When we decided to try our hand at raising pigs, we needed to build a pen. We wanted them outside in the sun and open air to simulate the wild as much as we can on our farm. Our goal is to learn how to create a farm that makes the3 animal feel like they are in their natural habitat. This is a real challenge with pigs unless you have part forest in the pasture, which we dont!
The Original Pen
Bachelor Quarters
So this year we built the bachelor's quarters. Here is Romeo's 'pad' when he is seperated from the girls to prevent constant breeding. Built from scrap wood for the cost of a bag of nails, it contains no new lumber. Retired fence posts.. Leftover roofing panels.. And the rotted decking from our patio rebuild. He loves it!
If you look closely on the left side you notice the self made pond. Apparently the pigs have leanred to turn on the faucet. I have found a small pond of water and an open faucet every day this week!
If you look closely on the left side you notice the self made pond. Apparently the pigs have leanred to turn on the faucet. I have found a small pond of water and an open faucet every day this week!
The "Pasture" Area
Heres a look at the roaming area for the pigs surrounding their pens. When the door to either pen is open, they are free to roam and graze, but return to the safety and warnth of their pens at night. This gives them a LOT more area to roam than even our oversized pens. and ROAM they do!
The Happy Trio
Girls in the front chasing the cameraman... Guy in the background... Eating as usual. They are very happy to be all together again. We separated them for a few months to time the baby births.
Hunter the Lumberjack!
He loves driving the tractor, and today he got to work the frontloader bucket also!
A pig play spot
It's not much, but this will be the starts of simulating a real forest. Looks fun? It will be torn to shreds by tomorrow.
After seeing this old post again, I thought it important to note that a few months after this, when the baby pigs started growing up, we expanded the "pasture" to include about 4 acres of the adjacent pasture.
ReplyDeleteEven with full access to 4 acres, as soon as weather permits, we will finish the fencing and open up the other 4 acres of pasture for the hogs. That will allow rotation between the two pastures.