Pigs are out on pasture!

And look how happy they are:

The last animal group is out on the fields, and boy do they seem happy about it. ©️2026 Deck Family Farm

Just like the cows, our pigs spend their winter in open-sided barns. We do this to protect our fields when they are wet and vulnerable to the enthusiastic digging that pigs do, even in heavy clay soil.

Over the winter, though they are confined, the pigs have it pretty good.

"The barns are spacious with lots of straw," said John Deck. "We practice deep bedding which keeps them warm and allows them to still run around, root in straw, etc... except they are under cover."

He continued: "We do this because we have heavy clay soils in Oregon and the pigs root through pastures quickly.  Basically, our goal of improving soil health and plant regeneration would be compromised by having our pigs out doors during this time."

The year-long pig sheltering cycle begins every fall with spreading the previous winter's deep bedding onto the fields. The manure is composted all summer so it is very beneficial to spread onto the fields in the fall. Because the manure is processed into small bits and the grasses, clovers and herbs are cut short, the nutrients get down to the soil where we want it to be.

"We let the winter rains soak and penetrate this fertility gently, on a long "time-release" that happens December through March," he explained.  "Sometimes we see mushrooms appearing on bedding that had significant wood shavings/sawdust."

When April comes, the fields are lush and ready for the pigs.

Before they go out, however, the team has to mow large, rectangular pathways in the tall forage so the fences can be installed. The pigs are moved every day to a fresh section of the field.

And we do that all summer until November, when the cycle starts over again. The pigs will move back into the cozy barns and last year's manure will be ready for spreading.

Click to view the video on Instagram.