The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Jonah by nature on July 15, 2019, 08:42:54 pm

Title: Pig enclosure advice
Post by: Jonah by nature on July 15, 2019, 08:42:54 pm
Hi, we have started to build our pig enclosure. Post and rail with stock proof fencing and a line of electric wire at the base. Post and rails are going in braced at the corners but which is best ... wire stapled to the inside face or outside. Electric wire will go on the inside face , with a bit of a standoff to keep them away from the fence proper. Sorry if it sounds like a dumb question but there is a lot of conflicting info out there.
Title: Re: Pig enclosure advice
Post by: RCTman on July 15, 2019, 09:19:08 pm
I have always put the netting on the inside, if its on the outside any pressure from within will tend to push the wire off the posts, pushing the staples out. There again its all according to what is on the other side of the fence.
Title: Re: Pig enclosure advice
Post by: Jonah by nature on July 15, 2019, 10:36:54 pm
Sounds like a whole load of logic to me especially when I'm told an untrained pig will run forward when encountered by elecrtic rather than back.mine will be electric trained when ready so hopefully this won't be too much of a problem. Bit like the old scout saying " be prepared"!

Title: Re: Pig enclosure advice
Post by: harmony on July 15, 2019, 10:43:11 pm
As above wire on stock side but of course you might have stock both sides. You shouldn't have a problem with electric fence running on the pig side anyway. Post should be driven well in and stock wire properly tensioned if you want it to last.
Title: Re: Pig enclosure advice
Post by: Jonah by nature on July 16, 2019, 07:28:53 am
Hi, many thanks for the advice.... more post ramming today????. Ground is dry and "ard as a dogs head" as my father in law used to say.....Only another 70 to go in !
Title: Re: Pig enclosure advice
Post by: Jim Bob on August 02, 2019, 10:31:06 pm
Hi Jonah. I have just sent two to the abattoir and had built a wee enclosure with posts and electric wire on the inside to keep them in. Anytime they got a jag which was rare as they soon got to know about it they didn’t jolt forward but retreated. The electric wire worked a treat. I got a wee eklectric wire tester to ensure it was working at all times because the grass would have grown around it and cut the circuit. Keep wire clear from heavy growth. Spray that area with weed killer now.

Oh and beat a big square post into the ground because they like a good scratch. Otherwise they ll scratch up against something you don’t want them to like their housing.
Start thinking about where you want them to be when you want them to load onto the trailer. I had to get mine onto steps away out of the pen and it took about 5 days before they would leave their pen and walk to the steps. Begin preparing for that about a week before you intend to load them they will definitely not come out of the pen on the day. They re not like cows. Lol
Title: Re: Pig enclosure advice
Post by: Jonah by nature on August 03, 2019, 05:10:00 am
Just finished the 1/2 acre enclosure ... phew ! All posts were hand rammed and the ground as 'ard as a dogs head. Still nursing a badly swollen hand from insect bites????. A rest for the weekend and ark building Monday.

 Wifey cannot comprehend the mental and physical punishment I put myself through for the love of pigs.????????
Cheers for the advice re a scratching post, I'll get wifey on it after she's had a few gin and tonics????