The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: thestephens on April 14, 2014, 08:56:16 pm

Title: Pig Arks
Post by: thestephens on April 14, 2014, 08:56:16 pm
Are there any Scottish pig ark companies? We got ours from bidgiemire but think they have stopped, im sure they are TAS members?
 
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: mowhaugh on April 14, 2014, 09:35:49 pm
Solway Recycling are in Scotland and do pig arcs.
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: thestephens on April 16, 2014, 09:09:09 pm
always think the Solway ones would get too hot in the summer, have seen some at shows and they feel really hot on a sunny day. Does anybody have one?
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: mowhaugh on April 16, 2014, 09:25:54 pm
We do have one and don't have problems with heat, but it is in the shade, not sure what it would be like in the open.
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: HappyHippy on April 16, 2014, 10:27:43 pm
Have you seen the price of the Solway ones though  :o

If it's for your KK's then why not think about a plastic oil tank (you can usually find them second hand for not too much) we've got 2 now.....and I'm always on the look out for more  ;)
You just need to cut a hole in the front for a door, drill some ventilation holes in the back then pressure wash and disinfect it and it's good to go  :thumbsup:
They already have a floor (which doesn't leak the way some do  :innocent:) They're super easy to move (me and the kids can roll them around) and they are usually dark green, so as long as they're in the shade they stay cool and blend in. They're ample big enough for a KK sow and litter or a couple of adults  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: mowhaugh on April 17, 2014, 08:34:30 am
Have you seen the price of the Solway ones though  :o

If it's for your KK's then why not think about a plastic oil tank (you can usually find them second hand for not too much) we've got 2 now.....and I'm always on the look out for more  ;)
You just need to cut a hole in the front for a door, drill some ventilation holes in the back then pressure wash and disinfect it and it's good to go  :thumbsup:
They already have a floor (which doesn't leak the way some do  :innocent:) They're super easy to move (me and the kids can roll them around) and they are usually dark green, so as long as they're in the shade they stay cool and blend in. They're ample big enough for a KK sow and litter or a couple of adults  :thumbsup:

Ours was off Preloved!
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: thestephens on April 17, 2014, 08:22:31 pm
Looking for someone that is buying my piglets, they didn't like the sound of the oil drum as I suggested that.
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: Berkshire Boy on April 17, 2014, 08:54:43 pm
Karen didn't mean an oil drum, a oil tank as in large plastic green tank.
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: HappyHippy on April 17, 2014, 09:35:15 pm
Yeah BB, something like this one...
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: shygirl on April 20, 2014, 02:36:31 pm
thats doesnt look to far off a plastic sty. when we looked the sties were a good £600 plus delivery.
where do you see them advertised 2nd hand karen?
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: bloomer on April 20, 2014, 06:07:32 pm
well theres this one in aberdeenshire


http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/plastic-heating-oil-tank/1057400384 (http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/plastic-heating-oil-tank/1057400384)


there are others out there is you can use google...
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: HappyHippy on April 21, 2014, 11:28:32 am
Sometimes on eBay Shygirl, sometimes preloved or gumtree - freegle is another good place to try.
Just keep your eyes open and ask around at builders/heating engineers yards - they sometimes take out old ones and have them knocking around, check notices in local shops - it's always easier to find them locally when you're in an area I think, but does need some degree of detective work  ;)
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: john and helen on April 21, 2014, 11:58:39 am
I've been looking at making one,

without a floor, an 8ft x 8ft x 4ft high would cost 160 pounds to make thats using 4 sheets of 2ft wide  curved galvanised
4x 10ft 3x2 planks and two 12 mm sheets of ply add another 50 pounds for floor ..210 pounds

sorry my pound sign button don't work
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: HappyHippy on April 21, 2014, 12:30:35 pm
We've made arcs using curves of corrugated too John - the metal works fine but the wood, so far, has been a nightmare  ::)
We used 12mm exterior ply first time round and it lasted a matter of months (got to stress it was fully grown, Large Black & OSB sows & a boar that were housed in them  ;)) we then upped the thickness to 18mm exterior ply, it lasted a bit longer..............but not much  :-\
I suspect for a long lasting (adult proof) arc you'd need marine ply - but it could just be a combination of badly behaved pigs and very wet Scottish weather that's been my downfall  :innocent:
We make our floors using pallets, topped with ply/osb board, then covered with stable matting to protect the wood underneath and give a non slip surface  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: Marches Farmer on April 22, 2014, 10:52:16 am
Check out Smiths of the Forest of Dean for tanks of all sizes.
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: thestephens on April 27, 2014, 09:18:22 pm
yep, it was the green tanks I had in my head, off to look at the one on gumtree
 
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: FiB on April 27, 2014, 09:44:18 pm
Where we got our.ast weaners from had a old 5000l water tank which the pigs seemed very happy in.....
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: verdifish on April 30, 2014, 01:53:15 pm
Here at little blairshinnoch we produce a range of livestock housing/dog kennels .All of our products are made from recyled potatoe boxes and last for absolutely ages , sizes range from  6ft x 4ft for our standard  kune kennel to 6ft x 8 ft for our largest pig ark !They are light enough to be moved by 2 people and afford excellent value for money whilst doing a bit for saving natural resources. All come with a hinged roof which enables easy cleaning and allows an excellent air through flow when the weather is being warm.
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: verdifish on April 30, 2014, 09:27:18 pm
 :some more pictures of the kune kennel >
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: rispainfarm on May 06, 2014, 09:11:34 pm
Hi, Bidgiemire here, yes we stopped making arks as a business as we moved onto other things, however we still make them to past customers and people who contact us from word of mouth. If you haven't got sorted, ring me on 07872899527 and we will try and get something sorted for you. 
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: Woodend on May 06, 2014, 09:27:46 pm
If you're in Aberdeenshire then try the Saturday Sales at Thainstone, Inverurie (http://www.anmgroup.co.uk/tsa/saturday-sales.php (http://www.anmgroup.co.uk/tsa/saturday-sales.php)) for 2nd hand oil/water tanks or wood. You can often get a bargain (unless you get a couple of people bidding the price up...)

Regards

Gervase & Fiona
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: john and helen on May 08, 2014, 09:52:58 am
i have had a rethink after happy hippy's reply,

so i have been looking at dung walling, 50mm timber, just working on a plan  ;D
Title: Re: Pig Arks
Post by: thestephens on May 11, 2014, 10:03:41 pm
Thanks for all the replies, they managed to get a second hand one free! Piggies went to their new home today :)