[Appletree Cottage]

I am new to pig keeping and am just dividing up a barn to rear two pigs to slaughter in approx 6 months. Its concrete base and well drained. its overall area is 5m x 7m. Is it best to divide up or leave as is.

[Eve]

You mean the barn as their sleeping area with access to outside space?

[Appletree Cottage]

No, keeping them inside. but barn is open at one end so good vetalation and good light.

[The Woodsiders]

I think you may anticipate a few replies to your question.

[Berkshire Boy]

I would be surprised if there is anyone on this site that keeps pigs indoors for all their lives, not what we are about.
The best way to keep them is in a outdoor pen so they can dig and do what pigs do naturally. A barn is ok for sleeping  or to bring them in for winter or farrowing but they need outside ground.

[Eve]

5x7m of concrete alone is unsuitable - and then you want to divide it up even further?


They need outside space to root in with an appropriate shelter. Have a look on this forum for information space requirements and shelters.

[shygirl]

5x7m of concrete alone is unsuitable - and then you want to divide it up even further?

the thing is its probably adequate for intensive farming but this forum is mainly smallholders so a bit biased on what advice you will get.
can you offer them a bit of a yard aswell?
we kept 3 weaners in a 14ft x 14ft stable  with a 14ft x 18ft outdoor pen, wasnt ideal but i was ill for quite a while so it was the best i could offer them at the time. a field/sty is much easier on everyone.

[Appletree Cottage]

Yes a can offer them another area adjascent, so it sounds like thats the best answer. Thank you for your advice

[Fowgill Farm]

I am new to pig keeping and am just dividing up a barn to rear two pigs to slaughter in approx 6 months. Its concrete base and well drained. its overall area is 5m x 7m. Is it best to divide up or leave as is.

Hi Appletree, I can see from your post you are VERY new to pigs. Would suggest you do some reading up (try www.gospbc.co.uk see pig management header) of a really good pig manual and/or go on a pig keeping course (Oaklands or Tudful on here)if theres one near you. Traditional pigs are kept in all sorts of systems but predominantly as you have found by the replies free range outside in arks by the majority of us. Many of us DO bring our pigs into our buildings in the winter BUT they still have access to outside space and fresh air.  Our smallest winter housing is as 3mx3m stable with outside run of approx. 6mx3m run our largest area is a 4mx4m byre with attached 6mx6m yard each of these areas house either 2 adult pigs or 3 fatteners. If pigs don't have exercise they just get fat, exercise makes muscle makes good meat. The space you have will also have to  have a shelter within which will take space and they will need an area to do their business, pigs are NOT dirty and will do their business as far away from their sleeping area as possible. Is it not possible to allow your pigs to an attached outside area, we sometimes use security fencing for weaners to extend exercise areas but remember any fencing needs to be robust as pigs are adept at escaping usually when its blowing a force ten and phishing down, been there, done that, lesson learn't!  
We're not trying to put you off just being realistic, pigs in small areas don't work as they get bored and generally start destruction very quickly, also they take more mucking out, more straw, more disinfectant etc you see where I'm coming from.
I know in days gone by people kept pigs in fairly small stys a la Victorian farm but in those days pigs often roamed free around the farm during the day and returned to their sty's at feed time, these days that's not convenient and animal welfare has moved on.
HTH make you an informed choice.
All the best
mandy
 

[Marches Farmer]

I agree with Mandy (as usual!) and would add that unless you have a proper drainage system concrete based sties will quickly become saturated - a welll grown pig produces a lot of urine in a day - more than enough to soak even a generously bedded area.

[The Woodsiders]

Hi Appletree, lots of good advice on here following your post and there will be lots more if you scroll through the pig section, good luck