Beginner's guide to hog pens

[@lisanowakow3688]

I’m coming back to listen to this video and it makes me smile. There is another homesteading channel I watch that has pigs and three big pigs pushed over a large plastic blue barrel, wrestled off the water spigot and as far as the farmer could tell, ate the spigot. 😂

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I tried the barrels years ago took about a month to give up . Those water nipples are made to hang from the ceiling on a flexible pipe inside a hog house . Just don't work good outside better off just to water them in a trough

[@NCTuskie]

The best, no BS video on this I’ve seen. Gave me everything I need to get started

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thanks that's what I was going for !

[@mikealdag7309]

Trust a newbie , everything he is saying is the absolute truth , I've got some great advice from him, I'm new , only a few months, 2 bored 3 females, picked up as babies , now over 100lbs each. They are rough on fencing and posts , and they dig as well as jump and climb !! Over build the hell out of your penns and you wont be disapointed

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Sorry about the trolls folks , pay them no mind they must just not have anything better to do at 1am, had one up here pretending to be a hog farmer was really ambitious ! We'll remove anything ignorant or misleading that is posted . Thanks for watching

[@arthurcronin7588]

I am 52 and this is by far the best video on KZbin. Blessings to you and your family. Great job......

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you!

[@cliffordwalls2636]

I found more usefull information in this video than i did on the 15 other video's i watched . Thank You

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you !

[@Americanviking82]

Ive been searching youtube for this information. Most videos I've watched dont have my vision for my set up. I live in the south. Not all that worried about long frozen winters. Finally, I come across this video and it is exactly what I was looking for. Thank yall. I subscribed

[@creeksidechris3384]

Practical and fair. Thank you so much, my neighbor and I raising our first 4 kuni kuni pigs. Our other neighbor seems to think their pens should r emain clean ..... but you are soooo right, they tear up as much room as youll give them and thats a fair assesment of what a normal pig pen should look like .. i feel way better after watching and listening to your awesome advice on this video! Creekside

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

A lot of people don't realize those pictures you see of perfectly clean hog lots are for show . The pigs are only in there for the photo shoot

[@midgamarine]

Man, I love this video. All of the videos that I have seen on KZbin regarding raising farm animals has totally gone against the grain of what I have grown up for over 50 years successfully raising and processing farm animals.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I just wonder where people got their information ! I've heard things you wouldn't believe .

[@BastardMetal]

This is one of the best videos I've ever seen on the subject. We hope to get some pigs next spring. I inherited 20 acres here in NC last year and I intend to do my parents proud.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

If we can help send us an email . I love to see young people get back to the old ways

[@prideofthesouthlandkennels]

This is by far the best hog set up I’ve seen. It’s got it all and it’s a small area.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

It works way better than any other set up I've tried

[@prideofthesouthlandkennels]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay - Thank you for sharing brother.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@prideofthesouthlandkennels we used to use American bull dogs to handle hogs when we had big pastures. That's some good looking dogs y'all have

[@prideofthesouthlandkennels]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay - thank you, yes sir we’re trying to take them back to their origins. We’ve used them for all different types of animals and predators over. I appreciate the kinds words.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@prideofthesouthlandkennels yours look as close to the old lines we had around here when I was a kid as I've seen . Few people realize how important they were on a farm

[@DC__Woods]

Sir this video is solid. I’m starting my homestead and this video alone will be my reference for my pigs pen. Thanks for helping me to bring home the bacon!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

We have a lot of information on raising hogs , check out some of the newer videos

[@CliffsideStables]

You can never plow a field by turning it over in your mind...what a great quote! Tim @ Cliffside Acres

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to meet you Tim. It's an old Scotch Irish proverb

[@valyaostrander1858]

New quote for me & probably the best!

[@Southernpinesranch]

As someone who wants to raise pigs and knows zero about them, you are a wonderful find!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

If you have any questions you can email us [e-mail]

[@furnacemann]

Thank you for your input. It’s been years since I’ve raised pigs. Getting into it now that I’m older for fun and food.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to , hope it helps

[@BASheppard]

Thank you. I’m glad I found this 2 days into having pigs. Was gifted 2 pigs and didn’t know what to do. This was great info.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help !

[@Summitclym]

Like listening to my brother-in-law from Alabama. Love it. Good info.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you

[@armymobilityofficer9099]

Roll Tide

[@jimjohnon4437]

Man of my own heart a good old country boy thank you and keep up the good work

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you and thank you for watching

[@ritalyons8749]

Subscribed....Good to see and hear the reality of livestock. I moved out of the city 4 yrs ago and moved to Ky. I've spent the last 4 years learning gardening, canning, working on a small orchard and raising chickens. Looking forward to watching your previous and future videos.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to meet you hope we can be some help .

[@stephenr8838]

Thank you for your experiences. We're looking into it now and it's nice to hear about others mistakes first.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Hope it helps , be careful of information you tube a lot of it is misleading

[@Toadhill1957]

Great video no nonsense straight forward information

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Hope it helped we do a lot of pig videos I try to be honest and cover the good and bad . Thanks for watching

[@mikesmith7421]

thats a good video mister ! highly respect you taking time and showing us how you do things to make it easier

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Many thanks , our goal is to try and help people do this if they want to .

[@jamiennis4769]

Hello from Bama! Absolutely loved this video. I've watched a few times. I love the straight forward, truthful information!!!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help !

[@elizabethseaborn3179]

Canada here. Our hog panels are 85$ here. BTW love your videos thanks for the real information. Love your honesty.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Wow I was fussing that they're 45.00 here now !

[@houndsmanone4563]

Loved this video. Loved when you said, "breaking stuff is their hobby". Had me laughing. I'm just gonna try to raise 2 small kune pigs and your video makes prefect sense. Thanks and have a fine weekend.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help!

[@anthonyspicer874]

This video may be over 2 years old, but I'm glad I found it. I learned a ton of pig info on this video... Thank you for sharing your knowledge..... I have 2 feeder pigs on the way... I needed this info👍

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help !

[@valyaostrander1858]

Thanks so much for this video. I have a pot belly pig, Boris, I got him when he was about 1 year old and now he is twice the size as when I adopted him. I built him a 4 X 8 wooden house in a 16 x 16 hog pen, he is a happy pig, but likes to challenge me from time to time. But, he has chewed up some of his wooden framing. I am hoping that once I get him a mate he will calm damn a bit.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Lol the little ones can be tougher than the big ones ! A girlfriend should help they like company .

[@homesteadingpastor]

One of the best informative pig/Hog video’s I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks for sharing. We raised 4 hogs on our homestead here in South Carolina this past year and I wish I would have watched this video first, because I made a lot of mistakes and like you said several times in this video I learned the hard way. Thanks again my friend. See ya around the channel. GOD Bless Y’all. Pastor Lon Howle watching from South Carolina!! 🙏🏻😇🙏🏻😇🐷🐽

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help Lon

[@homesteadingpastor]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay GOD Bless You All. Merry Christmas 🙏🏻😇👍🏻🐷🐷🐽🐽😂

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@homesteadingpastor MERRY CHRISTMAS to y'all

[@PineBrookeHomestead]

This is great information! Thank you for sharing it! If and when I get my new piglets, I'll have to do something very similar. 20x16 is lots of room for 2 pigs. Thank you again!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Hope it helps some , if you have any questions i'm glad to help.This is the small pens the big pens are down the hill

[@PineBrookeHomestead]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Roger that! I only plan on raising pigs to eat for now. When I get more established I might breed my own. MIGHT

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@PineBrookeHomestead I'll be honest with you I've been breeding my pigs for 35 year and my daddy's before that and every litter is going to be my last !

[@FernHillOhio]

What a great video! Ive raised quite a few pigs myself and everything you said was spot on. Nice operation you got there. Just subscribed!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you ! And thanks for the support !

[@herdingcats3850]

We raised hogs for our own use several years ago. Liked your video.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you for watching and the like !

[@eddiereyna2998]

I get to pick up 4x4 ‘s and fences panels that folks throw out during the city bulk pick up. I’m sure I have more then enough to raise probably 6 pigs since I live on a corner house but I guess keeping to juts 3 would be a better option. I was in Mexico many years ago as my sister in law used to live near Monterey & her family had 1 pig and their main source of income was from cows . They would feed em cactus and other foods . They also had some goats and chickens , but I liked what I saw . I plan to move out of the city and buy 10 acres and do this for a change . Like it lots .

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I'd start small , free materials definitely will help

[@kirstenfolden3355]

This was a great video! My husband and I learned a lot and had some great laughs! Going to TSC. this week! Thank you for all the tips!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you , glad to help

[@jamesleejr1626]

I have been raising pigs for a long time. We have basically had buy our hog/pig feed. Well I trying find all the breeds my brother and me like. We ran across all kinds of breeds. Was some that we not use to.. but now they not growing. I have already killed one. Believe it or not they taste just like durorock or an red wattle. Like talk with you more on making my own feed. Thanks James Lee. I'm in South Carolina. Love the farming life. But unfortunately work as automotive technician and labor away from the farm life. God Bless

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

[e-mail]

[@EmptyCup_Empowerment]

Thank you for this!! This is excellent and going to save me so much time and money.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

That's why we do this , email me if you have any questions

[@himdead268]

It was a honor meeting and talking to you. I learned alot, and the pigs I got from you are looking really good thanks and I took pictures of your setup and that how I am doing mine it makes alot of sense himdead2 is a game name I play online but this is woody lol

[@jketch1]

Good info. Shaun Skidmore sent me over to your channel. Been trying to watch them all the the oldest to newest. I’m in the middle of putting in a pen to raise 2-3 feeders. It’ll be 32x32 with a shelter. Getting info from you is great help. Much appreciated on the video. Hopefully I’ll get caught up on all y’all’s videos pretty soon. I may have questions on pigs I’m not had them before. Take care. God bless from Missouri.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Skidmore is good people ! Just a few feeders aren't too much trouble . Glad to meet y'all

[@jketch1]

Homesteading the Hard Way Glad to meet you all. Looking forward to seein all your videos. Got to catch some of ya’s livestream tonight. Thanks for subscribing. Any help from ya would be much appreciated.

[@rossharwood2678]

Did your area hold up well for those hogs?

[@aleahmccraney7606]

The load up chute around the pen is a great idea definitely going to incorporate that when I redo my pig pen

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

It definitely makes it a lot easier , a ramp up to the trailer is nice too . I loaded eight top hogs this morning in less than ten minutes

[@chrishowell1413]

Thank you all! We are just starting and we will base our after yours. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help

[@pasttime8450]

Glad I came across your channel we just got into pigs have 2 gilts and a boar

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Hope it helps

[@donniearbuckle2812]

Very good video I raised pigs when I was younger and this was a very good refresher course

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you , hope it helped !

[@troyhale6117]

This video is very helpful. Glad I found your channel. I will be using it as a guide for getting hog tips as I get started thank you for sharing your knowledge..

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help , going to do an advanced guide video once I make sure all the new construction works out right

[@DossFarm]

Good stuff. Glad I found ya. Picking up 3 panels tmrw.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help !

[@valyaostrander1858]

Subscribed my friend....Thank you for this channel! I don't even eat pork, I just love raising these critters!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I get attached to ours too . Especially the old boar and sows that I've had for years . Many thanks

[@zaspalfamilyfarms6754]

Good video and well done. I started doing some videos on how i raise mine. Wish i would have seen a video like this back when i started. I learned the hard way. Keep up the good work.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you . I've been the full circle we started on pasture in 54 then went to confinement in 74 then back on the ground in 90 , I'm not really a commercial farm anymore manly raise breeding and show stock , a few meat hogs . Checked out your place that's a nice setup and some beautiful hogs . Is that guilt an Old Spot or a spotted Poland china ?

[@zaspalfamilyfarms6754]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay she is a spot gilt. My family has raised spots for a long time so I have a soft spot for them. It's primarily what I raise for show pigs.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@zaspalfamilyfarms6754 how big will she get , I'm running a spot / Yorkshire cross boar this year . There seems to be some confusion about spots there's a big breed like the old ones and a small breed ?

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@zaspalfamilyfarms6754 I've been looking a Pure breed SPC boar I reckon they are just called spots now and all I can find are a small breed spotted pig .

[@zaspalfamilyfarms6754]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay she will be the size of a normal pig. She is a larger breed purebred in my opinion. She was out of a litter from the indiana state fair champion boar 2 years ago

[@alexmasters5383]

Thank you sir. Much helpful information.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help

[@rossharwood2678]

Do you have to move their areas? I got 4 duroc in a 32 by 26 old garden area. Fenced with hog panels, t post every 4 ft and wood post. Will they run it up and need to be moved to new ground? Best way to keep them occupied or busy besides food??

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Depends on what you're doing and how well drained the soil is . If you're just finishing them you'll probably be fine but if you're keeping sows you'll need more room

[@rossharwood2678]

​@HomesteadingtheHardWay I'm just finishing them out til mid May. Soil is well drained, shouldn't be a mud hole.

[@thomasschmitthomesteadproj6025]

Great video some people only think they know what to feed their animals but real research is needed not just you tube

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

You tube is a good tool but I see a lot of BS up here to , somebody could watch your videos and grow a hog!! but some if they went by what they said would never have a pork chop

[@miroszamorano4849]

Thank you nice information keep it coming

[@LivingTheDreamPermaculture]

great info thank you! we are picking up a boar in a few days a d have been searching for ideas on separating the piglets from the mum once the time comes around!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Living The Dream Homestead I hope we helped some. I checked out your channel y'all have a really nice place there the hard work shows!

[@LivingTheDreamPermaculture]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay thanks guys! it's been a very productive first 5.5 months!

[@marcusbachelier4639]

Best hog video I've seen in a while... keep up the good videos friend

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you , we're trying

[@johng1435]

Awesome video wish i had someone like you in my town for advice lol just bought myself two pigs and this helps a lot

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

We're just down the road in a way , if you hit a snag email me and I'll help if I can

[@johng1435]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay have a question about the feed we have so many flies around when I feed them any ideas on what I should do? Also my two Yorkshire’s are about 4 months but not eating as much as I think they should how much should they be eating a day?

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@johng1435 kinda a rough guideline John , 40 lb 60 lb pigs 2.5 lbs then 5 lbs untill they get 200 lbs or so then they will start sucking it down . Just feed them what they will clean up, left over feed makes the flies and mice a lot worse . Around here the flies are bad now and in the fall once it gets hot they go away , they're worse if you use feeders and they're worse if don't rotate pens . You can spray for them or put out fly bait ,fogging works great that's what confinement farms do

[@johng1435]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay thank you for the advice.

[@azfarmerkobie8325]

Mangalica hogs!!! This was a great video. Good information. Things people can use. Thanks

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you ! That's what we're going for , helping people

[@ignatiusl.7478]

Best video hands down!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you

[@carlmoore6639]

Finally an intelligent video on hog's

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Many thanks ! That's what I was shooting for , I've seen some of those other videos

[@bruceturner7176]

Thanks for the informative video, it's always nice to be educated by someone with years of experience. What are your thoughts on running pigs in the woods behind 6 strands of hot high tensile fence in paddocks and then rotating them to fresh paddocks every few days? Was thinking of running 12 pigs across about 6 acres like this. Also if running pigs in the woods should you be careful not to allow them in gullys? I'm concerned they could injure themselves.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

If you running electric fence two or three strands work as well as twenty , in the old days they just ran one 12 inches off the ground . I have to warn you it's not reliable anyway you do it can't stress that enough Nothing wrong with penning them in the woods but no matter how much you move them they'll eventually kill the trees but at two to the acre it will take a long time probably years . We used to use them to clear land . They can be clumsy and fall , worst part about rotating them is every pen needs a shelter , ours were on skids and we moved them with a tractor that worked pretty good . Something else remember the bigger the pen the longer and more feed is required to top them out ( sometimes twice as much ) they don't get enough foraging to make up the difference I know people tell that it saves feed but it isn't true unless you have a LOT of acorns or kudzu etc . Sorry for the long answer hope it helps , most of the pig info on utube is very misleading

[@thomasdoyle5781]

Great video! Thanks for sharing! Just curious about your thoughts on different pig breeds and appropriate pens and shelters for each. I am new to raising pigs myself. I have a male Kune Kune and a female American Guinea Hog. Do you reckon that the “pig” pen is more appropriate for my situation than a “hog” pen? Thanks for your time!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help , you are correct the size of the shelter and construction of my pig pens work good for small breeds . Couple of tips , you need multiple pens , one for the boar one for the sow and one for the pigs after you wean them . Two can be low 3ft the sow barn needs to be tall enough you can get in it to help if needed . Sometimes kune kune piglets can slip through a hog panel so you might have to put chicken wire around the bottom over the panel . I raised guineas and kune kunes for a couple of years , they are easier to handle and take a lot less room but that's all they had going for them , I think for starting out and learning they are fine and they were popular here once but everyone that tried them went back to big hogs pretty quick . I promised to do a hog shelter video this week i'll throw so small breed stuff in and try to show how its built different

[@judibohn1548]

Cool. Learned some good stuff...like the idea of a pen in a pen. Hope i can have some pigs n piglets one day.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

We top some out for folks in the neighborhood sometimes Judi

[@waltobringer2928]

I shared this with Facebook. Thanks for the info. my friend.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help and thanks for the support

[@anthonyspicer874]

Great info.... Thank you very much....

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you for watching !

[@randalparker4686]

Just wanted to let y'all know. This particular video will pop up on a list if searching for pig pen build. Keyword search works. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you for telling me ! That must be why it took off like it did last year

[@_T-76]

Brother, love your channel. Starting my farm in May. Closing on it tomorrow, and I will refer to several of your videos frequently. Can I contact you for some feedback on ideas i have for my livestock enclosures? Thank you & your family for the channel.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Absolutely , glad to help ,email is on our home page

[@bigehess9221]

Chris I have been subscribed for over a year and some how I just had to subscribe again. I have heard about people getting unsubscribes from various channels by KZbin. This is the first time it's happened to me. At any rate I hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving and if I don't catch on a livestream I hope you all have a Merry Christmas brother.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

It's just the way u tube is, we have trouble seeing comments sometimes and I lost channels I subed . Merry Christmas to y'all

[@scentsbyemebathbody3161]

Nice video !! Great info ! Thanks for sharing…have you ever did a video on how you load your pigs from one place to other thru the shoot & up the ramp …into the trailer . That would be awesome to see 👍

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I think we have a couple showing it , but not a video just on doing it

[@fujmilla]

This was great information. Thank you

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help !

[@kotoran1]

Thankyou. Your video helped alote. I live in the south too.What breed of hog you prefer to raise. My first time raising a hog .Just going to raise 2 hogs to feed the family.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Don't get too hung up on breed for meat pigs any of the large traditional breeds and crosses are fine , just find a breeder with a good reputation . I'm a Duroc , Hampshire and Tamsworth guy but some of that is market and personal preference

[@amandaramsay5934]

Thank you for the great tips.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help

[@lucaslasiter8069]

Great video helped me out!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to hear that!

[@codyfields5784]

Great video! I learned so much. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge! 🐷🐽🐖

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thanks for watching ! I try to be honest so people really know what to expect .

[@BacktotheBasics101]

👍🏼 We used to have pigs, but haven’t had them for years keep telling my wife are going to buy some. But I have not yet.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

You don't have to buy any y'all come on down here on vacation see the ocean let some of my kin take you fishing out in the deep water , bring a crate and I'll send a little boar and guilt back with y'all to get you started

[@LivingTheDream]

Thank You I appreciate your insight!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad too help !

[@AmberGates]

I loved your video and just subscribed! How much area would you suggest for a breeding pair of Red Wattles and growing one litter at a time to slaughter weight? We are in a high altitude desert but we are zone 4 so I believe we will need an indoor space as well as an outdoorsy shaded and sunny space. I am just starting my research so I apologize if this question is hogs 101. I very much appreciate your time and any help that you can offer.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help , colds not our specialty . To save space and money I'd make the shelters three sided like mine and close the front up in the winter . You'll need three one each boar, sow and feeders or dividers in a big shelter . Boar needs a 16 by 16 sow can have as much as you can give her at least a 16 by 24 and the pigs need to have about a 8 foot circle a piece and not as much shelter as you would think they tend to sleep in a pile anyway . We're doing four sows and 80 or 90 pigs a year on a half acre of pens , check out the new video it shows everything finished

[@RichsHomestead]

Great vid. Could you make a pen on a cement slab? If I wanted 2 feeders, could I put them in a 16x8 pen? I am limited in space. Thanks again for the videos they are great!!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

You can put the whole pen in concrete but you will have to clean it daily and I would use some bedding , that's hard to say it would be a little tight for two once they got close to slaughter size (225 to 250 lbs ) but still more room than they would have in a commercial hog house . A little bigger would be better if you could squeeze it in or just go with one pig , being alone doesn't bother them like a goat or cow etc

[@ahairysituation121]

I would love to see how people round up a pig ,and thank you a great set up,I want to set my pen up ready for a pig

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Most of the time a little feed will get them back in unless they're half wild , then it's a challenge . This setup works great makes handling them fairly easy especially loading and no escapes !

[@ahairysituation121]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay ,honestly I really like pigs and I would like to give it a go ,and then I wonder if it's going to be to difficult

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@ahairysituation121 you can do it , it's not hard growing out one or two . Building a good pen with a way to load them is most of the battle and putting it somewhere well drained . Our email is on the homepage , glad to help if I can

[@ahairysituation121]

You guys are so lovely ,thanks yes I will give a try😊

[@justintime4979]

Do you have to worry about predators? There are a lot of coyote and bobcat around our place. Not sure if predators mess with full size hog, but maybe the smaller pigs. Following your directions and adding some pigs to our farm. Great video. Thanks!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I don't lose any with this set up but on pasture we have had trouble in the past horned owls will take a piglet and coyotes will try . Dogs are a concern always , but problems with predators are very rare unless their in the woods in a big pen might be the best way to put it . Thanks for watching hope it helps !

[@OldManJeff]

"We ain't got that much of a hog pen budget." man, I hear ya there. I've been saying the same thing.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I've just built on as we made a little money off them . Biggest problem we had was having to tear everything down and move it across the farm .

[@joeljameson3724]

Chris, how far away from the house should it be? How much shade? I’m in the middle of South Carolina.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Mine are about 30 yards but check local regulations ( you might have to be so far from the property line or the neighbors ) shade trees aren't a must a low shelter with no sides will do the same thing and they are going to have to have a mud hole in the summer anyway

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

My experience is some of the best education you'll ever get is what you learn the hard way. It will stick with you for life.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

That's the truth !

[@Cottonmouthcreekkennels]

Can you do a video of what someone would need to have a couple sows and a boar to breed to feed out a couple pigs and sell a few

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Got a couple of those out . This setup here is about right for two sows you just need the sow pen and a finishing pen . Watch farrow to finish on a half acre it shows this section completed

[@davekelleyandsons]

I'd like to ask a few questions, I've watched a bunch of your videos but I think I missed a few things. I'm building a boar pen and a farrowing pen. what's the minimum size for a boar pen? I was doing 16x16 with an 8x8 shelter. and 16x16 farrowing pen with 8x8 shelter. I'd go with 8x16 pens if I could but the shelter takes up half of that. thanks for all the great info. I love the double fence and load chute

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

One of my boar pens is a 16/16 and it works fine if you could figure a way to make your farrowing pens a little bigger it would be better but what you have will work . Especially if you're weaning at 6 weeks

[@davekelleyandsons]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay that's good to know, I forgot about the piglets needing room in the farrowing pen. I haven't built yet but looking at your setup. So still in planning stages. I'm stepping up from buying feeders to actually breeding. Thanks.

[@axelruntschke]

Do you clean out the manure on a regular basis? What's your deworming regimen, if any? Great video!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

We add lime as needed and rotate pens so the manure just becomes soil , I deworm piglets at about 40 lbs and the boar and sows twice a year . In the summer and again in the fall got a couple of videos on that . Thanks for watching

[@chevymetrodriver]

Great video the problem was the audio was low but great video great information subbed👍👍

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

We didn't have a microphone yet , thanks for the support

[@taylorross7614]

Say chief, love the videos. Question for ya. I’ve never raised hogs before now and I was wanting to know what do you do about all the manure if you plan on leaving them in one pen till slaughter?

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

If it's well drained just lime it good once a month to keep the smell down . The pens need a couple months between runs of pigs to recover.

[@taylorross7614]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay good deal.

[@jeromefink2361]

My pigs are in a 13 13 pen and I had 4 of them that do great for me

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

We run up to eight in a 16 by 20 they seem pretty happy

[@FITZIEBLUE]

"Breakin' stuffs their hobby" ! no joke !!! great share, thanks

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thanks for watching , my boar tore the side off his shelter yesterday just to have something to do . You could tell he enjoyed it lol

[@Mobile-mechanicNM]

No joke my 2 pigs found out we keep the feed in the tack room beside them and decided to start tearing into the stucco wall went through the chicken wire and started tearing through the plywood to get in even though they had food

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@Mobile-mechanicNM sometimes it amazes me what they can do !

[@mr.skeptical3071]

If the panels are 16' how do u make it 16x20?

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

You can either cut them or bend them around the post

[@johnnysharpe3812]

Hey buddy I just subcribed and was curious when your gonna have your first sow drop this year? I'm west of you in Thomasville and was interested in buying at least 4 feeder pigs to raise out this summer.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

We have a litter ready now born on 1.1.20 weigh about 35lbs got another litter that'll be ready to go in three weeks and hopefully another one born in a month . There's a little video of them on that hog shelter video we put up the other week . Thanks for the support

[@johnnysharpe3812]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay where abouts are you located and how is the best way to get in touch with you?

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@johnnysharpe3812 go to our home page and send a email and I'll give you our phone number would be the safest

[@johnnysharpe3812]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay okay buddy I'll email you this evening when I get home from work. Thanks for the quick response and I look forward to getting together with you.

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@johnnysharpe3812 no problem , wish I could just put the information up here but there's just to many crazys now days

[@matt15688]

Really enjoyed the video. Was wondering how you felt about electric net fencing for hogs?

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I've never had any luck with it to be honest , pigs are bad for checking an electric fence . It only has to be off a short time and they're out . Most old hog guys won't depend on any electric fence for pigs . I use electric to keep them off of the hog wire or climbing panels but you need the physical barrier

[@matt15688]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Thank you for the response. Just getting back into raising feeders again for the first time in a few years been wearin your videos out. Theyve helped me alot thank you

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@matt15688 glad to help !

[@JohnnyMcGilberry]

Chris This is Johnny McGilberry I live in west central Alabama I have a problem with wild hogs and they are trap wise can you help

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I'll try , not sure if I know anything you don't . In the past we've had to make the traps really big ( thirty foot circles )with big doors and bait with something other than corn . Send me an email [e-mail]

[@notthatguy4515]

Thanks for the information

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help

[@deepblue7021]

Great video, subscribed!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Thank you for the support !

[@ryanalonso9297]

I want to get into raising pigs and starting a ranch what is a good starter pig breed to get im thinking of potbellys or angeln saddleback

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Honestly unless there's a market for pet pigs in your area the heritage breeds are the best by far . Duroc,Chester white, Hampshire , Tamsworth etc. time tested and proven . The smaller breeds aren't really good for pork just takes to much time and feed and you'll starve before they're ready

[@ryanalonso9297]

Oh ok thank you so much

[@BigDog-vp1ux]

Thanks for the info 🙏🏾

[@hillbillyinthephilippines303]

Im gonna try building some pens like that here in the Philippines I have them on concrete now let me know what might help me out I'd appreciate it

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

What you have now looks great , if you're going to keep sows I might build some outside pens for them and if you could convert one pen for farrowing would be perfect. You have a nice setup already I just finished mine yesterday I've moved everything up here since I made this video

[@hillbillyinthephilippines303]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay thank you my friend I will for sure do that I appreciate the advice

[@obstinate1288]

Love this video! Subscribed 👍🏻

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Many thanks ! I didn't manage to cover everything but we're trying

[@bradleyridenour8172]

Could you tell me how far down did you bury the fence itself? I know you said 3-3.5ft for the posts. Is it the same for the fence wire?

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Don't bury the wire at all it will just rust off in a year or two . Only very small pigs give trouble with going under the wire and usually you can stop that when you see it happening.that's one of the reasons I switched to panels they can push under hog wire you have to put a stob every few feet to fix that

[@justaghost1014]

Cool I love a real homesteader. All truthful

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Many thanks ! I'm trying to counter act some of these fairytales people tell

[@unkwm128]

thank you very much very informative

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

Glad to help !

[@saltycreole2673]

Attention? Boy you got that right brother. Ain't much info on KZbin.

[@kysilverhawk]

hi chris homestead the hard way i got something that i want to tell you up in Michigan there was hog farmers raising hogs like you're doing outdoors on the ground and this major hog producer came in and he was visiting it the neighbors that had hogs they were raising outdoors once he got established and everything he took every hog farmer to court and every hog farmer had to put their hogs down some did not heed to that order they loaded their hogs up and truck them out undercover dark so their farms and moved and start over somewhere else have had hogs when i was 2 to 3 years old i've never seen a hog farmer cry cuz he had to put down all of his pigs and clothing the babies that touched my heart to think that a big major hole producer could go to michigan and take his neighbors to court that was not even competition to that major pig farmer i don't like those big hog barns with them very crates there ain't enough room for that sound to lay down she's laying down in a pipe cage and the boats ain't trimmed they're digging into her skin and the babies have all the room to walk around the poor mama can't even walk around she got to lay there every day every night i don't think the Sal's know how to walk anymore cuz all they do is lay down those ferry and crates

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

We used to have similar situations with commercial poultry farms and back yard flocks but I don't have to worry about that with pigs for several reasons. You can build new confinement farms here they stopped that in 94 , I'm grandfathered in so rule changes don't affect us and I'm immune from nuisance lawsuits ( folks tried ) and now NC is a right to farm state which oversimplified mean if you live beside a farm you can't sue for noise , dust , smell etc . Hopefully one day the small farm will return and the big corporate farms won't be a issue, China has bought most of them anyway which is scary

[@kysilverhawk]

i was 2or 3 i raised pigs i've worked around a good bit prices of me is going up in the store and i've got a neighbor who doesn't believe that i've raised pigs when i was 2 to 3 years old i'm 39 now and going back in the raising hogs pigs and chickens and having a garden to survive just buying groceries for myself it's taking a lot of money just buying food for myself i like watching your videos i hope you keep doing more videos and y'all have a good day

[@dennistaylor7655]

What is the biggest a pig can and remain in a pig pin?

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

I try to have them out by 100 lbs and into a taller fence . Plus they need more room at that size

[@dennistaylor7655]

@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Thanks for the response! If I’d just waited a little longer, I wouldn’t have needed to ask the question. I plan to only raise a couple of feeder pigs so I’ll just go with the one pen. Btw, I appreciate your no nonsense approach to your videos!