Author Topic: Pigs and slabs? (Read 2579 times)

heyhay1984 · « **on:** January 10, 2016, 12:06:23 am »

Currently planning/costing a pig house on hard standing but just realised it's unlikely that a mixer lorry be able to get to where it will have to be to pour the base (no choice in location).

Am I going to end up very sad if I choose to put it on heavy slabs instead and use a little concrete mixer for any bits that need doing? Want a block-built house with a hard standing run that joins on to existing grass paddock.

HappyHippy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2016, 11:57:31 am »

We use paving slabs to make feeding platforms in the fields - they're 'bedded in' on soft, wet, squishy mud and the pigs are kept off them until they've dried out - this has been working

What doesn't work is letting the pigs on them BEFORE they're totally set, they have great fun digging them up again

I'm guessing, if you're building a block sty you'll be putting in foundations for the walls? (you'd be best to!) You could lay the floor inside using slabs and join it to the run - just make sure it slopes away from the sty.

HTH (not sure if it makes sense lol!)

Bionic · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2016, 12:12:56 pm »

We had some big (too big for me to move) slabs that were put down as a hard standing for feeding. The weaners (only 11 weeks old) still managed to dig them up. They have incredibly strong noses even at that age. We are convinced that moving the heavy slabs caused the prolapse in one of them.
To be fair they were only put down on top of the mud and not set in as HH has suggested

greenbeast · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2016, 08:45:48 am »

do you have a loader tractor or rough terrain forklift?
you could buy in concrete sleepers, and lay them out. they're 250kg each

heyhay1984 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2016, 10:11:38 pm »

Thanks for the suggestions, all of you

I may well have access to a range of machinery and I found out today the the dad of one of my students works in making concrete 'flooring beams' as the kid put it. The joy of working in a school and being there for long enough to to teach a full set of siblings so you get to know the families well!

You've certainly given me more options to explore, cheers

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2016, 05:21:37 pm »

If you build using breeze blocks I suggest driving steel rods vertically through them and concreting them in the ground - I've known folks not do this and find a sow that's had an enthusiastic scratching session demolish the whole thing.