Deer proofing my pigs feed

[59 Sons]

I have four hogs and about a dozen uninvited deer guests that eat the veggies that I provide my pigs. I bring home about 8 55 gallon barrels a week from produce stands. I have never minded the deer joining my other livestock but lately I have noticed aggressive does chasing off my pigs. I'm only going to have these pigs a couple more months but I'm trying to fatten them up for slaughter. And they are not getting the food I am bringing home for them. I'm trying to come up with something I can enclose the veggies in that will allow the pigs access and prevent the deer from getting into it. Any ideas would be welcome.

 

[paulsharvey]

Thats normally the opposite problem I hear about. Normally its "how do I keep these dang hogs out of my deer feeder". And most of the time thats "sour some corn and place it way from the deer feeder, and the hogs will prefer the soured corn"; so maybe leaving the hog feed jn a barrel for a few days to let it sour, will keep the deer away?

 

[Rockbadchild]

pehaps a electrical wire ?? high enough for the hogs to go under but not the deer.

 

[WM75Guy]

I am one with the opposite problem. I did throw corn in the front yard for the deer. Had to stop when the hogs showed up. Grass is taking a beating. I have to drag the yard with the harrow just to mow. For an early Christmas present I am getting a thermal scope.

 

[drizler]

pehaps a electrical wire ?? high enough for the hogs to go under but not the deer.

Deer easily hop over electric fences. They easily clear 5-6’ without even trying. They have a huge reach as well. I often see our way overfed whitetails stand on their hind legs and stretch like a rubber band to over 8’ likely 10 just to sample a tree bough.
Our mob Always raids the garden in the night. This year I put a series of heavy welded wire panels 5’ high around it and they stayed out. I wouldn’t buy that stuff for the job but I had it already. It kept everything out fine but I have no illusion that they couldn’t just hop it if they really want to badly enough. So if you are doing electric I’d go with at least 3 lines making sure the bottom one was less than a foot off the ground . Most times they are just grazing past nibbling on what is easily available I find. Make it difficult and they will eat something elsewhere.

 

[gstrom99]

A regular pig feeder should work, since the deer probably wouldn't/couldn't lift the door. If the season is open, you or a buddy could legally harvest them (bow/gun/muzzy).

 

[Cycledude]

My dog used to think it was her job to chase the deer away, after the deer ran about 100 yards the dog would come back, unfortunately my dog passed away a few years ago.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Deer easily hop over electric fences.

Depends on how you build them ... Look into to "3D fence" if you want to keep them out ...

Mine works!

I put it up this spring, no more problems on my trees! IIRC wires on T-Post is at 22", 40", 54", then the fourth wire is set 30" away, and at 30" high off the ground ...

 

[gstrom99]

I'm trying to come up with something I can enclose the veggies in that will allow the pigs access and prevent the deer from getting into it. Any ideas would be welcome.

Wouldn't a regular pig feeder (with the lift up door) work? I posted a reply a day ago, with the idea of taking the deer "out" with one of those loud, lead projectile things - but the post "didn't make the grade"...