We have some specific larger needs that we’ve set up individual fundraising campaigns for. This will allow you to see the progress and receive updates.
Fence Post Sponsorship
We need to add approximately 4,000 square feet of fencing and in total that equates to about $17,000. We need to install this fencing not only to better accommodate the current residents but also to be able to take in any additional residents. For a $50 donation, you can sponsor a post at No Swine Left Behind! A custom engraved medallion will be placed on a fence post on the property. You will receive a photo of your post/medallion along with its coordinates. Donations in any amount are also greatly appreciated! We will break this need down into individual projects by urgency. The most urgent need is splitting the current pasture space. This portion will cost approximately $2,500. Initially, this will allow us to allow us to split the front pasture allowing the 7 big pigs from the cruelty case, dedicated pasture instead of shared/rotating. Equally as urgent is fencing in the front of the property. This portion will cost approximately $2,000. After Stevie being thrown in the dumpster, we need to prevent access to the property to further protect those in our care and help prevent animals from being dumped on the property. Next will be extending the pasture areas for Luci & Chief; Margaret, Wilby, & Mae; Chopper, Pickles, Sheldon, & Bentley. This portion will cost approximately $4,700. This will allow them additional enrichment and space to roam, preventing their areas from becoming all dirt. The final fencing project will be fencing the remaining acreage on the property. This portion will cost approximately $7,800. This will allow us to integrate the 2 big herds and separate the main mini herd. Additionally, this will allow us to rotate pastures to ensure the health of the land for everyone to enjoy for years to come. As the cost of materials change this figure may go up or down. We’ve measured everything out and accounted for fencing, posts, and gates at today’s pricing.
We are in need of a grain bin to provide adequate storage for the pigs food. We currently use several old freezers to keep their food safe & dry, but we do not have enough to store the 2 tons of food that is a minimum order requirement. We also do not have space in the current food shed to add additional freezers for storage. This bin will provide proper storage, save space, save time from unloading 2 tons of feed bags, AND save money as our cost goes down as the mills cost of labor & materials goes down. The cost of this grain bin is $5,300.
We are in need of a chute to assist with hoof trimming and basic/minor medical care. A chute like this will enable us to maintain the hooves of the majority of our residents, both big & small. We currently spend about $6,000 a year on hoof care between farrier visits and taking the bigs to the university for theirs. This would allow us to better care for everyone’s feet, especially those who are prone to issues. Misfits Of Oz has worked to create the perfect chute (theirs is pictured). At a cost of approximately $13,000, in just over 2 years this chute will have covered its cost.
There are so many things that need to be done to the buildings here. First, all of the little shelters for the smaller herds absolutely must be insulated. As the buildings have settled over the last 2 years there are gaps in the wood. That combined with the high winds and brutal freezing temperatures, insulating is needed to help keep the residents warm in the winter. Of course, that means we will then need to board up the bottom portions so that the insulation is not accessible for consuming. We’d love to set these smaller shelters up to help ensure the pigs are able to avoid the brutal elements should they choose. Additional lumber would be needed to create sections & stalls in these houses to accommodate a sleeping area, eating/drinking area, and a potty area. As we look at the needs of the main herd, and the things we need to do for them, the portion the barn they just isn’t big enough to feed them their food inside safely. We’ve had some brutal & extreme temperatures the last couple of winters where this needs to be an option for them. We’ve wanted to give them a covered feeding area from the start and had originally planned to create a lane over to a lean-to where the chickens used to be. The list also includes finishing the insulation in the gen-pop barn and then walling it far enough so that no one is eating it, creating stalls in the gen-pop barn vs the mostly open layout we have now. Pigs like huts/dens and they will feel safer & be happier with stalls. The barn floor is dirt so that will need to be filled, leveled & cemented to properly do all of this. Then we need to address straw & hay storage. We can currently store about 75 square bales in the barn. We can take a load of 100 if we’re about to replenish houses. We really need to be able to store at least 300 bales or so here. So when we start looking at the cost of a covered feeding area for gen-pop (even if we use the lean-to things need to be done), insulating their barn and giving them better sleeping quarters, buying something (because we don’t have skills to build) to store straw, it actually is more cost effective to build a new barn for gen-pop and then utilize the existing barn for both their covered feeding area & storage. We’ve also outgrown our quarantine area. While that building won’t go without use as it is a perfect med-bay pen, we need to move quarantine to a different area of the property and that also means a building & fencing. We are still gathering estimates but expect it to be pushing $100,000.
