Living with Pigs: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Porkers

by Chuck Wooster, Geoff Hansen (Photographer)

People who love pigs – and believe it or not, there is a significant number of them.

178 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Whatever you do . . . don't miss the joy of having a few pigs in your life each summer. Living with pigs is simple, profitable, hilarious, and profound." (from the Introduction)

The author writes so beautifully about pigs it makes me wish I could raise them myself. Wonderful photographs throughout, too.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

After I got charmed by some cute piglets on our trip to Ireland my husband got this book for me. For maybe some day if we'll have a place to have a few little oinkers of our own...
A clear and easy manual for people who are total noobs in raising pigs for fun, profit, or companion. Some parts like breeding pigs is not covered, as that is not so basic. Get the basics first; read the book, get a few oinkers, grown them,... and enjoy. Pigs are cute; even if I'll want one or two some day mostly as a miniature version and for companion, it's still good to know the basics and get a good starting point.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title seemed more appropriate for my husband (I'm the messy one in the relationship), but I was thrilled by this animal husbandry title. The author is interested in "living with pigs" for profit to both the animal, in the form of a good life and death, for profit to the farmer in healthy food and possibly some income, and for profit to the earth, in the form of manure and tilling without fossil fuels. Bravo! I can't wait to live with pigs, just have to convince the hubby . . .

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover alone to this book makes me smile and is a good indication of what is inside.

My favorite part of this book (aside from the cover and other photographs) is that it is written to the backyard farmer who wants to raise his own pork to eat, (which is exactly what I want to be when I grow up) and not the large scale hog farmer. I found much of the information to be very useful, particularly the chapters on housing and fencing.

[Seana · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a farme-wannabe, I'm enjoying this book. Easy read, good info, great photos, great beginner book. Only problem is the whole point of having pigs - pork! Author assumes you will raise pigs for meat, so have then just around for spring-fall. After all, a 500 pound pet is a little hard to manage!

[Karen Harper Ren Ruggiero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about pigs from this book. It is definitely geared towards folks who are raising their own pork, so skip the chapter on slaughter if you don't want to read about that. Lots of great pig pictures, too. It was interesting to hear a pig farmer's point of view on quality of life for farm animals.

[Corinne]

Very basic, common sense advice for those of us new to the adventures of pig farming. Where most books focus on what can go wrong, this one emphasizes the joys of living with pigs. Very encouraging for a newbie. We survived our first batch of pigs, from piglet, to butcher, to freezer with no other resources than this amazing little book.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author writes about his experience raising a few pigs every summer every year. The factual information regarding hogs is very skimpy and he uses regional terms instead of nationally accepted such as casterated male pigs.His discretion of various breeds is superficial. There are numerous photos on heavy paper.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THIS BOOK. Very educational - even design for building a portable shelter. He raises pigs, obviously knows them very intimately - talks about the fun parts too (sneaking down to wake them up). From baby to butchering - lots of great info.

[Cary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, concise, entertaining, and factual with the bonus of excellent photos.