Trying to Reclaim Raw Land? You Need Pigs NOW!

In this video, I talk about why you should put pigs on your new RAW land sooner rather than later if you have overgrown areas that need to be cleared.
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[@CzechSixTv]

My GF and I found someone local who had goats and worked out a deal to clear some acreage on property we own. We're still living 4 states away from that property so tending to a few pigs wasn't an option. While on vacation at the property we rented a walk behind brush hog to clear lanes for electric net fencing that the goat owner supplied. We paid a small fee to cover transport and such(still far cheaper than what professional "goatscapers" charge) plus the owner of the goats was happy to cut his feed bill. Now we can clear trees for the home site and pasture without fighting all the underbrush. Eventually, once we move to the big property, we'll run pigs on the pasture for a year or two to improve the soil before putting any ruminants on it.

[@JerkerMontelius]

We had a guy here in Sweden that prepared land for tree planting by using a combination of cows, goats and pigs. He started with the cows heard follow up with the goats and finished of with the pigs. He cleared land much like heavy forestry machines with the bonus that the manure also had fertilized the land when he was done.

[@susanolson3611]

How long does it take?

[@Spaxcore]

There's a guy on KZbin who rotates cows and chickens. The cows eat the grasses. Then the chickens come in and eat all of the insects attracted to the dung and scratch up the surfaces foraging. He gets really high quality eggs and has improved the top soil on his farm. He has big chicken roosts on a trailer that he can move around the farm.

[@DaveThomson]

​@@Spaxcore Joe Saladin correct?

[@Spaxcore]

@@DaveThomson no, I think it's a Dutch guy actually

[@bendover-bz4bc]

How much land we're talking about ?

[@MuddFlappRanch]

I went the goat route. Agree with 100% of the cons you listed. The most expensive part of keeping goats is the cost for fencing. I live on flat land and even though fencing is easy here, it costs a lot for T-posts, corner posts, and field fencing. An old timer here told me when I started, "If your fence won't hold water, it won't hold goats."

[@rajgill7576]

Do pigs not need fences?

[@MuddFlappRanch]

@@rajgill7576 not nearly as sturdy as goats. You can keep pigs in a single strand of electric fence.

[@twistedpixel2558]

As a lifelong farmer the problem with goats is they'll eat everything else before they'll eat weeds or grass. They'll eat all the bark off the trees, the brambles, and thistles before they'll eat grass or regular weeds. So they're great if you want a ton of dead wood standing on your land, not so great if you want brush cleared and the weeds mowed down. It'll take a while to get them started on the underbrush.

[@t84t748748t6]

frigging goats we got a saying wanne learn cursing get goats the wil escape and ceep escaping

[@The_DC_Kid]

Pigs won't escape and destroy other people's land and crops? That's some very intelligent and polite pigs.

[@sixoaksfarm1556]

Pigs are very good with brambles and multiflora roses. I learned that they eat the roots and once they find them they'll seek them out. At first they were slow learning about them but I soaked some whole corn a few days then threw it out around where I wanted them to dig around at. It worked really well! Once they found the roots, they went to work on their own and in short order it was all gone. The problem with goats is the stuff you want gone comes back. Not so with pigs.

[@reddye2331]

Good information. Who would have ever thought,Pigs\Hogs are good for clearing ground off . Then it would be time for, pew pew pew it’s time for a barbecue.

[@thefrogbath]

Thanks for this tip about the corn! I had heard this about pigs being willing to dig out and eat multiflora rose and haven't had luck over the past few months with our berkshires digging mine up. I'm going to give your tip a try. I can attest to how well pigs have helped us transform some of our raw land, even when they've avoided a few of the invasives.

[@wayneferguson9962]

My dad grew up in Oklahoma. He said they turned pigs out in River bottom brush because they would eat rattlesnakes and water moccasins.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

@@wayneferguson9962 I wanna see a video showing that….. and I want that video to be narrated “Honey Badger Style!”

[@beebob1279]

How about poison ivy? Goats will eat it but will pigs uproot it?

[@rad7965]

I live in a large city, have no intention of moving and no plans of ever having pigs. This is without a doubt one of the best educational videos on pig keeping that I have ever seen. Keep up the great videos and I'll keep watching and being educated.

[@ordinarypete]

I live in a big city in California. You need to GTFO of cities asap.

[@eddiespagetti8395]

Cities will be wiped out and looted. Worse place to live Is in a city. Good luck 🤞

[@antoniescargo4158]

Move out of the city while you can. Cities will not keep you alive. Cities are prisons. I moved to a village with +/-400 people. Forests for firewood, no food problem... I live in Europe.

[@Poteluz]

@@eddiespagetti8395 when will this happen?

[@haleysharp1247]

I think it's funny that your studying pigs but have no intention of getting them. That would be like me studying how to use the subway. Lol. But now I'm gonna look it up cuz I'm curious.

[@anketchum]

No idea why KZbin recommended this to me but here I am with more knowledge about pigs and clearing land.

[@josephlathrop1914]

Pigs have been used to repair Ponds too. they root out the roots that got into the pond and wallow in the shallow creating a hard pan at the edge.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

That’s good info right there! Thank you.

[@kaptainkickit7583]

Wallow in the Shallow 😂

[@Aaron-hype]

Absolutely. Already got a good shallow marshy spot on my 19 acres I’m planning on putting pigs. Good to remember to leave plenty high ground or they’ll drown in a good rain 😉

[@Specogecko]

You also have to consider the role of vegetation when it comes to ponds. They take up the nutrients that would otherwise be utilized by blooms of bacteria and algae. They also help preventing erosion and maintaining the depth of the body of water. To add the combination of disturbing sediment, removing vegetation, and introducing manure is more of a recipe of algal and bacterial blooms. So it’s important to keep in mind the number of pigs and the size of the pond. As things can easily turn south for the pond, as well as the health of the pigs.

[@philipaltizer3103]

Troy you just convinced me to go with pigs to clean my land! I bought a small farm in southwestern VA last year that has laid fallow for several years. It's in desperate need of clearing and I think the pigs will do just what I need them to do. I always enjoy your videos and thank you for the advice.

[@Yupmoose]

Same we have 26.5 acres and the cost to clear some of it is insane. Gonna get me some pigs

[@pacjam418]

I know this was many months ago, but I have to say, I love that pig that keeps photobombing mid-video. He’s very handsome & loves being on camera! Great vid.

[@jasonjackson6055]

I had goats and pigs together. They did an excellent job clearing the lot I put them in. They even uprooted trees. They got along well and were definitely comical. You are absolutely correct with many points you make in the video. The pigs were so terrified of the hotwire that , when I got rid of the goats, I turned the hotwire off for 8 months or so until a sow got out. She ate about 60 nearly ripe watermelons in one night, and I found her on my back porch the next morning swollen beyond belief and laying on her side. The one downside to pigs is that they are very expensive to feed. Although I still love them, that is ultimately why I got rid of them. I was spending roughly 350 dollars a month feeding them.

[@re4gamez]

How many pigs were you feeding for $350 a month?

[@janachovsky420]

You were overfeeding them

[@witheringliberal2794]

I have only lived in large cities around the world my whole life (San Francisco, Munich, now Lisbon). I am absolutely obsessed with farming, gardening, land management, etc. I love this content. Thank you!!! One day I’m going to take the plunge and buy a few acres.

[@violetpurple6191]

Hahah great account name!

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Great Video! Another part of caring for your land/soil is composting. I do this with worms, they make the best fertilizer on the planet! I raise millions of worms for fertilizer for my garden and to teach others how to care for them :)

[@jasonjackson6055]

Be careful, you might happen upon some commen sense and turn into a Republican.

[@yvonnecortes_]

@@jasonjackson6055 parents raised in farming extremely religious and family oriented…im a born and raised city girl planning on buying tons of acres close to the big city and i love gardening and outside work but i will never be a Republican. Interests and way of life do not belong to a specific political group that’s just ridiculous.

[@jasonjackson6055]

@Yvonne Cortes Look at the red vs. blue map of the US, you vegetable.

[@markm8188]

Great summary. We have American Guinea Hogs, and they do great work clearing areas. There are some things they won't touch. But, they've taken care of climbing brambles, and a multitude of other weeds. And the tiny pond they have for water is now alive with frogs, since the pigs took care of the snakes that were eating the frogs previously. You covered the subject well.

[@gretafields4706]

Did the pigs drink the water they wallowed in? I am afraid my pigs will get sick doing that.

[@markm8188]

@@gretafields4706 The "pond" is actually a little stream that I dug wider and long. So there is continually flow through it. We never had a problem. But also, we only kept maximum of 5 adult hogs.

[@brassteeth3355]

I grew up with goats and pigs. My grandad cleared the homestead in eastern Oklahoma back in the 20's. I believe he used a little of everything including oxen. Goats, pigs, and blood. Turned that rugged country into a decent ranch. It's real hilly out there too. My brother runs the show now. Perks of being the oldest son.

[@slappy8941]

I bought a piece of land that was covered in blackberries and other brush, so I went in and repaired the fences, and turned in a dozen hogs, and by the end of the winter it was all tilled up and ready for planting. I had to supplement their feed during the winter, but they kept right on rooting around until there wasn't a piece of ground that hadn't been turned.

[@orinbeavers5941]

Troy I had goats for 17 years and they will clear brush pretty good but I am with you 100% THAT pigs are a lot better at clearing land and they do taste better in my opinion Great videos keep them coming 👍 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@grantbratrud4949]

Pigs worked for me! The first time I used them like that was to clear some really nasty water parsnip. The pigs loved it and were immune to its blistering effect. (Caution: be certain of your plant ID, as some look-alikes are toxic.) I used hog panels at first, 16' length, with quick clips at the corners. Tiny paddock, but I moved them frequently. As the hogs grew and got hungrier I had to switch to cattle panels which were harder to "snout lift". I didn't do this, but I've heard that the old method was hogs first, followed by sheep. Feed the sheep hay and you've seeded your meadow. (I never did this because of the lay of the land: hogs in the valley and sheep on the hill.)

[@harrymusgrave2131]

Also. Hogs are the best way to seal a new pond. Surround the pond with a strand of electric. Break open bails of straw and the hogs will work the pond floor until it's sealed. Then it's time for ham and bacon

[@RedToolHouse]

Going to be implementing that in the spring, hopefully.

[@tritchie6272]

@@RedToolHouse I'm glad you also gave us some information on Goats and Hogs both. Seems to me like that could be valuable info to have. It might be nice if sometime you could share your experience and knowledge of the Pros and Cons of all different types of livestock and what goals they are best suited for. I think your short talk about goats vs pigs gave more information than I've heard before. Maybe the best is in large part dependent on the goals. When you explained your goals and needs hogs was a very good choice.

[@Aaron-hype]

@@tritchie6272 make sure you leave plenty of dry high ground up top for them to stand when the water rises, or a good rain will drown them.

[@adad1270]

@Harry Musgrave "Break open bails if straw", and do what with them? Throw them into the pond? Some of us are not farm folk, kindly write for us. Thx.

[@yohanbeck8172]

Watching from Helsinki, southern Finland in northern Europe. I'm fond of pigs and when its time to settle I would like to raise some pigs, they seem like characters just like me! Enjoyed the video, a pleasure to get your insights!

[@scanadaze]

For almost 3 years, I have had my land. Thanks to what's going on and being 935 miles away. It is still land. I am here to help my parents. Yet. In looking for a tractor that I really don't need. The land was for only Forestry. I want to spend the rest of my life there. Without all the real hard work. Buying all the very expensive equipment. Thanks to you. Now. I know what to do exactly. Pigs. It was pigs or goats. I will take pigs. Thank you.

[@turleytho]

Great points about pigs. But I like goats too. I think both make nice pets. I find they are both pretty smart. I am sold on the pigs for reclamation of land. One thing I like and get a boost out of is goat milk. It is too late. I am already converted. I had a bad illness, and my hair was falling out. That all stopped the day I started drinking goat milk. I had to give credit.

[@boromirofmiddleearth557]

yes goat milk is delicious! great to hear about it helping with your hair!

[@nathandettweiler9560]

I've been using pigs & goats for years just bought 5 acres in February almost ready to move on to new place. Looking forward to doing it again

[@shebear93]

We have goats but this gave us another reason to get pigs! We are looking at some raw land and there's tons of multiflora rose. We aren't into herbicides and we don't have a tractor with a brush hog. This seems like the way to go!

[@jodywhitehead9173]

Re dropping corn around the bush. Back in the 70's one of my University buddies and his brother dropped out to homestead his parents property on Vancouver Island. They logged out massive old growth evergreens (100ft+) and were left with enormous stumps and roots. The drove a 2" metal pole around the roots, filling the holes with corn and their pigs dug them out. I couldn't believe it was possible if I hadn't seen it.

[@RedToolHouse]

That is awesome!

[@chriswilder100]

Good video thank you . I'm definitely going to think about this idea . I'm on 60 acres of forest land and after 5 years of manual clearing I'm ready for an alternative. Again thanks for the video .

[@Denneska]

My health problems don't allow me to be a farmer, but I really appreciate your video for some reason 🙂

[@davidwhite1645]

Very nice presentation. Your humorous injections made me chuckle. Raised six sows from gilts in Arkansas, sold off the piglet's twice a year with the help of a borrowed boar. Best job I ever tried because you weren't kidding when you said they have a personality and they are family. When the electric fence did go down, storms or power outages my pigs always got out. They seemed to sense whenever the juice was off by constantly testing the wire. I mostly kept them confined in small areas, no free grazing, so that would have had a great deal to do with their happiness. I wound up building a more permanent fence from pallets. When a two day storm of lightening and torrential down pours the piglet's got trapped between the boards and I lost fifty six babies drowned. I got out of pig farming but still I miss them funny little squealers.

[@BusyBeeFarmsAldenNY]

Pigs are funny little creatures aren’t they hahaha

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

This illustrates my issue with people who insist on planting non-native/invasive plants. That's kind of a big thing in permaculture circles, and the people doing it always say, "Aww don't worry, I know how to manage it." Well Bubba, you ain't going to live forever. When you croak - and probably in the meantime as well - you're creating a real problem for your neighbors and whoever has to deal with your mess ten, fifteen, twenty years down the line. Just one example - there are a couple fairly famous people who are really into planting Bradford pears, and they absolutely refuse to understand that they're screwing things up for anyone who wants to grow actual pears anywhere near them right now, never mind a decade or two from now. Don't be a selfish jerk and slap in a bunch of invasives just because they grow fast and make you feel like you accomplished something with very little work. Think about everyone for acres, even miles around you, and think further ahead than just getting some trees going real quick in a couple seasons.

[@MrMikeym46]

They can and will even dig up and move big stumps out and move them around like toys.

[@The_DC_Kid]

We should adjust our lives to make the world better for the next guy?

[@aarondingus7682]

😊

[@nonono2557]

Quit crying about your mass production farms failing because someone wants to live smaller than you, what a wimp. You gonna feed your entire local population pears all year round when you can no longer source food externally. See the prices lately, they aren't gonna fuckin drop

[@MobileAura]

Go tell your overlords to do the same since the account for 99% of the pollution on earth. Then once 99% of the pollution and other displacement is fixed I will do my part to help the rest of the 1%. :D until then I will do what I’ve been doing.

[@Mike1941-r8y]

I had a farrow to finish operation with about 100 sows that I limited their feed while they were gestating on pasture. One of the fields was covered with Coastal Live Oaks AND Poison Oak. Anyway, once the sows got a taste of the Poison Oak they rooted it out and ate the stems up the trees supporting it as far as they could reach. Just wiped it out with no harm to the sows.

[@beebob1279]

This is what I was looking for. Would pigs eat and clear out poison ivy. Glad it worked out for you

[@captainmomeyer2237]

Did they damage the oaks?

[@Krieghandt]

@@captainmomeyer2237 pigs won't ring a tree unless they are very hungry. but if they can push it over, it'll be gone in short order.

[@adad1270]

@Michael Phelan What in heaven's name does your first sentence mean? Kindly restate, thx.

[@Krieghandt]

@@adad1270 farmer jargon: farrow is for the female pig to have piglets, finish is to make the piglets ready for market. He placed some half starving pregnant pigs on the field, who proceeded to eat all the poison ivy, and the small trees, and the other weeds. I hope that helps.

[@JeriDro]

when we sold our cattle in Livingston, TX I hadn't seen the land in 15 years and when I did I was amazed how fast the forest will take a pasture

[@jacklesg2527]

In my country (Europe) you have to install 2 different fences, because they fear hybrid breed between hogs and pigs+ if there's a forest surounding your land, you can't let any farm animals in it)

[@BuildandGrow21]

Thank you for this awesome video. The timing is great as I've been contemplating how to put animal power to work on our patch of Appalachia. Keep it coming.

[@kenneth9874]

I used to use shoats to till and degrub my garden putting them in a small movable pen and moving them to a new section every day

[@forestMog]

I learned that most goats are fence aggressive. Someone suggested BARBADOS SHEEP. I got 2 to keep company with my donkey. They were all very easy to contain with one electric wire knee high. After a few months turned off electric fence. No more brush. The sheep ate what the donkey wouldn’t. Donkey scared predators away. Awesome family pets.

[@Sue-ec6un]

I'm gonna have sheep. Before this video, I never considered pigs but they are good at what they do. Reconsidering my feelings on pigs.

[@Ulrich1211]

If sheep are of interest then Hog Island Sheep are also a great option. They can graze but they absolutely prefer browsing. Unfortunately they are a rare breed.

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

@@Sue-ec6un one downside to pigs is that they'll eat anything, including humans. Some are way more scary than others, but if you have kids you may want to reconsider.

[@Mike1941-r8y]

Don’t pass out in the hog pen. 😞

[@hanginlaundry360]

​@@Mike1941-r8y😱

[@elmatador678]

I raise pigs in a very similar environment using a hot wire ....inhad some varying sized pigs some slipped under or over my line so I ran another this time connected to the ground line and in the double wire run they've stayed put. I hammered rebar into the ground used pvc as well but even simpler was old garden hoses that were torn. Cut 16 inch chunks of hose slipped over the rebar and wrapped the hot wire around the hose. It acted as the insulator and holds even better than the pvc!

[@tyleracmason]

matt Vigil This is informative and creative. Thanks for the tip.

[@gretafields4706]

Old timers used to get hooks at hardware stores that were covered in rubber or hard plastic. The other end was a screw end, threaded. You could just screw it into a tree and run wire thru it. I can't buy them now.

[@stoecklinr]

I live in live in one of the worst cities! Chicago! Been wanting to move wife and 2 kids, this video really has helped in my land search, I now know I can get some cheap help and source of food and menuer!

[@gretafields4706]

Pigs need warmer shelter than this man has. Watch a few videos on it.

[@dannymccormick1693]

I just fenced in my garden area and my girl has it plowed. Love the channel.

[@raymondmosher5583]

Good common sense stuff. No fluff and unnecessary info, well done Sir well done

[@user-cs3zs6jn1d]

If there's any cedar trees on the property,the smaller ones make good long lasting fence post. But I would rather leave a few cedars because they are beautiful trees when they're big and healthy

[@geodegroot8310]

Great land clearing video! The Idaho Pasture Pigs are even more anticipated in 2 weeks at our homestead. Thanks for the wheelspoke paddock idea, and keep the ideas coming!

[@ikesimplekin8334]

Very inspiring. Just acquired 5 acres of trees and brush to clear in upstate ny, pigs are looking like the best option now. Thank you!

[@RemotePaws]

Thank you for the information!! looking to get some pigs or goats for land clearing. Leaning towards pigs now because of the ease of keeping them within bounadaries

[@marieennis6114]

I've been trying to decide between goats and pigs this was a lot of good information I live in Tennessee so I'm in the area you're speaking of. and I got the hilly lot just like you do and so that thinks it's perfect for me

[@hoofgripweightlifting6872]

Sir. I have been raising goats for 7 years. I love goats but they are a PITA. You have convinced me to add pigs to my homestead. Thank you. And oh, I sub'd.

[@shevabree746]

I'm on 20 acres of mostly woods and pigs are definitely something I want to have at some point. Just gotta talk my Uncle who also lives on the property into going along with it.

[@pamartin]

We've had goats for over 15 years and had a few pigs. EVERY THING you say is true! Yes, goats kept the woods cleared "enough" , but, if water can get through your fence, goats WILL get through too! Too old now but, hindsight says I agree with you. Yup, sure tastes better! My last sow dressed at 800 lbs! Mmmm

[@Krieghandt]

we cheated, and "free ranged" our goats. Found out they ran with our dogs, which were also free range.

[@davidpotts3844]

Reclaiming just a small area that had grown over was a ton of manual labor it took 8 years for walnut and oak to get 20 ft tall. I recently remove 300 trees that had established from sapling. Cutting, dragging, burning, stumping, dragging and burning. Plowing, disc, harrowing was a ton of work

[@Krieghandt]

If you live in an area with cold winters, see if a local church gives away firewood. You'll get volunteers to help, and most of the wood will be taken away.

[@gretafields4706]

I made windrows using trees and brush to separate pasture into pens for rotating hair sheep, pigs and later, horses, cows. I saw people using windrows in Texas to keep in cows until they had time to fence.

[@KimClark-1]

Thank you! I have been searching for info on how pigs contribute positively in an environment.

[@johnsonmaurice98]

Hi Troy Just discovered your channel and love your presentations. Dude I got zero chance of doing most of the topics you cover but you make the subject so interesting and humorous. God bless you brother and your family from your newest fan.

[@RedToolHouse]

Thanks!

[@saywhat951]

Beer! Beer! and lawn chair...I kicked back in my chair, cooler with beer and watch my pigs work away. They don't complain, rarely take breaks and NO Unions to negotiate with lol.

[@markchidester6239]

After one year raising pigs, I couldn't agree more. They need to be hot wire trained when young. We had them in the chicken coop with the chickens till about 3 months with one hot wire in there. They learned to respect it quickly and it didn't bother the chickens. They get hit by it once in a while still, but not much. We had the fence off while working out there and one hit the fence and squealed. Funny. Absolutely the easiest animal we have to raise. They cleared areas like you have there and only grass grew back. About a 30 by 60 ft area takes two pigs about a week to completely clear to bare dirt.

[@jasonjackson6055]

I bought a hampshire boar at around 250 pounds. We turned him out in a lot with hot wire fencing. I too was working outside and just happened to look over at him when he got hit. I heard it pop him, his eyes went cross, and he let out a squeal I'll never forget. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[@markchidester6239]

@@jasonjackson6055 What's more funny is when the fence is off and they still squeal when they bump it

[@jasonjackson6055]

@@markchidester6239 Haha. I was messing with a clip or something one day and I messed around and touched a t-post and the wire at the same time. I let out a squeal too.

[@gretafields4706]

Can you get low voltage? I got hit by an electric fence but it really didnt hurt.

[@daywithmike4892]

I have goats and berkshire pigs electrical wire works great to keep them both in use three strands electrical wire the goats are able to get high up in the trees and the goats take care of the ground with both working together they clear out my land pretty good .. got 10 pigs and 7 goats and over 200 different species of birds

[@tyleracmason]

Day With Mike. This is the most positive comment I have seen in this thread. I like both pigs and goats too. If you're able, you should do a video of what both have done for your land.

[@kevinmclaughlin9796]

I experimented with pigs this past year running them With goats inside Premier One electric nets. Pigs were very easy to keep contained but when it came time to sell them we discovered that there was virtually no market for pasture-raised pigs in our area. Part of that may be due to changes in USDA regulations regarding "Free range" vs "Feral" pigs.

[@RedToolHouse]

Curious as to where you are and the details of this USDA regulation. We have sold hundreds of pigs in whole, half, and individual cuts over the years via USDA and state inspected facilities and have never had to differentiate them as “free range”

[@FreeAmerican-mm2my]

If they ever eat a pastured raised hog, they will want nothing else. The regulations must not apply in Alabama because I have had no problem raising, selling and processing my hogs. What breed of pigs were your using?

[@boromirofmiddleearth557]

thanks for the video! Great information. Glad to hear that pigs are helping you out in your land reclamation. I have heard so many bad things about feral pigs being such a scourge. Your pig looks happy healthy and friendly !

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

My father in law ran both on his property around his house. Areas he just wanted clean he run the pigs to thin it out some then move the goats in. Areas he wanted to plant stuff he would run the goats first and then the pigs to do a lot of rooting

[@hewittg.malone5973]

Beautiful Job - You presented this Well! I appreciate you shared our reasoning from both a Pro-Pig and an Anti-Pig position. I tend to be a "Beef - Pork - Chicken - Sheep - (Goat) - Fish kind of guy. The Goat is in Prentices because I do not know how to cook it. That being said, thanks for the tips!

[@douglasharris3094]

This is awesome info! I plan on buying property and was thinking chain saw, burn, manual labor method…not any more. Thank you.

[@dirtfarmer7472]

You can’t get away from the manual labor just different amount of it & of course hogs are edible.

[@tracywilson1356]

Ok, but little Pygmy goats and little baby goats bouncing around are just as adorable as little baby pigs. Granted adult goats are a bit creepy looking sometimes, but the babies are too cute.

[@markchidester6239]

An old trampoline works great for shade cover out in a field.

[@kirbyroad7222]

I think for the cost of fencing, animals, feed, care ect. Its cheaper in my area to hire the bushogging work out. I have a couple acres each year at my old homestead done for less than $400.00. I mow it myself once its cleaned up. I have had friends use animals, pigs, goats, ect. I think you have to add in alot of your time too because animals require alot of time, feed, fencing, chasing lost aminals that get loose, ect.

[@PoplarRidge]

Great video Troy! All reasons why I got my pigs! And good advice mixed throughout.

[@bigsheeple652]

man i loved this video, RTH your sense of humor cracked me up. Dohmer comment LOLOL

[@deanl4193]

Between Red Tool House, Sheraton Park Farms, 7stands Farm I got my first 3 pigs this year. Im using them to soften the lawn/woods edge. I hoping that with 4-8 pigs a year over several years I can work through a rotational grazing pattern that will me to use the open/tilled woods to plant things for the wildlife (aka foodplot for deer hunting). This is a great dual purpose theory in my head so far.

[@Joe-rr3ip]

I hope you are not following Sheraton Park Farms to closely. He is the sloppiest pig farmer I've ever come across.

[@deanl4193]

@@Joe-rr3ip Whats the name of your youtube channel? I'd love to see all your content about the proper way to run pastured pigs.

[@kennedy6971]

Nothing will turn that ground over like a few pigs can. I agree with that 100%. It takes a little more time putting up your fencing (to keep them in). But once you have your fence up a few hogs will be more productive then 10 men working 10hrs.

[@josephlouderback9767]

I like pigs 🐖 because you don't need any guard animal for protection 💯 😌

[@supamaorifella]

Im playing Minecraft on one screen, while listening/watching on another.. and, just being honest.. Im glad I watched.

[@kennedy6971]

For those who don't know or have hogs.. they are the only farm animal I'm aware of that only go to the bathroom in one location. So if u have to clean up after them it's pretty easy because they designate a place to go. Yes, very smart. If your new to hogs it's a good idea to keep them on the smaller side. And pigs and children don't make good play partners. Always be aware there smart and omniverous

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

As a kid, my grandparents had pigs. My grandma would freak out every time we got close to the pens.

[@jimsteele9975]

@@Eyes0penNoFear The two animals my gramps would never allow me to go near on his farm was the Bull and the Boar Hog, till I was old enough to look after myself, about 13.

[@RJFP67]

Living in a small upper peninsula township in Michigan. The lockdowns didn’t happen here. We went to the beach ,hiked , walked the dogs , worked in our yards all without being harassed. What happened in cities was insane.

[@mistyn380]

“They don’t look like the spawns of satan” 😂 that one got me lol.

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

I laughed out loud too! Those eyes...

[@firebird77clonefirebird89]

Goats creep me out. Definitely Satan's pets.

[@guygranger7894]

I had goats ,and they will eat all the brush,but constantly look at whats on the greener side of the fence. Also ,they run low on greens and will begin chewing the bark on your trees.

[@andrekuh3956]

THANK YOU , SIR . YEP I HAD A LOT OF PIGS , ABOUT 15 OR MORE. STARTED OF WITH A WILD BOAR AND A HALVE DOMESTICATED SOAR . BUT IN THE END , I GAVE THEM AL AWAY, DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. I REALY MISSED THEM. ESPECIALLY THE BIG BOAR. HE JUST LOVED FOR ME TO SCRATCH HIS EARS , HAHA. AND HE HAD HUMONGOUS TUSKS THEM PIGS EVEN EATEN MY CHICKENS , ROOSTER AND TURKEYS. THEM BIRDS JUMP OVER THEIR ENCLOSURE TO EAT THE CORN KERNELS AND VARIOUS GRAINS.

[@SunfireWoods]

Ok Troy, it's been a minute or few since I've last commented on your videos. I started watching you when you only had a few subs and I've taken alot of what you've taught to heart. In the time I've been following you, we sold our cookie cutter HOA home and moved north to the Idaho panhandle. Bought 20 wooded acres and used a LOT of information from you when we were searching for suitable land. We ended up renting an old farmstead on 20 acres since ours is forested with no structures. The plan was/is to rent while we build. So now I have 14 goats 🐐 🐐 on the rental property and two massive pigs up on ours 15 minutes away (no way to keep pigs on the rental property.) I really wanted to try running the pigs in the woods but since we're not living up there yet I don't trust them enough to just run electric wire. Plus we've got mountain lions and black bears. They're in a 16x16 cattle panel fence with a pallet shelter. I'm looking forward to incorporating both in our woods to run side by side tests to see which critter does better at cleaning up the woods, hopefully next summer!

[@RedToolHouse]

Awesome! My only suggestion would be to flip those numbers. You need 14 pigs and 2 goats! Thanks for watching (and tolerating my goat comments)

[@SunfireWoods]

@@RedToolHouse 🤣😂😁 goats have their qualities, both good and bad, but being a goat owner for a year and a half now I've gotta say I like my goats more than my pigs. I have a healthy fear of the pigs and Im very mindful whenever I'm in the pen with them. They'll be meeting the freezer in another week or so!

[@markm8188]

@@SunfireWoods American Guinea Hogs only get up to 250-300 lbs, not like some behemoths, and they are pretty docile. They do take 2 years to grow out rather than one, but they are excellent foragers.

[@SunfireWoods]

@@markm8188 I'm not a fan of AGH pigs. I'm leaning toward Idaho pasture pigs and/or mangalitsa in the future. The mangalitsas do well up in the northern winters since they have a fool layer of fur/wool to protect them from the cold weather. The two we have now are a cross of chesters and a couple others I'm not recalling. They're the fast growing "pink" pigs.

[@hanginlaundry360]

​@@SunfireWoodsWould the "pastured" breeds of pig root less? I thought that was the whole point, so they wouldn't dig so much!

[@Alanrayc1957]

Thank you, a perspective on land recovery that I have never heard, great video!

[@dapymp17]

Could a follow up video possible detail how to engineer terraces with pigs and electric fences/wire. Your land looks to be conducive to terraces and I’m thinking of putting them in over here on the western side of the great divide myself. Very new to this and heavy machinery seems too dangerous for my situation. Thanks for all the direction

[@MAM-cy3yy]

I prefer any animal to help clear land over a tractor on a steep hillside. I've had several close calls, not fun at all.

[@markm8188]

Dangerous for you maybe, but not for a mountain man with a track-hoe. Somebody in that neighborhood could probably build you your terraces.

[@gschallert3293]

Glad I saw this ! Thank you I I am gonna get some pigs because they taste good.

[@weavingwoodsfarmgibson4185]

Good information! Thank you. I didn’t realize fencing could be that simple for pigs.

[@PickingBluegrassMusic]

When I was a kid in the 1970s, we got two or three feeder pigs. At first we were pulling pig weeds and giving that to them to eat in their pen along with jumbo sized zucchini. They loved that stuff but were not putting on weight until we learned that they need grain daily. Then they bulked out. But it was funny watching them taking bites from the jumbo zucchinis.

[@Duben-ym5vi]

I have a small farmette. Pigs are much easier to keep contained with electric fence. I guarantee a goat will always find a way out. Goats "clean" the brush higher but pigs plow just deep enough...God's way. I've reseeded or just left natural grass come up. Both work

[@pastorbarnett3049]

Nice video. You Brought back some good memories. When I was a kid in California I would take care of my neighbors pigs when They went on vacation. But I accidentally touched the electric fence several times and wow that really hurt. Ouch!

[@thesavoyard]

What about some game feeders around the property to lure feral hogs in? You could set them up where you want the pigs to root and keep moving it as needed.

[@Krieghandt]

we have feral hogs. they don't listen well. but they will root, no doubt about that.

[@gretafields4706]

Why do some areas not have wild pigs? Bobcats or Mt. Lions? Coyote pack??

[@roncook8409]

My favorite comment was, "This fence is all that keeps me away from this 500-pound boar. (He's lost a little weight). ;) Pigs don't look like the spawn of satan. Goats freak me out with that." I really enjoyed this video. This guy would make a great neighbor!

[@Steven-rn2bu]

"Pigs are hilarious to watch" 11:55 editing gold

[@sundayadebayo8901]

this was very educative 4 me. I will surely give it a try because there are some terrible weeds that are more stubborn than goats. thanks 4 d hint.

[@mariesheppard3750]

Great video, I use to raise pigs and sure miss having them, Yes there the best animal to have,

[@myinnermagpie]

We lived in Germany for nearly 8 years. It was the land of pork. In the forests I could see where boar had rooted (hard to miss). 😢The farmers had water-truck things that spread foul-smelling stuff over their fields, learned it was pig manure. Super nasty. Knew a biologist who did animal studies on pigs, she said they were so smart as to invent group play games. The German’s do love their goats though, mostly as a nostalgic old-time, Lassie-movie ideal.

[@MAM-cy3yy]

The only hesitation I have about using pigs to clear brush is they will eat all of the wild edible herbs, cohosh, ginseng, yellow root, etc.

[@lander4092]

You also don’t want your land smelling like pig dung

[@boromirofmiddleearth557]

couldn't you protect those areas with an electric fence?

[@gretafields4706]

I plan to use pigs only where i want horse pasture, not in woods. You can plant Stinging Nettles around a muddy pig pen or around a cow manure pile. My grandma did that because nettles turned that into the best soil in the world. It became garden additives. It is old German technique. I want to try ferns around a compost pile..

[@luvslogistics1725]

Lol! “Post global event that we’re not allowed to talk about on KZbin,” you got me hooked with that lead in. Fascinating video. I think pigs are intelligent animals with personality and agree on all points.

[@johnnichols9940]

Ain’t no coyote or bobcat fooling with them big hogs, you let a little on squeal and the entire herd comes running looking for a serious fight !!!

[@GO-xs8pj]

I'm on the west coast and work on a lot of invasive plants. We have lots of goat herds working to reduce vegetation, mostly for fire safety but I have never heard about using pigs. One of our problem plants is Himalayan blackberry and the fact that pigs will remove the roots is much more desirable than goats.

[@chrisb8046]

We have pigs and kiko goats specifically for land clearing / maintenance. Couple things I've noticed: 1) goats are more difficult to fence in and they do "test" for weaknesses. 2) goats require more maintenance (meds, hoof trimming, etc.) and better accommodation - even kikos can't be standing around in spring mud. 3) goats defoliate without necessarily destroying, except some small trees which they will ring. 4) goats are insanely fun to take hiking. 5) pigs are much harder on the land. 6) pigs require much more feed if you are raising for meat. 7) pigs, while fun, really aren't pets, especially once they are bigger than about 200 pounds. 8) pigs can and will damage anything they have access to, just based on their curiosity and insane strength. 9) pigs are delicious. If you have the time, patience, and money, I'd recommend having both. If not, they break about even for me - they both have strengths and weaknesses.

[@somerandomperson6066]

I agree

[@StevenMichaelCunningham]

Based on #6 & #9 how does one go about marrying a child as an adult or visa versa depsite the fact that it too is unnatural?

[@somerandomperson6066]

@@StevenMichaelCunningham bro/sir WTF?

[@StevenMichaelCunningham]

@@somerandomperson6066 ?

[@StevenMichaelCunningham]

@@somerandomperson6066 #6 & #9 🔋 Chris B. is a deviant psyche as of yet reformed obviously. We lack facilities to this day.

[@alaskansummertime]

I just used a dozer to clear out a half acre. Sure it was quick but the soil is wrecked after that. I'm in Alaska and am looking at basically doing tons of acreage the rest of my life which is why I'm looking at making the jump into establishing a large pig herd. I can get a dozer for 250 a day but its another giant process to turn the soil green again. You can take a pig off of land and have it green up in a few months.

[@MisterDivineAdVenture]

A doctor (MASH surgeon - ex-marine) showed me the 500# boars that invade his homestead each and every morning - they look like creatures from a scifi movie. I saw about 50 of them immediately around his house.

[@davidater9]

It sounds like you guys need to learn how to make Bacon.

[@ghfan2011]

I was already tempted by the brush clearing, but I think you may have sold me on it by saying they eat snakes lol we live in Florida so snakes are the bane of our existence

[@oneiota1564]

You're really funny. I enjoyed your information and subtle humor.

[@anthonyburke5656]

Man I know has a potato cannon he loads with corn, peanuts etc and fires it into scrub he wants to clear before setting his pigs out onto the patch.

[@RedToolHouse]

That is the coolest thing ever. “Honey, going to feed the pigs” as he packs hair spray, potatoes, and an evil grin…

[@jimsteele9975]

@@RedToolHouse Got the potatoes and evil grin...but what's up with the hair spray?

[@RedToolHouse]

We always used hair spray as the propellant.

[@hanginlaundry360]

This brings back great memories of our potato cannon, only we shot plentiful walnuts with shopper-bag wadding. I can smell the cheap hairspray just thinking of it! Cool idea!

[@Dymondslayr]

Not sure how I ended up on this side of youtube. lol. I saw goats clearing some land in another video and thought it was awesome but... I can see the pigs did a much better job. If I ever need this information, this is good to know.

[@daleasberry]

If you have degraded soils, Autumn Olive is nitrogen-fixing. Also, the fruits are tasty (when fully ripe) and can be made into preserves. It can also be heavily coppiced for mulch and kindling.

[@MrWcjordan10]

Autumn Olive is very invasive. The birds spread it like crazy and it quickly takes over. Kill all of it out.

[@daleasberry]

@@MrWcjordan10 because the soil is extremely degraded. It won't grow in soil with adequate nitrogen levels

[@Invictus13666]

I was just getting ready to type “how are they with poison ivy?” when you said “they love poison ivy” 😂 great video, thanks 👍🏽

[@Bendigo1]

Get some goats to help with the brush, sheep to clear the grass, pigs to clear everything else. If you use an electric fence to keep pigs in, after a week or two, you can turn off the power and they will stay in there because they know the wire is hot and remember it and stay away from it. We actually had to show them that they can go out of that border once we took the fence down to make a bigger pen.

[@johnnixon1026]

intelligent, funny, and informative . what more could you ask for...

[@theuntamedambition]

Great info. How big is your paddock, and how long does it take a pig to clear it out?