[johnbhoy]

hi there can someone avise me as to where i would get pigs troughs as i have just taken on 4 tamworth piglets they are tiny just now but i am going to need fee troughs and water troughs
i woild be gratefull for any help
many thanks
john

[catomell]

I don't know if this will be of any help at all, but in all the time that I have kept pigs....
I don't use a feed trough, their food is liberally scattered on the floor - as they are outdoors, it keeps them occupied for quite sometime. Having said that, if/when they have to come indoors, I also feed them on the straw. Any feedtrough will disintegrate fairly quickly when it comes under the onslaught of some very determined piglets.
As for the water trough - this tends to vary with age and size. When they are weaners (8 weeks till about 12 weeks), I tend to use a standard plastic bowl inside a tyre. This gives them something low enough that they can drink out of, while the tyre surround prevents a barrier to them turning it over. Once they are of a size where they can reach, an old belfast sink is ideal, as the smooth surface on the outside again prevents them up-ending it!!
Failing that, a small metal sheep feed trough will always double as a water trough, but it does have the disadvantage of having an edge that they can get their snouts under, thereby allowing them to turn it over!
Hoping that this is of some assistance - best of luck with the weaners.
Catherine.

[dixie]

When the ground isn't muddy I put the food on the floor so they have to snout for it! but we have a tough pallet (wont last forever) that we tip the food onto if the grounds too muddy, otherwise the mexican hat feeders are pretty good, until it rains then they fill up with water and you have to tip it out whilst having hungry weaners tugging at your trousers!!

[MrRee]

Maybe this will suit.......

[johnbhoy]

many thanks
a good idea with the tyre and i think i may go with the barrel cut in half too

[sausagesandcash]

If you connect the water supply to the blue barrel, and fit a float and arm, like you find in your toilet cistern, the barrel will refill automatically. If you don't know what I mean this image should give you the idea
http://www.pondkoi.com/pond_products_water_fill_boxes_valves.htm
That way the barrel fills automatically.

Regards,

Morgan

[MrRee]

Like this? ..........

[sausagesandcash]

  That'd be the one Ree!

Regards,

Morgan

[Tullywood Farm]

You can also get tyre inserts.
I use them they push inside a standard car tyre and are great because they don't break!.
I got them from my local agg store.
Regards
Joe

[patmci]

I use the mexican hat feeders. I find them great as none of the pigs can turn them over. They may be hard to find but i think it is worth it.

Regards Patrick

[MiriMaran]

My pigs are fed on the floor in good weather and in the shelter on the rubber matting in bad weather.  As for water I have posh pigs that drink from an old Belfast sink!

[Farmer]

Agree with all of the above...also suggest keeping an eye on Ebay, Farmers Guardian or attending Farm disbursal sales - you can often find an old cast iron pig trough and or water trough at a reasonable price - I only feed large pig rolls outside directly on to the ground and use the same inside in adlib feeders, which also take weaner nuts when needed - don't over feed and make sure they get some fresh veg/fruit as a change to their diet on occassions.

Have fun and good luck

Farmer
 

[daniellestocks]

Loving the barrel idea MrRee that will be ideal for my ponies! and will definitly be using it for my pigs when i get them, Thanx!

[MrRee]

I have to admit to stealing the idea in the first place. It's also good for straddling pens/fields,same water supply,just in two different places at once and saves lugging the trough around........ Ree

[carl]

i have one of the mexican hat feeders, which is robust to say the least. very heavy. difficult to move to empty rainwater out of and to clean. in wet conditions, ie 6 months of year in uk, the area round it gets boggy and the thing is even more difficult to move. also have belfast sink for water, but suffers same problems. I also use the little recycled rubber trugs, which are dead easy to use, but get flung about by boistous pigs. I have had one of those barrel troughs, which was fine, except the ground soon disappeared around it and the pigs bit it to death to create a wallow. I use a cattle trough in one of my pens, which just about survives the rigours of pig life, but again i need to lay a concrete floor around it soon or the pigs will not be able to reach it.