Types and sizes of hopper feeders for pigs, drawings and do-it-yourself installation
Pig breeding is considered to be a fairly profitable industry that does not require special physical efforts and material costs from a person. This is why many farmers decide to breed piglets. However, before you start raising animals, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of hopper feeders for pigs.
Basic requirements for pig feeders
Before choosing or making your own container for feeding pigs, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for them. All feeders used in a pigsty must be of a suitable size. Dimensions directly depend on the number of animals. Each pig 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 suitable dimensions, feeders must meet the following requirements:
- ease of use;
- the presence of a protective coating against high humidity;
- large capacity;
- reinforced bottom;
- a slight slope so that food debris collects in one place.
Required dimensions
It is recommended to understand in more detail the optimal dimensions of the piglet feeders. If the container for serving food 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 add enough feed for one pig.
If a farmer rears several piglets, he will have to buy one common feeder. In this case, it must be borne in mind that free space is needed for each pig. 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 corral, several such feeders are installed.
Types and drawings of pig feeders
Before choosing containers with which piglets will eat, you need to familiarize yourself with their varieties.
Trough
Most often, farmers install feeders in pigsties in the form of troughs made of boards or iron. Experienced pig breeders 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 against corrosion. If used correctly, they will last 15-20 years. Wood products deteriorate within 3-5 years.
The troughs are considered versatile products that are suitable for feeding 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 pigs with dry food, bunker products are often used, which can be purchased in special stores or made by hand. The tanks, which are equipped with a built-in hopper tank, are pre-filled with feed. It then gradually flows into the animal troughs. In this case, a person will not have to constantly add food, since it will come from the bunker.
One hopper 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 auto feeder is suitable. It is made in such a way that the feed is poured into the troughs of the animals on its own. This is a kind of hopper feeder, which is also equipped with a large capacity for dry pork feed. When there is no food left inside the troughs, it will begin to independently feed from the hopper. Therefore, the farmer does not have to come to the pigsty several times a day to add food to the animals.
The only drawback of this design is its high cost and installation complexity.
Longitudinal
This variety looks like an ordinary trough. However, these designs have certain characteristics that set them apart from each other. The longitudinal feeders are much longer and can therefore feed many adult pigs. Products of this type can be equipped with a hopper that is installed along the edges. Experienced farmers recommend purchasing such products if piglets are fed liquid feed. They are not suitable for serving dry food.
Circular
These pork feed containers consist of a round shaped container with low sides. The main feature of these structures is that they are divided from the inside into several sections. A special ring is located in the center, with the help of which 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 remaining food.
Installing feeders in a barn
Containers for feeding food are installed in front of the entrance to the pen with piglets. You can also place them in the center of the barn so that each piglet can freely walk up to them. The structure is securely fixed so that it cannot be thrown over. To do this, it is screwed to the floor surface or to the wall. Strong metal bolts are used for fastening. The wooden trough can be secured with nails.
Conclusion
People planning to breed pigs should figure out their feeders. It is better to familiarize yourself in advance with the types of such containers, as well as with their main distinctive features.
