The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Azzdodd on April 23, 2014, 10:27:17 am

Title: Building a new pig ark
Post by: Azzdodd on April 23, 2014, 10:27:17 am

I'm looking to build 2 new arks for my pigs.....one large white X welsh gilt who is in pig and 1 welsh gilt about 5 months old live outdoors with plenty off space. I have just bought 17 sheets off 8x4 ply which is in as new condition for cheap.....want to use this to build some arks. What's the best design? Triangle rectangle? Ideally would like too use ply for roof with felt but I don't mind buying metal sheets

Title: Re: Building a new pig ark
Post by: benkt on April 23, 2014, 11:21:13 am

I make mine by knocking four fence posts in to form the corners. Use lengths of 2x2 to join the tops of the posts together and clad with OSB and roof with corrugated iron. I don't see why ply+felt wouldn't work with this method. I think in the next ones, I'll run 2x2 round the bottom as well to give something to screw the sheets to as they tend to knock the bottoms out with rooting around on the current ones. Also after reading this report
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pages/ansci/swinereports/asl-1389.pdf (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pages/ansci/swinereports/asl-1389.pdf)
I might try putting the entrance in the corner of a wall instead of the middle.

Title: Re: Building a new pig ark
Post by: Womble on April 23, 2014, 11:35:59 am

That sounds nice and easy. What do you do for a floor Benkt?

Title: Re: Building a new pig ark
Post by: benkt on April 24, 2014, 11:43:51 am

I just use straw for a floor - we're on hard clay and so its mostly like concrete anyway - particularly with a roof over it! We've not really had a problem in the wet - just get through a lot more straw than I guess we would with a hard floor - but as we have practically limitless, nearly free, bales of straw from a neighbour I've never worried.

Title: Re: Building a new pig ark
Post by: Nethermoor Pigs on April 28, 2014, 04:30:44 pm

What thickness ply have you bought?  18 mm is what you need, unless loads of supports.

Title: Re: Building a new pig ark
Post by: verdifish on April 30, 2014, 09:31:55 pm

Why build one when you can buy a kune kennel  !!

Title: Re: Building a new pig ark
Post by: Porterlauren on April 30, 2014, 10:24:14 pm

Because it's cheaper and more fun.

Title: Re: Building a new pig ark
Post by: oaklandspigs on May 01, 2014, 09:15:31 am

I built a couple based on the pig paradise design - the pigs love them !

http://www.pigparadise.com/arks.html (http://www.pigparadise.com/arks.html)

Title: Re: Building a new pig ark
Post by: Azzdodd on May 01, 2014, 05:17:41 pm

I went for 2 8x4 sheets on floor 1 as roof 1 on each side it looks good and very big Infact I
Might sleep over tonight  :roflanim: