Now that we’ve talked about the considerations that go into developing our pig housing, in this post I will detail the first pig house design we ever used. Next week I’ll detail the second pig house design we use. Both are good, they’re just different.
The Triangular Structures
These are the first two pig houses we made. Over time the pigs have helped us improve these houses by destroying all weak aspects of the houses and allowing us to rebuild them stronger than before. Yes, that’s what pigs do.
These houses were designed with the need to balance sturdy construction (pigs are destroyers) with minimal weight (we would be moving the houses).
Dimensions and Framework
Each house is about 4ft high, 4ft wide, and 6ft deep. The 4ft wide dimension makes it easy to use a sheet of plywood for the roof, you only need to make one cut for the length.
The base is a frame of ripped 2x4s. We ripped them to lessen the weight, and they have been sturdy enough. The pigs have never managed to break the base!
The vertical supports at the front are 2x4s. We cut one 8ft 2×4 in half to create the 4ft sections. You’ll see where the vertical supports meet the base we use scrap wood to create a triangular brace. That adds a lot of strength to the structure.
Also note the 2nd pair of vertical supports in the middle of each side. These supports help the roof, and they also provide an extra place to secure the fencing on the sides.
Roof and Sides
The roof is thin plywood on one house, and thicker OSB on the other. I prefer the thin plywood as the different material makes the house significantly lighter. When we’re carrying the house to a new location, that makes a world of difference.
The sides of one house are field fencing. We attached it with fence staples we hammered in to the wood frame. The other house has horse fencing (2″x4″ squares) attached in the same manner. That house has a tarp over the fencing.
If you try simply using a tarp for the sides, the pigs will run right through it. If you try stapling up chicken wire covered by a tarp, the pigs will run right through it. If you want the sides enclosed, use sturdy fencing and cover it with a tarp.
How it Works
This house design functions very well as a pig house. They snuggle in the house at night, and it keeps them out of inclement weather. It’s heavy enough that they don’t often move the house around, which is nice, but light enough that we can move it without trouble. We’ve been able to construct these houses from scrap material, so they don’t cost us much. We spend a few bucks on a new tarp every year or so.
We value multi-functional structures, and these houses also work as goat houses. We used one for our goat kids this past spring.
We have been very happy with this house design, and would be happy to use it again in the future.
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