Do-it-yourself bunker feeder for pigs: types and dimensions, drawings and installation

Pig breeding is considered a fairly profitable industry that does not require special physical effort and material costs from a person. That is why many farmers decide to breed piglets. However, before you start raising animals, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of pig bunker feeders.

Basic requirements for pig feeders

Before you choose or make your own piglet feeding container, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for them. All feeders used in a pigsty must be of the correct size. Dimensions directly depend on the number of animals.Each piglet needs about forty centimeters of free space. Therefore, for 2-3 pigs, a container with a length of at least a meter is selected.

In addition to being the right size, feeders must meet the following requirements:

• ease of use;
• presence of a protective coating against high humidity;
• large capacity;
• reinforced bottom;
• tilt slightly to collect leftover food in one place.

Required dimensions

It is recommended to understand in more detail the optimal dimensions of feeders for piglets. If the food serving container is purchased for one piglet, it should not be too large. It is enough to purchase a trough, the length of which will be 30-40 centimeters. This is enough to fill enough feed for one pig.

If a farmer raises several piglets, you will have to buy one common feeder.In this case, it must be borne in mind that each pig will need free space. So that the animals do not interfere with each other and feel comfortable, they buy a trough 1.5-2 meters long and about 50-60 centimeters wide. For a large pen, several of these feeders are installed.

Types and drawings of feeders for pigs

Before choosing the containers with which the piglets will eat, you need to familiarize yourself with their varieties.

Trough

Most often, farmers install feeders in the form of troughs made of boards or iron in pigsties. Experienced pig farmers do not advise using wooden structures, as they quickly rot and deteriorate under the influence of moisture. Instead, it is better to install steel products that are protected from corrosion. With proper use, they will last 15-20 years. Wood products deteriorate within 3-5 years.

Troughs are considered universal products that are suitable for fattening small and adult animals. During installation, they are securely attached to the floor surface so that animals cannot throw them over.

Bunker feeder

For feeding dry food to pigs, bunker products are often used, which can be purchased at speci alty stores or made by hand. Containers that are equipped with a built-in bunker tank are pre-filled with feed. Then it gradually enters the animal troughs. In this case, a person will not need to constantly add food, as it will come from the bunker.

One hopper capacity is enough to feed four adult piglets. Therefore, experts advise using them for people who keep more than two piglets.

Automatic

For people who do not want to constantly add food to pigs, a special automatic feeder is suitable.It is made in such a way that the feed is poured into the animal troughs on its own. This is a kind of silo feeder, which is also equipped with a large capacity for dry pig feed. When there is no food left inside the troughs, it will begin to feed itself from the bunker tank. Therefore, the farmer does not have to go to the pigsty several times a day to feed the animals.

The only drawback of this design is its high cost and complexity of installation.

Longitudinal

This variety looks like an ordinary trough. However, these designs have certain features that distinguish them from each other. Longitudinal feeders are much longer and can therefore feed many adult pigs. Products of this type can be equipped with a hopper, which is installed at the edges. Experienced farmers recommend buying such products if piglets are fed liquid feed. They are not suitable for serving dry food.

Circular

These pig feed dispensing containers consist of a round shaped container with low sides. The main feature of these structures is that they are divided into several sections from the inside. A special ring is located in the center, with the help of which the feed is distributed over the sections. Circular feeders are recommended to be installed in such a way that the animals reach the center. This will help them eat the leftover food.

Installing feeders in the barn

Capacities for serving food are placed in front of the pen with piglets. You can also place them in the center of the barn so that each piglet can freely approach them. The structure is securely fixed so that it cannot be thrown. To do this, it is screwed to the floor surface or to the wall. Strong metal bolts are used for fastening. A wooden trough can be fixed with nails.

Conclusion

People who plan to raise pigs should sort out their feeders. It is better to familiarize yourself with the types of such containers in advance, as well as with their main distinguishing features.

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