If you’ve decided to take on a new challenge, raising pigs can be a fun family activity and is great for teaching kids responsibility. The first thing you’ll need is a shelter and pigpen, and these can be made from standard hog panels, t-posts, and wood or pallets you can find in your local hardware store. The living area should be kitted out with plenty of straw but also a few extra necessities to keep your drift happy. This post shares the top essential pig supplies for those just starting out, as well as ideas for useful products you may want to check out.
The 6 Essential Pig Supplies to Get You Started
- Hog Feeder
Check Latest PricePigs are never happier than when they’re chowing down, so they’re sure to appreciate a quality hog feeder. If you need a recommendation, check out this hog feeder by Brower. It’s designed to be shared by up to four pigs and is weatherproof, which is important for keeping out invading pests and moisture. It can contain approximately 1.5 bushels and is made from 20 gauge galvanized steel. It can be refilled from the top to avoid getting in your pigs’ way when they’re having dinner and is 19.5 inches high, 12 inches wide, and 20 inches long. Not every user had a good experience with this product, but it has received good reviews on average, with some users mentioning that they appreciate that it can be shared amongst multiple pigs and that their pigs have responded well to it. Others have mentioned that it’s a little flimsy and needs to be well-fastened to stop it from moving around. Pros
Made of galvanized steel
Easy to refill
Can be shared by multiple pigs
Weatherproof
Cons
Hard-to-follow directions
Needs to be firmly fastened to prevent moving around
- Livestock Waterer
Check Latest PriceWhen it comes to watering your pigs, you can either go for something simple and traditional like a standard water trough or an automatic waterer. Automatic waterers are better for making sure your pigs are getting fresh, clean water, as standard troughs tend to get a little messy. This automatic livestock waterer by MACGOAL is made of stainless steel, is rust-proof, and comes with a float valve for automatic refilling. It flushes out dirty water through a drain plug at the bottom of the trough and can be attached to the wall if necessary. This waterer has a large capacity and is 10.6 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 3.9 inches high. User experience is largely positive, with some users liking how easy this waterer is to clean and how effectively it works. Some found it a little too small, and others mentioned that it works better mounted to a wall. Pros
Made of stainless steel
Automatic refilling
Keeps water fresh and clean
Large capacity
Inexpensive
Cons
May need to be mounted for optimum results
Hose adapter sold separately
- Pig Feed
Check Latest PricePigs aren’t known for being picky, but they generally eat a grain-based diet containing barley, wheat, corn, or other crops. This pig feed by KALMBACH is listed as suitable for all pigs, and we can certainly appreciate the simplicity of that! It’s GMO-free and nutritionally complete, made up of essential oils, minerals, prebiotics, and probiotics. These pellets also contain vitamin E to reduce odors in manure and support a healthy immune system. There aren’t many user reviews on this product, but the ones we did find were positive, which is a good sign. Pros
Suitable for all pigs
GMO-free
Nutritionally complete
Supports a healthy immune system
Cons
None
- Sorting Boards
Check Latest PriceSorting boards are simply used to help you send your pigs in the direction you want them to go. They can be useful for helping you avoid getting knocked over by large or overly enthusiastic pigs as you move them around. These US-made sorting boards are sturdy, lightweight, and are designed to be easy to hold, even with only one hand. They come in three sizes—18 inches, 36 inches, and 48 inches. You should get one board for each person who will be helping to move the pigs. Pros
Great for moving your pigs around safely
Lightweight
Sturdy
Three sizes to choose from
Cons
Larger sorting boards can be a bit harder to handle
- Heat Lamp Image Credit: Félix Girault, Unsplash Check Latest PriceIf you’re planning on breeding pigs, heat lamps can provide some much-needed warmth for your piglets when it’s especially cold out and also for helping sick pigs recover. Prima’s heat lamp kit comes with a plastic grill to protect your piglets from the bulb and prevent it from dropping down into the straw. You can choose between a package with or without a bulb, which is a 250-watt infrared bulb. Pros
Keeps your piglets warm
Heavy-duty plastic grill for protection
Anti-chew spring wire
Cons
The bulb costs extra
- Drench Syringe or Drench Gun
Check Latest PriceThere may come a time when one of your pigs gets sick and needs to be administered medication orally. For this purpose, you can use a drench gun or a drench syringe like this reusable one by Rurtec Limited. You can choose from a 20 ml and 50 ml syringe, and the Luer needle and drench nozzle fittings are included, as are a spare o-ring and seal. This syringe has received many positive reviews, with users mentioning that it’s sturdy and easy to use. It can be used for a variety of animals including pigs, sheep, goats, and horses. You can also use them for giving water to pigs that refuse to drink. Pros
Administers medication orally
Luer needle and drench nozzle included
Can be used on a variety of animals
Can help rehydrate pigs that aren’t drinking
Reusable
Cons
Not suitable for a large number of pigs
Conclusion Raising pigs at home can be a rewarding and enriching experience, especially for families with children. Though pigs are pretty easy to please, a bit of financial investment is still necessary to make sure your pigs live a comfortable, happy life. Your best bet is to go for high-quality, sturdy products from the start to avoid the possibility of having to repurchase equipment down the line. Sources
Agri Sales Inc Pruna Mills Family Farm Livestock The Spruce
Featured Image Credit: acceptphoto, Shutterstock
If you’ve decided to take on a new challenge, raising pigs can be a fun family activity and is great for teaching kids responsibility. The first thing you’ll need is a shelter and pigpen, and these can be made from standard hog panels, t-posts, and wood or pallets you can find in your local hardware store.
The living area should be kitted out with plenty of straw but also a few extra necessities to keep your drift happy. This post shares the top essential pig supplies for those just starting out, as well as ideas for useful products you may want to check out.
The 6 Essential Pig Supplies to Get You Started
- Hog Feeder
Check Latest PricePigs are never happier than when they’re chowing down, so they’re sure to appreciate a quality hog feeder. If you need a recommendation, check out this hog feeder by Brower. It’s designed to be shared by up to four pigs and is weatherproof, which is important for keeping out invading pests and moisture.
It can contain approximately 1.5 bushels and is made from 20 gauge galvanized steel. It can be refilled from the top to avoid getting in your pigs’ way when they’re having dinner and is 19.5 inches high, 12 inches wide, and 20 inches long.
Check Latest Price
Pigs are never happier than when they’re chowing down, so they’re sure to appreciate a quality hog feeder. If you need a recommendation, check out this hog feeder by Brower. It’s designed to be shared by up to four pigs and is weatherproof, which is important for keeping out invading pests and moisture.
Not every user had a good experience with this product, but it has received good reviews on average, with some users mentioning that they appreciate that it can be shared amongst multiple pigs and that their pigs have responded well to it. Others have mentioned that it’s a little flimsy and needs to be well-fastened to stop it from moving around.
Pros
Made of galvanized steel
Easy to refill
Can be shared by multiple pigs
Weatherproof
Cons
Hard-to-follow directions
Needs to be firmly fastened to prevent moving around
- Livestock Waterer
Check Latest PriceWhen it comes to watering your pigs, you can either go for something simple and traditional like a standard water trough or an automatic waterer. Automatic waterers are better for making sure your pigs are getting fresh, clean water, as standard troughs tend to get a little messy.
This automatic livestock waterer by MACGOAL is made of stainless steel, is rust-proof, and comes with a float valve for automatic refilling. It flushes out dirty water through a drain plug at the bottom of the trough and can be attached to the wall if necessary. This waterer has a large capacity and is 10.6 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 3.9 inches high.
Made of galvanized steel
Easy to refill
Can be shared by multiple pigs
Weatherproof
- Made of galvanized steel
- Easy to refill
- Can be shared by multiple pigs
- Weatherproof
Hard-to-follow directions
Needs to be firmly fastened to prevent moving around
- Hard-to-follow directions
- Needs to be firmly fastened to prevent moving around
When it comes to watering your pigs, you can either go for something simple and traditional like a standard water trough or an automatic waterer. Automatic waterers are better for making sure your pigs are getting fresh, clean water, as standard troughs tend to get a little messy.
User experience is largely positive, with some users liking how easy this waterer is to clean and how effectively it works. Some found it a little too small, and others mentioned that it works better mounted to a wall.
Pros
Made of stainless steel
Automatic refilling
Keeps water fresh and clean
Large capacity
Inexpensive
Cons
May need to be mounted for optimum results
Hose adapter sold separately
- Pig Feed
Check Latest PricePigs aren’t known for being picky, but they generally eat a grain-based diet containing barley, wheat, corn, or other crops. This pig feed by KALMBACH is listed as suitable for all pigs, and we can certainly appreciate the simplicity of that! It’s GMO-free and nutritionally complete, made up of essential oils, minerals, prebiotics, and probiotics.
These pellets also contain vitamin E to reduce odors in manure and support a healthy immune system. There aren’t many user reviews on this product, but the ones we did find were positive, which is a good sign.
Made of stainless steel
Automatic refilling
Keeps water fresh and clean
Large capacity
Inexpensive
- Made of stainless steel
- Automatic refilling
- Keeps water fresh and clean
- Large capacity
- Inexpensive
May need to be mounted for optimum results
Hose adapter sold separately
- May need to be mounted for optimum results
- Hose adapter sold separately
Pigs aren’t known for being picky, but they generally eat a grain-based diet containing barley, wheat, corn, or other crops. This pig feed by KALMBACH is listed as suitable for all pigs, and we can certainly appreciate the simplicity of that! It’s GMO-free and nutritionally complete, made up of essential oils, minerals, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Pros
Suitable for all pigs
GMO-free
Nutritionally complete
Supports a healthy immune system
Cons
None
- Sorting Boards
Check Latest PriceSorting boards are simply used to help you send your pigs in the direction you want them to go. They can be useful for helping you avoid getting knocked over by large or overly enthusiastic pigs as you move them around.
These US-made sorting boards are sturdy, lightweight, and are designed to be easy to hold, even with only one hand. They come in three sizes—18 inches, 36 inches, and 48 inches. You should get one board for each person who will be helping to move the pigs.
Suitable for all pigs
GMO-free
Nutritionally complete
Supports a healthy immune system
- Suitable for all pigs
- GMO-free
- Nutritionally complete
- Supports a healthy immune system
None
- None
Sorting boards are simply used to help you send your pigs in the direction you want them to go. They can be useful for helping you avoid getting knocked over by large or overly enthusiastic pigs as you move them around.
Pros
Great for moving your pigs around safely
Lightweight
Sturdy
Three sizes to choose from
Cons
Larger sorting boards can be a bit harder to handle
- Heat Lamp Image Credit: Félix Girault, Unsplash Check Latest PriceIf you’re planning on breeding pigs, heat lamps can provide some much-needed warmth for your piglets when it’s especially cold out and also for helping sick pigs recover. Prima’s heat lamp kit comes with a plastic grill to protect your piglets from the bulb and prevent it from dropping down into the straw. You can choose between a package with or without a bulb, which is a 250-watt infrared bulb.
Pros
Keeps your piglets warm
Heavy-duty plastic grill for protection
Anti-chew spring wire
Cons
The bulb costs extra
- Drench Syringe or Drench Gun
Check Latest PriceThere may come a time when one of your pigs gets sick and needs to be administered medication orally. For this purpose, you can use a drench gun or a drench syringe like this reusable one by Rurtec Limited. You can choose from a 20 ml and 50 ml syringe, and the Luer needle and drench nozzle fittings are included, as are a spare o-ring and seal.
This syringe has received many positive reviews, with users mentioning that it’s sturdy and easy to use. It can be used for a variety of animals including pigs, sheep, goats, and horses. You can also use them for giving water to pigs that refuse to drink.
Great for moving your pigs around safely
Lightweight
Sturdy
Three sizes to choose from
- Great for moving your pigs around safely
- Lightweight
- Sturdy
- Three sizes to choose from
Larger sorting boards can be a bit harder to handle
- Larger sorting boards can be a bit harder to handle
If you’re planning on breeding pigs, heat lamps can provide some much-needed warmth for your piglets when it’s especially cold out and also for helping sick pigs recover. Prima’s heat lamp kit comes with a plastic grill to protect your piglets from the bulb and prevent it from dropping down into the straw. You can choose between a package with or without a bulb, which is a 250-watt infrared bulb.
Keeps your piglets warm
Heavy-duty plastic grill for protection
Anti-chew spring wire
- Keeps your piglets warm
- Heavy-duty plastic grill for protection
- Anti-chew spring wire
The bulb costs extra
- The bulb costs extra
There may come a time when one of your pigs gets sick and needs to be administered medication orally. For this purpose, you can use a drench gun or a drench syringe like this reusable one by Rurtec Limited. You can choose from a 20 ml and 50 ml syringe, and the Luer needle and drench nozzle fittings are included, as are a spare o-ring and seal.
Pros
Administers medication orally
Luer needle and drench nozzle included
Can be used on a variety of animals
Can help rehydrate pigs that aren’t drinking
Reusable
Cons
Not suitable for a large number of pigs
Administers medication orally
Luer needle and drench nozzle included
Can be used on a variety of animals
Can help rehydrate pigs that aren’t drinking
Reusable
- Administers medication orally
- Luer needle and drench nozzle included
- Can be used on a variety of animals
- Can help rehydrate pigs that aren’t drinking
- Reusable
Not suitable for a large number of pigs
- Not suitable for a large number of pigs
Conclusion
Raising pigs at home can be a rewarding and enriching experience, especially for families with children. Though pigs are pretty easy to please, a bit of financial investment is still necessary to make sure your pigs live a comfortable, happy life. Your best bet is to go for high-quality, sturdy products from the start to avoid the possibility of having to repurchase equipment down the line.
Sources
Agri Sales Inc Pruna Mills Family Farm Livestock The Spruce
Featured Image Credit: acceptphoto, Shutterstock
Sources
Agri Sales Inc Pruna Mills Family Farm Livestock The Spruce
- Agri Sales Inc
- Pruna Mills
- Family Farm Livestock
- The Spruce
