The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Raine on May 31, 2013, 06:32:51 pm
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:wave:
My ark has arrived ready to be assembled. :pig: :pig: :pig:
I have read in all sorts of books that you should and you shouldn't have a floor in the ark. Which is right?
We are only intending on keeping pigs over the summer (at the moment ;D [size=78%]).[/size][/size] The area we are placing the ark on is dry and doesn't get boggy (though parts of the field can).[size=78%]
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I tend to put floors in all my arks now. I find them easier to clean out and we are on clay so the ground does get wet and cold.
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I just made my ark without a flloor, but I can move it easily for cleaning and will mainly be on an old concerete shed base
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My pigs are only here over the summer(ha ha) so I don't have floors and they are just in the field, have never had any problems.
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I make all my own arks and the first ones did not have floors but I am progressively modifying them to add a floor. In my case this entails raising the arks to sit on railway sleepers and then use recycled scaffold planks to make the floor. The arks are easier to clean out and I know that whatever the weather delivers they WILL have dry accommodation.
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We move our arks a lot and a floor adds a lot of weight so we don't have them. It means a lot more straw in the wetter months though just to keep them out of the mud so I can see both sides of the argument.
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We have floors in our arks. They are very heavy to move but even in the last horrible winter, the pigs were snug and dry. We are considering making a couple of arks up without floors for summer use though.
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We have floors in all ours, and after the rainy winter last year - you know the one that went from January 2012 right through to December 2012 ! - the pigs were very grateful we are on clay.
The short answer is that there is no single right answer - it depends on lots of factors the two most important you have already identified as dryness of soil and whether you are keeping all year round.
But if you don't want the expense of adding a floor, use pallets - free from any industrial estate. Just take the planks from one to nail/screw over the gaps in another - called castle boading. The pigs don't mind sleeping on this, just add a bit of straw. And you don't need to have a "fitted carpet" of pallets. 4-6 placed in the centre of an ark will provide a good sleeping platform, and the pigs will fill the rest up with mud/straw to level it out inside. If you need to move an ark, just leave the pallets behind and start again - ours then dig them back out for you over the next few months and we use them as fire wood.
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Ditto Oaklands pallet suggestion :thumbsup: Though we move the pallets as soon as we move the arcs.
But it really depends on where you are, what your ground is like (and the amount of rainfall !) and whether your pigs are to be a year round addition.
For spring to autumn fattening weaners you'd probably get away without a floor, unless it's very wet or you've got clay soil.
If you're planning on keeping them year round, you'd be best with a floored arc - unless you have a shed/stable/area of hard standing to keep them on in winter.
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Yup ditto Oaklands & HH, we're on nasty clay and i wouldn't be without floors, pigs very rarely mess in their house so they're easier to clean out than you think a good sweep out and a good hefty sprinkle of powder disinfectant and left for a few days and then another good sweep out and they're ready to go again. Our arks are so salubrious the swallows have moved in with the pigs this year in 3 of our arks as well as all our buildings, the noise is incredible how the pigs sleep with all that gabbling on i do not know. ;D Mind saying that Big Gee would sleep thro a hurricane deaf old git!
mandy :pig:
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We put floors in our permanent, self-build housing (a pallet, topped with half an old stable mat, then straw) - but then KK housing's not half as heavy to move as others ;)
For temporary "summer quarters", we have used straw bales with a corrugated sheet roof (weighed down) which have lasted well.
:love: :pig: :love:
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Our arks are so salubrious the swallows have moved in with the pigs this year in 3 of our arks as well as all our buildings, the noise is incredible how the pigs sleep with all that gabbling on i do not know. ;D
mandy :pig:
Given how much our GOS's snore, suspect it's the swallows who suffer !
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Our arks are so salubrious the swallows have moved in with the pigs this year in 3 of our arks as well as all our buildings, the noise is incredible how the pigs sleep with all that gabbling on i do not know. ;D
mandy :pig:
Given how much our GOS's snore, suspect it's the swallows who suffer !
:roflanim:
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I don't have floors in my arks and wish that I did, it gets so yucky under the straw. Will be going down the pallet route now - excellent idea!
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I only keep pigs over the summer. Last year was my first year with them and they were in an ark without a floor. They seemed to be quite happy but I gave them lots of straw as it was such a horrible summer.
This year OH has put a floor in and I must say they look very snug in there. I still add straw of course but they throw a lot of it out again.
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I don't have floors in mine and just chuck in straw on top of straw. Then I lift the ark out and power harrow in the straw and re seed. I have an in door and farrowing unit mind.
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Somebody mentioned disinfectant powder on this thread. I think it was Fowgill Farm. Could you tell me which powder you use please?
This year's weaners are using the corner of the ark as a loo so I could do with some disinfectant!
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Somebody mentioned disinfectant powder on this thread. I think it was Fowgill Farm. Could you tell me which powder you use please?
This year's weaners are using the corner of the ark as a loo so I could do with some disinfectant!
Mandy will be along soon, but til she get's here...
We use Virkon as a disinfectant - it comes in easy to store sachets and works well for us.
If your weaners are pooing insode the arc, try reducing the size of space they have (use small square bales ;)) inside the arc - this should encourage them to go outside :thumbsup:
HTH
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Thanks HH. I hadn't realised that you can use Virkon in it's powder form. I have always dissolved it in water for disinfecting the livestock trailer. An easy solution then.
The bale inside the ark is a good idea as well. I'm out to the field right now!
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Thanks HH. I hadn't realised that you can use Virkon in it's powder form. I have always dissolved it in water for disinfecting the livestock trailer. An easy solution then.
Sorry, I meant disolved in water - I've never used it 'neat' (you do get some powder disinfectants I think ??? but I've not used them) Drop Mandy a pm if she doesn't reply to the thread ;)
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Suitable powder disinfectant is hard to come by, i only ever see it at one of the shows we go to and stock up there. Its lemon smelling, yellow and comes in silver bags approx 1kg and a little goes a long way, haven't got any at the mo and i'm danged if i can remember the name of it. Can't locate it on web either. The most usual brand is Stalosan which i think is disgusting or Lysan which is primarily used for chickens.
I do use Vikron or Jeyes solution in the concrete buildings and only the powder in our wood floored huts.
When i get some more i'll let you know.
Mandy :pig:
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floor is best if on a level base. keep topping up the bedding rather than remove and replace if there is no base.
we have used a thick rubber mat in sties with no floor.