The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: sarha on June 25, 2010, 12:17:12 pm
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;D Hello! Me again....after more advice!!
Pig Arks.....second hand ones are as rare a rocking horse manure ( well where I live they seem to be!)......and as i'm a tight a***e I dont really want to spend £200 plus for a new one!! ( 8x6)
Ive been doing some sums and following a plan I found off internet using 18mm ply and that is going to cost the same as a new ark!!
What housing have you got for your pigs, bearing in mind I will not be breeding, just fattening ( 2 or 3 weaners this year ) and how much did it cost you??
again TIA for any replies :)
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Ours are made from corrugated iron taken from old buildings (it used to be very plentiful here). Most of the wood comes from pallets.
Do a search for pig arcs in the pig section, loads of suggestions there.
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As a temporary and cheap option I used straw bales covered in corrugated tin sheets. These were on a concrete base so probably better than being on mud !
The intention was to use for one pair of weeners last spring while I built something more permanent. I was expecting to have to re-build ever day but this was not a problem, it was not demolished once. In fact it worked so well I kept for a second pair over the winter and despite the temperatures the pigs were dry and warm.
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For my weaners that we raised Spring - Autumn I used a really old oil tank. We cut a door in the front and a side hatch for loading straw in and it does the job. As long as you're not keeping them in it over winter you don't need to worry about insulation.
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we built one out of ply with left over tin roofing sheets - used 3 sheets of 8' x 4' ply (18mm) and some 3" x 2" as runners on the bottom - is perfect for our 4 GOS boars who are nearly 6 months old now.