c cagle

I think I'd get two different kinds to see if you can tell the difference. And I'd go for personality as a top characteristic - when you only have two personality matters. Price is very much dependent on your local situation and how these weaners are being marketed. Where I live heritage organic field raised pigs sell for $100 - $120/each at 8-10 weeks of age. Have fun!

I think it's normal for dogs in their 'terrible teens' (6 months - 18 months) to try out chasing livestock - such fun! Our english shepherd mix went from perfect behavior to hassling ducks to death. After the first death a neighbor counseled us to 'catch her in the act and slap her on the head with a fly swatter'. Horrible! But we put a fly swatter in the barn, just in case the perfect moment arrived. A mere few hours later DH caught the dog in the barn with a dead duck in her mouth and did slap her in the head with the swatter for a minute or two while yelling angrily. The dog has never chased nor harmed any livestock animal again (squirrels and chipmunks are another matter).

Ironically we were in the process of switching out breeds of ducks from muscovies to pekin. The two ducks the dog killed were my absolute favorite muscovies, a breeding pair, and I was having the hardest time getting rid of them as I was so fond of them. The dog solved my dilemna for me. Did she know I needed help? One of those head scratchers.

This is the only time we've ever come close to physical punishment for a dog of ours and while it was awful both to contemplate and do it did end the animal killing.

Adam, a feeder is a weaned young pig ready to be grown out for butchering. Sometimes called weaners or feeders. When they get larger they get called pigs or hogs. And could also be called barrows, gilts, sows, .... The nomenclature of each species can be overwhelming! So we have two pigs (they've grown tremendously this last month!) that will be ready for butchering between mid-december and mid-january. The first suitable weather weekend, but not chrismas, and we'll no longer have pigs till next fall.

And I have a wee spot of envy about being in school. Learning is such a wonderful thing! And school can be so dull. So it's a wee spot.

Hi Judith!
no, unfortunately our soil is scraped suburban land - nothing on top and then sticky thick clay that barely drains. This was wetlands before development, lovely. We're gardening by building up as it is the place to go. I really haven't explored much of illinois at all - I'm really a transplanted wisconsinite moved down here 18 months ago and making a home, surely and slowly.

thank you for the kind welcome

I'm a bit west of chicago. New here myself. And finding it delightful though a bit slow sometimes - I like a bunch of new threads and lots of discussions if I have a choice. (my intro is a few below yours).

welcome, Adam! were abouts do you hail from?

I did not have a problem with my muscovies eating my bees. I only had perhaps 10 mucovies at the most at one time and three hives of bees - not sure I could have told even if they were eating them. For that matter, I couldn't tell that the muscovies were eating flies but then again I did not have too many flies before or after.

Physically you can - but whether or not it is legal to do in your location or ethical are other questions.

And another question would be what are you goals? and would a 'wild raised in captivity' duck meet those goals? Sometimes getting animal breeds that were purposely selected to meet specific goals makes it a lot easier and more rewarding to reach them. For example, I would not expect a 'formerly wild' duck to lay many eggs while a runner duck produces more eggs than most chickens.

If you are looking for a pet duck and the breed you can 'grab' is not endangered in any way and it's not illegal to keep wild animals then sure, why not?

hey there!

I've finally come looking for permaculture specific info and a more liberal online community. I've spent several years over at homesteading today(ht) and learned great skills from wonderful people - but I'm more liberal than most of them and it's hard to avoid arguments sometimes. I don't want to argue! And I don't feel that everyone is out to get 'mine' and that the number of bullets you own defines your security. I'd much rather define security by sharing knowledge and skills with my neighbors and friends. I believe in community I've seen Paul Wheaton's posts on HT and finally went a looking... and here I am!

We've been doing all sorts of homesteading stuff for the last 5 yrs and looking for ways to increase our wisdom about resource use and finding balances. Currently we've got a small flock of chickens, a pair of turkeys, a pair of feeder pigs and a huge garden on an acre on the edge of the 'burbs. Top bar hive awaiting a nuc come spring. Dreams of a pair of mini-mancha goats. Nice herb garden started.

I run a meetup group, foraging and herbs, and love learning how to care for and feed my family and friends. I like to make things. To get dirty outside and to eat real food.

Cathy

I might do that, Judith, try tempeh first. We're about to start an anti-candida diet so it'll be awhile before we can eat fermented things again. But hopefully soon!