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Will my pigs eat these chestnuts?

Posts: 213

Location: Beavercreek, Oregon

posted 12 years ago

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My trees are starting to drop chestnuts and I threw a couple to the pigs with the spiky skins still on them and I don't think the pigs liked them. Do I need to shell them first?

Kevin

Highland Creamery, micro-dairy & family farm.

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Dale Hodgins

Posts: 9002

Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

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posted 12 years ago

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Pigs have shelled their own nuts for millennia. Young pigs might need to be shown that there is something good inside. Ripe nuts are preferred. A week in the sun might help. I've heard that horse chestnuts are less palatable.

Jose Reymondez

Posts: 138

Location: Galicia, Spain Zone 9

posted 12 years ago

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I thought horse chestnuts were toxic, especially to horses.

Why work hard when god made so many mongongo nuts? - !Kung

The notion that man must dominate nature emerges directly from the domination of man by man - Murray Bookchin

C'est drôle comme les gens qui se croient instruits éprouvent le besoin de faire chier le monde.-Boris Vian

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chad stamps

Posts: 46

posted 12 years ago

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I'll be planting at least some American Chestnut throughout parts of my pasture for that specific reason - they have a nice broad shaded area once mature and what I can't gather the pigs will. Planned on ordering from these folks - http://www.redfernfarm.com/

Also, I've found it takes my Berks a while to get used to a food that's a lot different than one they've seen before. Shell them and mix them with the regular food a few times and I suspect they are shelling them on their own before too long.

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Dale Hodgins

Posts: 9002

Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

710

posted 12 years ago

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Jose Reymondez wrote:I thought horse chestnuts were toxic, especially to horses.

Turns out that you're right. I've seen deer eat them, but most domestic animals can't. Small quantities were used medically for horses and people. They're also not a true chestnut but a distant relative. Ground up, they make a soapy stain remover. I couldn't find info on toxic effects for fish, so a few catfish may be poisoned for the advancement of science.

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