What do you use for a feeder?

[DaziAcres]

Our new batch of pigs is in the forest on two stands of wire. They're respecting it; however, when they heard us coming this morning with their feed one of them came out to meet us. Then went right back through when we went into their paddock. That's all beside the point.

The point is, they need to be able to have feed available to them all the time so they remain content between foraging.

We usually just use the ground but we don't want a huge pile of feed out there. I've seen Salatin's huge feeders but we need something less cumbersome but equally sturdy; that will keep the feed dry but accessible.

Any of you brilliant people have something that works for you?

[highlands]

20 to 300 gallon troughs for fluids - the smaller ones are made of plastic food grade barrel ends. The larger are cattle troughs.

The ground for most of the other feed since pasture/hay is by far the dominant feed here.

We don't feed commercial hog feed/grain but we did over a decade ago and when we did I found that there was no waste feeding on the ground as long as it was not muddy. The pigs and chickens cleaned everything up. If you over feed them then that would be different.

If you want to free feed then build or buy one of those flip up lid feeders which work very well from what I've seen at other places. The flip up lid works well with the pigs's natural rooting instincts and keeps rodents and birds out. You could make one out of wood or weld one up. The problem is that is going to reduce grazing behavior if candy is always available. That will in turn increase your cost of production.

[DaziAcres]

The "as long as it's not muddy" part is the clincher. Right now it's dry but this is Tennessee. .. We could have rain for a week. :-D

Hubby just cut a 50-gal barrel in thirds and is using one third for now but we need to do better.

Pigs. .. The challenge that tests your resolve.

[PasturedPork]

I make wooden feeders with wood flip up lids. I put a few free range chickens with my pigs to clean up any spilled feed.

I've used the ground, troughs and basically anything you can think of to feed them. It all works

[DaziAcres]

Originally Posted by PasturedPork

I make wooden feeders with wood flip up lids. I put a few free range chickens with my pigs to clean up any spilled feed.

I've used the ground, troughs and basically anything you can think of to feed them. It all works

Do you have a pic you can show me? Trying to get a visual here. Thanks!

[PasturedPork]

I will get a family member to help me. I am not tech savy

[highlands]

Originally Posted by DaziAcres

The "as long as it's not muddy" part is the clincher. Right now it's dry but this is Tennessee. .. We could have rain for a week. :-D

Hubby just cut a 50-gal barrel in thirds and is using one third for now but we need to do better.

Pigs. .. The challenge that tests your resolve.

Barrels work great, the plastic is easy to cut and they last, especially the blue barrels. White barrels may not have UV inhibitors so they may break down more quickly.

Here is a search pattern that will give you lots of pictures:

http://images.google.com/search?q=si...0whey&tbm=isch

[jwal10]

I just used a hot water tank, cut in half length ways and add 2 3' angle irons for feet. The hogs can not turn it upside down. I fed slop but they work for dry feed. I never free feed anything, I want to know how each animal is eating....James

[DaziAcres]

Update:

So, the cut blue barrel (which also happens to be food grade) is working FABULOUSLY! The hubs dug a bit of a hole to put it in and the pigs have, of course, stomped it in even farther, so it's staying put, and so are they!

And I came up with the idea before my first cup of coffee!

Thanks, Walt, for the image search. Really appreciate you going that extra step that you so often go. :-)

[ben70b]

I use a feeder!

[LivingstoneFarm]

Here's my feeder. I can easily drag it around when it's empty. It will hold a little over 300lbs and service 16 pigs. It works well for me.

[HerseyMI]

Depends. Feeders and growers get full feed via a 6 bushel automatic feeder. Everybody else eats off the ground.

[Muleman]

Livingstone,
I really like that feeder you have there on the skids. I just have a long wooden feed trough right now, but I know I will need something better in the future. Gives me an idea of something like what you have with a few plastic or metal barrels as the grain holder??? I will have to think on that some.?
I have found with all kinds of animals a really nice permanent feeder in the middle of a mud hole is still not a really nice feeder idea. I do not care where you live, enough traffic and it will become a mud hole. Having some type of ,at least, Semi-permanent feeder that can be moved a bit periodically, as needed, is the best idea.