last year
and was going to get two ducks to manage these. Is there much work in keeping ducks and do they actually get rid of the snails.

Ta.
McNamara

Hi McNamara,

It can be difficult when it comes to slaughter day with your piggies but once the deed is done and you taste the pork/bacon any reservations you may have had will disappear. There are a few rare pig breeders in Ireland so I'm sure you will find the pig for you.

The ducks are easy to keep and you would care for them much the same as for chickens. They need to be locked up at night, my little gang take themselves off to bed and I just lock the door when it starts to get dark. They do make a bit more mess than chickens but we can cope with that. They like a bit of water to splash around in, it doesn't have to be a big pond or cost a lot, we salvaged an old bath from a skip and they like that, it was free and we like that!! They love slugs and rooting around the garden looking for them, during the slug season I take my kids out at dusk with our little buckets and torches and we go on a slug hunt with prizes for the person who collects the most and then in the morning we tip the slugs into the duck and hen run, ahhh poultry paradise.
They will reward you with lovely eggs so you are in a win win situation.

Good luck
Morag