What do you use for a shelter? Can you please post pics?
We're Fixing to move our weanlings out of the portable sow pen into a 1/4 acre pen around the Apple Orchard....
I've got this idea to build porta guys from old 16-20 ton poultry feed bins. Cut it length ways on the center and then cut the half in half. Use 2-3" galvanized steel pipe to frame a sled frame on the bottom to strengthen it and make it easier to move around.
I could even use rough cut oak and make a floor in it too?
Almost anything works - even brush. Most of ours for winter are basically two or three sided shelters to block the wind, open so that the sun and fresh air come in, ideally with the bottom raised up so water flows away, a deep bedding pack of branches, wood chips, hay so it composts producing food and heat. In the warm months no shelter is needed other than shade which is via brush and trees. I would _not_ suggest putting in a floor. Just use dirt. Here are some google searches which shows pictures: site:sugarmtnfarm.com housing site:sugarmtnfarm.com shelter
Interesting. I get it anything that sheds water and blocks wind works...
I had a 10' stock tank that was damaged and won't hold water. I cut a hole in the side of it and turned it over on a big pile of hay....This will get them temporarily covered on shelter, but in time it'll be too short...So I'll keep it for piggy shelter...
I'm wanting something that's easy to move, and stands up to their abuse. Time efficiency is a huge thing for me.
I built a dog Heat pen with a raised oak floor, fully covered, on a I-beam sled, and pushed it up to they're pen for a few days and fed em in it. It was easy to move em to the pasture in this.
This is my re-pourposed stock tank. I double rolled the bottom of the opening for safety. We dropped it off a trailer when it was FULL of peatmoss bags and water... it damaged it beyond repair... Figured this was a good use...
I put a big pile of hay down and dropped this over it.
Day 1 they haven't gone in it. I threw a handful of foal lac pellets inside, figuring they'd go investigate... We'll see?
The best shelter I have ever had for new feeders was an old aluminum 8' pickup cap. Just set it on a couple, three foot high pile of active compost. I remember when styles changed and they were a dime a dozen when scrap was down. I'd like to spend that dime now.
OK I traded for an old feed bin. We got two 8' deep shelters cut out of it... Sleds bolted on, and one cross member on the front.
I haven't quite figured out the back. Currently it's still got the 'top' on it...Or half of it anyway.
I also haven't figured out what to cover the top access hole with...
Finally finished it. Added a bolted 1"x1/8" flat bar edge on the front.
Cut out the top come bolts and bent the metal in flat, then Screwed it to.the back cross pipe. Then bolted it to the pipe, and bolted the wedge cuts to each other.
It oughta serve well for along time..
Nice Bob. I might cut a couple inch hole in the top and rivet a piece of flashing across it to let out heat or "funk" in the summertime, but I guess with the space at the bottom for some cross breeze, won't be a problem. Very nice.
Really good idea. How stiff is the edge on the open side - think it'll be ok just as it is or would you
run a pipe along the edge if you had to do it again?
On this model I used a peice flat stock as a stiffener. I won't do it an the next one. The metal must be a 22/23 guage, it's pretty thick and stiff.
The matching half of this one Ended up in the boar pen because a storm was coming. It for no bracing at all and it's setting just fine. A person could use it as is I'd wager without issue... But moving it will be harder.
The pipe sleds and bracing were mostly to make it sturdier for moving routinely. It can be moved with a 4 wheeler of pickup or tractor ECT... I do want to add a big eyelett of some sort so it can me picked up easier.
Time is my biggest enemy. The care and management of my pig heard has to be efficient or I can't have them on the farm.... So I use this consideration when I plan things.
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