This man put me in the hog business and has taught me everything i know about them and he has forgot more than I will ever know!I cant thank Chris and Darlene enough for being such good friends and being such a great mentor!Anothet great video!Thanks for all you do!
I was in the process of watching one of y'alls old videos thinking I wonder when a new video will come out? I scrolled down on my tv and bam! This video was just released. 😊 Thank's guys!
Glad to hear from you folks! You're passing a lot of good information that'll help people if they listen and do like you say. Keep up the good work. You're in our prayers. Take care.
Hi Chris!. Love the videos you and your wife present to the world!!. Just wondering if you were planning on a video about breeding schedules to produce 1 litter a month as mentioned in a previous video. Very eye opening and informative videos you guys make!!. Watching from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Your channel has been my go to for all things pig related. Everything from my pen rebuild, meds and feed. Can not thank you enough for sharing the wisdom you've collected over the yrs. Can visually see the improvement on my 2 pigs. Have you thought of self publishing a book?
@@PMFLTD I'm not an expert on cold but a good shelter and deep bedding and they should be fine . I doubt I'd make a good author that's why we make these videos.
I asked a month or two ago about bringing some free hogs I got back from the brink. They were damn near being starved by the guy that I got them from. Skin and bones. Had round worm like you wouldn't believe. They've put on so much weight and look so amazing now you wouldn't wouldn't believe. Thank you so much for all you do.
I planted a whole extra garden for my pigs. We put corn with stocks through the Woodchipper and mix it with feed and veggie scraps. Some of the best pork chops we’ve ever grown
@@ericmadden1473 I'm going to do some cattle videos soon , I used to be big time in goats but I'm scared what I know may be really outdated. Still know how to keep them in and feed them etc but I'm out of the loop on market and breeds
awesome videos, the realistic information no hype no lipstick on the pig to pretty it up, thanks for all the information please keep it up and God bless you and your family and farm
Good to hear from you again Chris. I think Meagan Lawson had on one of your shirts in a video the other day. I love the design. I know this is on another subject but I was curious. What variety/varieties of sweet potatoes do you plant? I planted some for the first time in years this year and they did pretty good for the season we had.
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Thank you sir! I planted Beauregards. Grandma and Grandpa used to plant Nancy Halls years ago. I can remember when I was little they used to bed them.
Good information. Chris, if you were going to pick one male out of a litter at 2 or 3 weeks and castrate the rest what would you look for? It's hard to spot potential when they're that young however if you let them go to 10 or 12 weeks then castration gets incredibly difficult.
Hi, Chris can I keep multiple sows in a pen i would like to keep 4 sows/gilts in a 32x64 pen. And trying to figure out what size boar pen and weaning pen to build. And maybe a farrowing pen.just don't know what size to make them. Asking for suggestions. Thank you, Chester
I've cut the cost of feed by $120 per ton by making my own feed. Lucked up on a deal for a Farmhand grinder mixer and got an older Massey. I also invested in building a shelter to keep them dry because water is unkind to those grinder mixers.
@@mickeythriller I got lucky with mine too it had always been shelter kept and had only made cow feed a few times a year . A big shelter is our next project
@HomesteadingtheHardWay That's about how it was with the Farmhand. Guy never used mineral and only made cow feed with it. Guy I know had bought it for a backup a decade ago and never used it because his old mixer refuses to break down. He needed the space and I needed the grinder. I did have to fight with some hay and cottonseed that had been in there a decade though.
@HomesteadingtheHardWay a friend of ours who tends land & has cows had the huge grinder & we paid him a small fee for helping us grind it. We also bought the corn from him. We ended up at about $7.32 per 50#. Which saves us several dollers over what the feed mill charges.
@@christymartin9404 that's about the same as what we have in ours by the time you add a little for fuel and maybe a little hired help . We have trouble with mold especially if some of the corn was a little high in moisture that's why we only make a week's worth at the time
How many lbs of feed per pig from weaned pig to finish 250lb roughly? Trying to figure out if it’s worth buying bulk sacks for 2 feeders. I’m assuming roughly a ton per pig from what I’ve read
Ours take about 800 lbs to finish each . You can figure 3 or 3.5 lbs of feed to make a pound of pork with a good pig , a bad pig there's no telling. I figure a dollar a pound live weight total input cost to raise tops up to 280 after that the feed conversion drops off fast
@@proudamerican2716 cracked corn is usually only a couple of dollars a bag cheaper than feed so by the time you mix it you'd lose big time . That and it doesn't digest as well . You liable to hear anything when it comes to feeding pigs , big difference in just keeping one alive and one thriving
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Basically it is to freeze proof the trap when bedded in the ground. Snow and rain can fall on it and the trap will still fire. I take sand instead of good old dirt because it takes less wax. You put a weed burner under the drum of the mixer and when it gets just hot enough to melt the wax, you then add the wax and let it turn until the sand cools. The sand becomes weather proof. In South Carolina years ago, I just used peat moss. It worked ok. Out of topic for your videos, I apologize for that. Just miss raising hogs. Thanks for all that you do. I appreciate it.
@@RaisedOutdoors problem we have with buying bulk is even as much as we use it molds before I can use it up . We have to buy 6 tons minimum at the time for delivery
@ yea I get 1/2 ton at a time but I don’t keep many on the place. They go as soon as possible lol. We just breaking even here to have pork. That’s a good point though
It needs to be ground, soaked or cooked. I you give it to them straight it'll pass right through them. They won't get full benefits. Also shell corn is only 7% -8% protein which is way too low to be their primary source. You need some soybean meal or something to boost protein content.
@@jensenfamilyhomestead4278 I've never fed the flavored deer corn , I doubt it would hurt anything. I usually buy up all the left over deer corn around after the season goes out and they're just trying to get rid of it
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay we got our first piglets about a month and a half ago, we got 3 blue butt gilts. we're feeding then a daily scoop of corn, and giving them about 4 acres to forage about 1/3 of it is forested, the rest is grass and weeds. They have been constantly digging up the weeds and eating the roots. plus we've given them stuff like pumpkins and other scraps. these gilts have about doubled in size in the past month and a half.
@@jensenfamilyhomestead4278 switch the corn for feed or top dress with some supplement and you'll be amazed. You're going to have too at some point or they'll stall out usually around 150 lbs right now they are probably finding enough insects to make a difference
I am new and I have corn I was needing to know what time is out there to mix i love in south Carolina and I got a few places that I can get different grain from I am not sure and I need to know what I can mix and I can go research what I need to find to find out which one I do have to start with
You can use straight corn . Here's a couple 40 lbs corn 10 lbs 40% supplement. 15lbs rye 25 lbs corn 15 lbs supplement 5 lbs dry molasses 6 oz peanut oil . 35 lbs corn 5 lbs dry molasses 8 lbs milk replacer 2 lbs salt 6 oz peanut oil . Last one is pig starter make it one bag at the time and feed it fast , unless you put it gallon sip lock bags in the refrigerator it goes bad
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay I live on the ocean in atlantic Canada , sometimes i gather seaweed on the beach and feed it to my pigs , they go crazy for that stuff , i make sure i wash the salt out of it first. Apparently its full of minerals.
This man put me in the hog business and has taught me everything i know about them and he has forgot more than I will ever know!I cant thank Chris and Darlene enough for being such good friends and being such a great mentor!Anothet great video!Thanks for all you do!
@@Jbutler36 you don't have to thank me , you're one of the family now
I was in the process of watching one of y'alls old videos thinking I wonder when a new video will come out? I scrolled down on my tv and bam! This video was just released. 😊
Thank's guys!
@@turkeyhollowfarm1866 I'm trying my best to get them up more often
Glad to hear from you folks! You're passing a lot of good information that'll help people if they listen and do like you say. Keep up the good work. You're in our prayers. Take care.
@@JonHillyer-ke6wi lol it's like pushing a rope up a hill to get some folks to listen but I'm trying my best
@HomesteadingtheHardWay Yes Sir, I know about pushing rope lol. You're doing a fine job of helping people tho! Keep doing what you're doing 💪
Just started getting my feed from a mill. 200lb corn, 30lb, bean meal, 20lb minerals. $55 per 250lb. About half what TSC and Rural King cost
That's a good price , it's about $ 26.00 a hundred here . I can make it for about half that
Hi Chris!. Love the videos you and your wife present to the world!!. Just wondering if you were planning on a video about breeding schedules to produce 1 litter a month as mentioned in a previous video. Very eye opening and informative videos you guys make!!. Watching from New Zealand 🇳🇿
@@Adam-q4y6u I can do that , thank you for the idea.
@ Awsome!!. I look forward to it 😁
Can’t wait to see the hats and shirts. Would be interested in both.
@@poorboyfarmer7508 I'll have them in a video when they show up
Your channel has been my go to for all things pig related. Everything from my pen rebuild, meds and feed. Can not thank you enough for sharing the wisdom you've collected over the yrs. Can visually see the improvement on my 2 pigs. Have you thought of self publishing a book?
Can you do a video on wintering pigs? Live in northern Arkansas where temps, snow and ice might become an issue this yr. Thank you!
@@PMFLTD I'm not an expert on cold but a good shelter and deep bedding and they should be fine . I doubt I'd make a good author that's why we make these videos.
I asked a month or two ago about bringing some free hogs I got back from the brink.
They were damn near being starved by the guy that I got them from. Skin and bones. Had round worm like you wouldn't believe.
They've put on so much weight and look so amazing now you wouldn't wouldn't believe.
Thank you so much for all you do.
@@Jits.kid420 glad to help and glad to hear it worked out
Man I love this dagum guy.
I planted a whole extra garden for my pigs. We put corn with stocks through the Woodchipper and mix it with feed and veggie scraps. Some of the best pork chops we’ve ever grown
@@jeffhuntley2921 I feed the sows some scrap sweet corn stalks and all chopped sometimes, mainly for fiber and a filler
This guy is the goat on TH-cam! Wish he made more about cattle, goats, etc lol
@@ericmadden1473 I'm going to do some cattle videos soon , I used to be big time in goats but I'm scared what I know may be really outdated. Still know how to keep them in and feed them etc but I'm out of the loop on market and breeds
Hay Chris hope your doing well, I've been watching you for years. Just wanted to say thanks for all the information. God bless.
Thank you so much for your videos! We would love shirts if you still have them available!
@@KaraWilkins-h1s hopefully I'll have some more before Christmas
awesome videos, the realistic information no hype no lipstick on the pig to pretty it up, thanks for all the information please keep it up and God bless you and your family and farm
Always glad to help
I am looking forward to getting some t shirts. Please let us know when you have them in stock
@@arthurquintana1345 should have some before Christmas
Good to hear from you again Chris. I think Meagan Lawson had on one of your shirts in a video the other day. I love the design. I know this is on another subject but I was curious. What variety/varieties of sweet potatoes do you plant? I planted some for the first time in years this year and they did pretty good for the season we had.
@@MarkWYoung-ky4uc I like Georgia Reds but Beauregards are pretty good and Covingtons are what they plant commercially
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Thank you sir! I planted Beauregards. Grandma and Grandpa used to plant Nancy Halls years ago. I can remember when I was little they used to bed them.
Great advice love the video
@@tb1401 always glad to help
Awesome video Chris and do you have any videos of grinding Milo
@@jefferykingston582 no I don't but it grinds about the same as wheat
Good information. Chris, if you were going to pick one male out of a litter at 2 or 3 weeks and castrate the rest what would you look for? It's hard to spot potential when they're that young however if you let them go to 10 or 12 weeks then castration gets incredibly difficult.
@@dfgyuhdd I usually give mine about five weeks before I pick out what I'm leaving a boar . They can change on you
I would be interested in a t shirt what is the design like? Good to see you back!
@@katherinecade7191 it's the same as our pictures on here.
@@katherinecade7191 not that you can tell much about it , maybe go to the channel page
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay I like it. how should I order one?
Hi, Chris can I keep multiple sows in a pen i would like to keep 4 sows/gilts in a 32x64 pen. And trying to figure out what size boar pen and weaning pen to build. And maybe a farrowing pen.just don't know what size to make them. Asking for suggestions.
Thank you,
Chester
I've got a couple of videos showing sizes of ours might help.
Thank you, Chrs for helping us. I am intrested in a shirt.
@@juanitaritz8352 always glad to help , I'll post when they're available
I've cut the cost of feed by $120 per ton by making my own feed. Lucked up on a deal for a Farmhand grinder mixer and got an older Massey. I also invested in building a shelter to keep them dry because water is unkind to those grinder mixers.
@@mickeythriller I got lucky with mine too it had always been shelter kept and had only made cow feed a few times a year . A big shelter is our next project
@HomesteadingtheHardWay That's about how it was with the Farmhand. Guy never used mineral and only made cow feed with it. Guy I know had bought it for a backup a decade ago and never used it because his old mixer refuses to break down. He needed the space and I needed the grinder.
I did have to fight with some hay and cottonseed that had been in there a decade though.
Good to see you Chris.I am sure you are gonna have a hard time keeping your shirts and hats in stock. How do we get em?
@@kwil5379 I have a friend that owns several clothing stores and already does internet sales , he's going to handle it for us .
Great Job Chris!!
@@timpeaden3203 thanks Tim
We just ground our first batch of feed (a little over 6,000 pounds) after John & Melissa's event where we watched them doing it.
@@christymartin9404 I have about the same mixer grinder johnny was using we don't use it for much besides cow feed
@HomesteadingtheHardWay a friend of ours who tends land & has cows had the huge grinder & we paid him a small fee for helping us grind it. We also bought the corn from him. We ended up at about $7.32 per 50#. Which saves us several dollers over what the feed mill charges.
@@christymartin9404 that's about the same as what we have in ours by the time you add a little for fuel and maybe a little hired help . We have trouble with mold especially if some of the corn was a little high in moisture that's why we only make a week's worth at the time
Wish I could have made it up there for the get together! Hurricane Milton kinda got in the way. Good information my friends!
@@geekygardens I wish you could get by here , I'd love to meet you in person
Where are you finding those hammer mills online?
@@dfishman76 I just googled feed making equipment for sale . Most were on craigslist and there's a couple of Facebook groups
I use the same brand( Carolina Pride), I get it from coakers mill . Another great video thanks buddy.
@@ckfamilyhomestead that's where we get it . We're only five miles away from them
@HomesteadingtheHardWay awesome buddy I'm here off 111 near seven springs I sold my old place n eureka last year n started over
Feel free to swing by if you're over this way
How many lbs of feed per pig from weaned pig to finish 250lb roughly? Trying to figure out if it’s worth buying bulk sacks for 2 feeders. I’m assuming roughly a ton per pig from what I’ve read
Ours take about 800 lbs to finish each . You can figure 3 or 3.5 lbs of feed to make a pound of pork with a good pig , a bad pig there's no telling. I figure a dollar a pound live weight total input cost to raise tops up to 280 after that the feed conversion drops off fast
Have you had any frost on your collards
@@keithbennett5991 lol you know we have
Can you use Crack corn instead of grinding it ? Thanks I ask an old farmer that and he said we'll I just don't know..😅
@@proudamerican2716 cracked corn is usually only a couple of dollars a bag cheaper than feed so by the time you mix it you'd lose big time . That and it doesn't digest as well . You liable to hear anything when it comes to feeding pigs , big difference in just keeping one alive and one thriving
Do you still do lives videos if so when
@@timpetersfarmgarden9792 we don't do the lives since I've been sick
Also I feed my pigs a 14% feed
They are breeding feeder pigs.is that a good percentage or should I use a higher percentage feed
I use the same mixer to mix waxed sand for wolf trapping. Holds up to 180 pounds of dry sand at a time I guess.
@@christopherw4527 please explain the waxed sand , I'm really curious
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Basically it is to freeze proof the trap when bedded in the ground. Snow and rain can fall on it and the trap will still fire. I take sand instead of good old dirt because it takes less wax. You put a weed burner under the drum of the mixer and when it gets just hot enough to melt the wax, you then add the wax and let it turn until the sand cools. The sand becomes weather proof. In South Carolina years ago, I just used peat moss. It worked ok.
Out of topic for your videos, I apologize for that. Just miss raising hogs. Thanks for all that you do. I appreciate it.
@@christopherw4527 I used to trap a little and I hadn't heard of that. The ground really doesn't freeze down here .
@@christopherw4527 I think that's pretty neat
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Works great for coon in muddy areas too.
Definitely best to mix your own or second find a feed company and buy bulk feed. Box store sacked feed will break
@@RaisedOutdoors problem we have with buying bulk is even as much as we use it molds before I can use it up . We have to buy 6 tons minimum at the time for delivery
@ yea I get 1/2 ton at a time but I don’t keep many on the place. They go as soon as possible lol. We just breaking even here to have pork. That’s a good point though
I like the new logo. 👌 -KJ
@@KaleidoscopeJunkie give me a call
Thank you for sharing🙂
Do you ever feed deer corn to the pigs?
It needs to be ground, soaked or cooked. I you give it to them straight it'll pass right through them. They won't get full benefits. Also shell corn is only 7% -8% protein which is way too low to be their primary source. You need some soybean meal or something to boost protein content.
@@jensenfamilyhomestead4278 I've never fed the flavored deer corn , I doubt it would hurt anything. I usually buy up all the left over deer corn around after the season goes out and they're just trying to get rid of it
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay we got our first piglets about a month and a half ago, we got 3 blue butt gilts. we're feeding then a daily scoop of corn, and giving them about 4 acres to forage about 1/3 of it is forested, the rest is grass and weeds. They have been constantly digging up the weeds and eating the roots. plus we've given them stuff like pumpkins and other scraps. these gilts have about doubled in size in the past month and a half.
@@jensenfamilyhomestead4278 switch the corn for feed or top dress with some supplement and you'll be amazed. You're going to have too at some point or they'll stall out usually around 150 lbs right now they are probably finding enough insects to make a difference
Howany sows/gilts do I need to have a litter of pigs a month
@@ChesterHickman six sows if everything goes perfect
How long does it keep after you grind the feed?
@@sterlinghanover2997 if you can keep it good and dry a long time
We are intetested in caps and shirts.
Can I get your different mix
@@philipkratzer2562 sure , if you tell me what you have to make it with grain wise I'll get one that will work
I am new and I have corn I was needing to know what time is out there to mix i love in south Carolina and I got a few places that I can get different grain from I am not sure and I need to know what I can mix and I can go research what I need to find to find out which one I do have to start with
You can use straight corn . Here's a couple 40 lbs corn 10 lbs 40% supplement. 15lbs rye 25 lbs corn 15 lbs supplement 5 lbs dry molasses 6 oz peanut oil . 35 lbs corn 5 lbs dry molasses 8 lbs milk replacer 2 lbs salt 6 oz peanut oil . Last one is pig starter make it one bag at the time and feed it fast , unless you put it gallon sip lock bags in the refrigerator it goes bad
what's your finish feed and how long? thanks
@@kenlukaszewski9618 not sure I understand, 12% protein and six months from birth feed conversion averages a little over 3 to 1
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay
You figured it right Chris. Some folks here say 18% from start. I'll go 12 all the way through. 3/1 all day long
You probably use enough to buy in bulk, not bagged, truck coming out.
We have bought it in bulk but I have to get three tons or pay a delivery fee
I want a ball cap 👍🏻
@@chrisp308 we'll be giving a few away when they come in
I taught salt was toxic to pigs?
@@paulfontaine288 No but like most things too much can cause problems.
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay I live on the ocean in atlantic Canada , sometimes i gather seaweed on the beach and feed it to my pigs , they go crazy for that stuff , i make sure i wash the salt out of it first. Apparently its full of minerals.