I've Solved Our Pig Barn Problems! (Designing for Happy Pigs)

A different, low labor, high animal welfare way to raise breeding pigs!
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Just a Few Acres Farm
PO Box 269
Lansing, NY 14882
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[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

You will see a pig limping at around 7:35. That is Tiny Tim. Her mother laid on her when she was a piglet and she has limped ever since. Nothing to be done about it; she gets around just fine.

[@rwburt9701]

I was wondering if he made out ok on the move.

[@jherna9804]

I must really care about your pigs 🐖 because I noticed it prior to seeing this message. I thought he had a fight with another piglet.

[@mikelayman1996]

How will you protect pigs during farrowing?

[@masseyfordguy2948]

Hi Pete I wanted ask what clock place that you purchase from I know time savers what was the other one.

[@meka125]

Hello, I rec'd a message that I was randomly selected to win a prize. Peter, can you confirm if this is legit? My gut tells me this is a scam, but, I just want to be sure, as I do enjoy your KZbin channel....

[@CPthetooladdict]

We raised 80 pigs a year using hog huts and large separate pens similar to what you are saying, and I totally agree. This is a labor of simplicity and happiness!! Great plan

[@jason27swg]

Before we built a farrowing house we used the hog huts made them out of two sheets of plywood they looked like an a frame...I can't tell you how many times a sow ran me on top of them!!!! Once we built the farrrowing house our production went through the roof. Sows didn't lay on the pigs as bad. Our house held 60 30 on each side with cattle panels making the pens slanted concrete floors. Until the sow was ready to farrow she and all the other 5-600 stayed in the fields and low land. Those were the days.

[@tony98discovery]

Is your pig farm still operating? Are there any other animals kept there?

[@jason27swg]

@@tony98discovery Tony we sold out in the early 90s and got out of raising pigs ans went back to row crop. In the 80s I belive most all major pig production went to the Midwest and there is no way we could compete on a large scale. The farrowing house arill stands it's a shed now for equipment;(. I miss those days and would not trade it for the world. It was hard work and taught me alot about work ethics.

[@geoffxander7970]

You know you've got the right design when you get excited about it's simplicity and elegance while it still does the job.

[@SusanA1056]

I just love Billy Boar...He gets up happily and wags his little tail when he sees you. That just made me smile. Pigs are sure a pile of work. Hats off to you.

[@jlynn473]

Farming on any scale is always "flexible". You learn as you go... Working smarter not harder... And spending wisely. I've loved your flexible thought process on everything you do. Thanks, as always Pete and family, for sharing your life with us. ❤❤❤

[@tony98discovery]

I am always impressed with whatever work Pete does on his farm.

[@beckyrobinson5672]

I like the way you and your wife take care of your animals. Pigs are my favorite. They're all happy, I wouldn't worry youns are doing fabulous. God bless.

[@letumpeek]

Pig, breeding, housing, quarters, care department. That’s one hotline I’ll never call! Love your new plan. I’m excited to watch this big change come to the farm. Best of luck this spring.

[@Val1950MAgirl]

Sounds like a great plan! Would you cover the addition? I didn’t understand that part.

[@namestae]

Love to see common sense in action. Well done!!

[@emilysullivan4031]

I love the fact that you take the animals happiness into consideration as part of your planning. It's one of the things I love about watching you walk around your farm - seeing the animals getting to act and live according to their nature, even if they are destined to end up as food later.

[@bobwollard9105]

Pete, your new plan seems extremely sound. I have spent forty-five years in the field of engineering design and construction, and your design methodology directly parallels the design philosophy of our field. It's funny how, given enough time, practically seems to creeps it's way into the plan. We've noticed that the first plan, loaded with all of the sunshine and roses preferences, tends to slam headlong into practicality and the inevitable budget constraints. I'm looking forward to seeing your final outcome. Have a great one, Pete.

[@davidchristensen6908]

That sounds like a well thought out plan. Your winter pigs are so calm they love their home. I can’t wait for the changes working smarter not harder

[@petegraham1458]

We raised Tamworth pigs essentially how you described , they got along very well we did have a farrowing area for the sows to use but once the piglets were a few weeks old ( 3,4 ) they went t with the rest of the clan . We had a boar pen outside with a house for them as winter in Alberta can be brutal it was filled with straw. The other area we had was a pig pasture decided in 4 areas one of my jobs was tilling the just used 1/4 and planting what ever quick germination leftover seed we had usually barely once it was knee high they got to go in and graze , happy pig they were! One run close to the farrowing barn always had a summer mud wallow and a shade area . My mother grew a huge 2 1/2 acres garden everything that was not going to be used was sent over the fence to the pigs , they could see us working in the garden and would call out to use trying to get some treats , they were like pets you could walk in the pig pasture and they would be like dogs and follow you around to get scratches and loved up.

[@RandyLayton]

I was an architecture major in college (left school to join Navy). I love the thought processes you are walk us thru, bigger isn’t always better, rehabbing old spaces might be the answer or this new idea. I believe your architect mind is in overdrive and deep down inside you are loving it! I can’t wait to see how this eventually turns out.

[@lwinnekins4303]

I like your approach to problem solving. You could have jumped into your initial plan, but thought about it, refined the plan, and now have a happy plan. Great job, Pete.

[@josephchest1154]

Always love a new video to help start the day off. You must of had a long talk with Patty to be able to get that much filming done in front of the barn and she was not complaining. Keep up the great videos

[@myfunlovinglife]

I agree, Pete! Every time I saw your pigs in those small concrete pens, thinking they just sat in there all day... it made me sad. I'm so glad you want to change that up and create happier pigs.

[@deborahsimmons2414]

Yes, I am excited for you. I love seeing your happy pigs. They truly do look relaxed and happy. Onward with the new. Every spring my Grandmother would start her spring cleaning and the motto was always, “out with the old and in with the new”! I think it applies here as well.

[@howardperson6341]

Back in the early 1970s I was a grad student at Iowa State University. At that time there was a fellow grad student studying the dunging behavior of pigs. All I can say is that you are on the right track 😀

[@stephenreitz2716]

Pete, I like how the process has been revised and you consider all the details associated with the options you have considered. Taking a simplified and efficient approach to the entire pig operation makes the most sense!!!

[@LegendHold1]

I think you'll find if you introduce the boars together when the sows are all already pregnant and not in season or open, they will likely get along fine. Competition starts when a sow is in season, but if you can establish that rank of who is top boar, then when a sow is in season there will be less fighting. You can always move a pair you want to breed to the old pens when a sow is open and due to come in season and use them as the Honeymoon suites. Once you know the sow is pregnant, they can go back to the herd. Love your idea Pete...in the wild, boars and sows with piglets run in sounders....they do just fine. There's no reason why you can't mimic nature on your farm

[@kieranleopold9115]

Pete, this solution is elegant and sounds like it ticks all the boxes for the changes you really wanted to make. I think the planning phase of any major project is both my favorite and can also be the most frustrating part. I totally relate to your comment about Occam's Razor - it is so easy to fall into the trap of over-complicating design and planning and let scope creep change your original goals. I find it really rewarding to hear (and watch) you talk through your decision making process. Good luck on the new pig pen! It sounds like a real winner.

[@VWFarmLLC]

I cannot get over how big Billy has gotten! He is HUGE!! I can't wait to see what he produces!

[@kevinveinotte3454]

We had a neighbor who commercially raised pigs in a method he learned in Norway/Finland 30 years ago. Sows lived in groups(he had 20-30 sows in each group) together in an open pole barn. Just before farrowing he moved the group to a clean empty barn with an alternating row of straw/hay round bales down the middle. He had temporary plywood boxes 4x6'x4'high down each side. He had a couple more stalls than sows. The sows busied themselves for days carrying bedding into the suits they chose for themselves. Each 4x6 box had a doorway just big enough for the sow with a freight roller on the bottom sill to raise sill to keep piglets in the box at least for a while-a few weeks. The roller is to protect moms udder as she goes in and out over the extended sill. His groups seemed to respect each others space/suits. Sows came and went as they pleased and all ate/drank in the same place. They all farrowed in the boxes and the little guys stayed in there as they couldn't get out over the sill/rolle rat lease for a while. As the piglets grew he removed the door sills to allow everybody to come and go. Later he removed the strong but temporary plywood boxes on both sides(hung on the walls) to have one huge group. Later he moved the moms all out of the barn at once to be rebred in an outside area/another barn and the piglets grew out in the barn they were born in. He had numerous pole barns all the same size so he could be flexible for hay/straw storage and farrowing. Little smell and very quiet. Barns got cleaned out after hogs were shipped for next time. Gravel floors on a well drained site kept things dry. I was around farrowing barns with crates and stalls previously and couldn't believe a big group could coexist but he did it. I could have stayed for hours, quiet clean pigs puttering around in big social groups. They acted more like cattle. He grew his own hay/grains and he used a lot of it for bedding but he also had all the manure to use as well.Now I do remember him saying about raising all the sows together in a group so there was less stress/fighting. He also fed a lot of hay to the sows(hay bombs)-it saved some money and was cheaper than feeding all grain and gave them something to do-enrichment. Unfortunately he went bankrupt with like seemingly everybody here in Nova Scotia growing pigs 20 years ago-today he would do very well marketing pigs grown this way to people who care. His pigs went to the same place as all the other commercial pigs with no recognition or extra pay.

[@elliott5326]

Billy is always so happy to see you. His little tail wagged. I can tell you’re a good farmer. You respect the animals while they’re with you and say you goodbyes when they go. People can’t seem to understand that store bought meat is the same way, but the animals aren’t always treated well. The best you can do is appreciate them and respect them when they’re with you and respect them when they slaughter. All that to say the animals are always happy to see you. Love the vids keep it up Pete!!!

[@GreenBluffPastures]

thats an awesome Idea, You know you've got the right design when you get excited about it's simplicity and elegance while it still does the job.

[@kathleenreynolds6492]

As in so many of your videos the careful thought that you and Hilary apply to problem solving shines through. I don’t raise pigs, but I do have a life. And we can all benefit from good advice.

[@TiaraPoodles]

Nice work getting the details thought through. That's what it takes - excited to see it all coming together.

[@suechambers5123]

I love seeing the pigs enjoying the sunshine. Good video, Pete.

[@buddymac3993]

What's? You let the pigs call a meeting and decide the fix for the problem! Innovative!!!🇨🇦😄

[@sweetpigfarm3645]

Right on keep it simple! We had 3 sows going at once in one area.... it was amazing to have a herd of 20 something piglets running around.

[@khriskennedy3199]

I am no pig expert but I like your solution to your problem! Keep up the good work Pete and Hilary.

[@Langevinhomestead]

I may not have a farm but I still learn from you Pete. The way you think can be applied to more then the farm. Thanks for sharing your wisdom Pete.

[@beverlygiroux2824]

I love the way you keep your pigs!! "oink, Oink". They ARE happy! Bev in Maine

[@billroberts3864]

Pete, your new plan for the pigs sounds like a more simple solution than the other designs you talked about. Your smiles and enthusiasm are encouraging so we look forward to when you put this solution into practice.

[@jimsteele7108]

The constant pursuit of efficiency. Don't ever lose that, Pete.

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

It's funny how the answer is often right in front of you. I've always liked the way you raise out your winter pigs. They have plenty of room and ventilation without the muddy mess you can get with outdoor pins or small enclosed indoor pens.

[@timothyrill3825]

Sometimes the simple answers are right in front of you ! I do agree and the excitement of you and Hillary is very important. 😊

[@348Tobico]

AND you won't have to keep buying packaged bedding for the pigs in small pens. All the large pen pigs are so obviously happy so THAT is a great example to follow. They never even made it to the big outdoor pen and have stayed more comfortable with "them pesky people". Just imagine the contented snorts of the beach front sun bathers on all the sunny days of winter! A very good plan for all involved! When you went to get JJ, he looked huge, stubborn, and scary compared to your other pigs. He was scary big! You have made a friend of him because every time you are around he rumbles friendly sounds and tries to get close to you. And Little Billie is the same. Those boys will help make things work out with the new plan. I look forward to watching the changes with everyone, animal and human living happier together. You just had to think, visualize, and discuss to get here. Good job, Hil and Pete!

[@robertpirtle3638]

I totally agree. That’s how we did it . We didn’t have the lean to . But big doors . But our pigs were happy and they got big .

[@whatyourlifestyle998]

So true. Semi free range is exactly what we doing access to outside and inside for nursery time and medical treatment.

[@nicklewis7291]

I appreciate you sharing your initial plans and then the refiguring of them.

[@Tiger-Heart]

Well I like that you started with the idea of making the pigs happy! In the end it worked out that it will also be easy for you and your better half. 😊 That way, everyone is happy!

[@crowefamily1]

Billy is always happy to see you, if he only knew what you have in store for him.

[@jakefrechette3224]

A buddy of mine instilled a phrase in me, "There's always room for improvement." I love it because it serves as a reason to push forward while simultaneously giving you solace in accepting that no solution is without some flaw. Loved your old design when you pitched it but clearly there was "room for improvement". Excited to see where this journey leads Pete!

[@adeeponion9152]

Thanks for bringing us along. It is a pleasure.

[@carol242]

It sounds like a great idea! I have always believed that keeping an animal in a natural surrounding is so much better for them. They do seem happy when they feel more freedom to move about.

[@richardramos8298]

Make it work for the farm and you all the less you spend the better you are and yes your pigs are happy😊😊😊

[@jamesbreault5762]

Always feels good when you come to a decision about a problem👍👍

[@sporranheid]

More good thoughts from Pete. Years ago I learned, it takes a lot of work to achieve simplicity. Recently I saw a KZbin comment I liked regarding design: you're not done when there's nothing more to add, you're only done when there's nothing more to remove.

[@chrismiko6243]

Animal welfare and finding a way to be able to work the farm for years to come , love how you combine both to set up farm. Wishing you well from Australia Chris 🌺

[@debbietrotter8857]

You and Hilary are thinking/observant people ❤

[@lakehunter48p55]

good ending line. "Happy pigs make good pork" and that is what your customers want. Things are always changing in your business. Lots of things to consider and keep making it all working together. Part of being your own boss. You are doing great. Keep warm and dry. 🙂

[@zodszoo]

Sounds like a solid plan! Good to see the progression of ideas. Looking forward to seeing the action!

[@chrisunderwood2524]

That has always been my motto...work smarter, not harder...just because in your mind, you might think you need all new construction..isn't so...work with what you have..but incorporate the term...work smarter not harder ...while using what is at hand.....I myself have to go this way..I am on my own and 73..and I have a 15 year old 16 hands quarter/thorougbred horse in which i have owned since he was 7 months old...so I have learn to do so much stuff with out any machinery, just my wheelbarrow, garden fork, dolly, and leaf blower...my four best helpers...and of course my big boy..how he loves to paw the sand hills down..to flat after the dump truck drops the sand into his paddock...this keeps him so entertained for days...then after the hills become much flatter, down he goes and rolls all over them...

[@karinjudge7277]

Good ideas Pete about your pigs. That’s why it pays up think things out for a while. Take care !

[@brycewiborg8095]

We used a 60 by 40 building built in the early 30s, but well maintained. It had a south facing celestory roof that was common locally. I have also heard that roof called a sawtooth roof. The alley way, and foundation were concrete. The point of this is the floors in the pens were paved with 12 inch square hollow clay tile on gravel. Once in memory Dad, and I pulled up the floor to relevel it. This was perhaps my most difficult reply ever. Thank you spellcheck. Thank you Pete.

[@wildkingdom2012]

You and Hillary are very smart. There is more to raising animals than just space. Animal psychology or sociology are definitely a factor and you seem to have it covered.

[@wallacegrommet3479]

I was considering doing a farm like this? Now I don’t have to, I’ll just watch this channel. It’s been a week of watching, really enjoying

[@lawerencekennedy7665]

Go for Pete. Sounds like a good plan.

[@vilhelmgrasbonde]

I love how you take us along on your thought process. I don’t have any experience with pigs yet so this is very informative and gives me ideas of what I can do on my own farm. Watching you video reminds me of how easy it is to overestimate that which is complicated and underestimate that which is simple. Thanks for another great video.m and looking forward to seeing more on how your ideas will evolve. Have a great day. 😊

[@micheleford4282]

my husband loves your channel he said you make him smile how you talk to your animals. also my grandfather never seperated his pigs. he would say that the wild boars and sows dont get separated and they are fine so why should he. he said the healthy competition for sows kept the boars fit. we always had happy pigs.

[@Me-ov9nw]

Also love how Bill wagged his little tail when you called his name!!

[@michaelburtch865]

Pete, Hilary, looking foward to the new season, with your new farrowing setup.

[@lyndabeam2622]

Sounds like keeping it simple is the way to go, I agree your pigs out in the building look very happy

[@diannaclarke2758]

I'm glad for you that you found a happy solution for all. 😊

[@jimproud3116]

What a good video - you call your farm "Happy Farm". Thanks Pete.

[@jherna9804]

I'm very excited seeing an idea being thought out, reviewed, debated, changed, and finally created. I can't wait to see your plans take shape!!! I can't wait for April to arrive. Please continue share all details, the ups and downs, during building process. Appreciate your videos 😊

[@anon7068]

Great to see your design brain getting you through the March blues.

[@alliho2243]

Awesome idea to let pigs be pigs free to roam and socialize instead of sitting in commercial style farming isolation. Wish you were closer to NJ, I would love to buy good quality feeder pigs from you.

[@charleselertii6187]

Yes. Those pigs wintering in the barn bay seem very content. The hay bomb worked magic.

[@Callie04]

If you wait longer enough the answer will come! Good for you and your extended farm!! Happy pigs happy life!!

[@drewwagschal1148]

I'm a pig farmer in Canada and we rais around 600 pigs a year. When the sow's have had their piglets we put groups of sow's and their piglets together, the only thing you need to make sure of is that the piglets are the same age, otherwise the older ones will steel milk from the younger ones. But other then that it's a great idea!👍

[@jerradallen6316]

I love farming/homesteading and love raising hogs. I’ve found that if your growing pork in the winter if you can give them a three sided shelter and deep bedding they eat less feed, have less health issues, and they grow out faster and go to slaughter faster. I love your set up and do a similar fashion.

[@zoeshorthouse7913]

I am really looking forward to when you begin work on your pigs' new "parlour". 😊

[@nathanokken3565]

Pete, I think you have it nailed down this time. A combination of simplicity and low labor inputs is likely the key to being able to expand your pig operation to the degree you are working towards. Our brood pigs are inside for the winter months on concrete and its a very considerable amount of work keeping their pens clean, as you know. Not to mention i absolutely go through a fair amount of bedding material to keep them dry and clean. I’m very excited for you to get your feeder operation up and running as i will absolutely make the short drive to take some off your hands regularly. I have always loved your three sided barn for the ability to drive a tractor straight into for clearing bedding without having to fork anything by hand. My only question was if you were comfortable with farrowing in a deep bedding system, or did it misunderstand that aspect?

[@sadjaxx]

Pete wants happy pigs! It is such a wonderful goal.

[@sinsingmusic]

Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your life with us. Such an amazing channel. I've been binge watching the last couple days and leaving a "like" along the way. Please never change the way you create videos. Super original and very entertaining! Looking forward to the new Pig barn design 👍

[@bradleyfore]

Thanks for bringing us along during your planning and revision process on this new endeavor!

[@Bartmunlin]

Pete, you are a good farmer. This design and practice should work. If the pigs are happy I bet Pete and Hillary are happy. Thanks for sharing your life with us. We are fans from north MS.

[@karenpaxton]

Excited to see the developments with the pig's accommodation. Great plan!

[@Heinlein.]

Taking lots of notes, I think this is a great improvement on initial design have breeders live similar to feeders with less work closer to nature

[@barbarar.7833]

I'm excited!!!!! 😃 Really enjoy hearing your thinking process, Pete.

[@jagriffin1]

Thanks for the update Pete! Excited to see how it turns out!

[@PaulJWong-yk8uw]

I’ve done pigs on the small for a wee bit now. Grew up around a medium size operation when my grandfather ran hogs. I just do a few a year It’s only this year since we moved we got an old bank barn where the sheep and goats live in the barn, our kune kunes will take a stall, but our big pigs will go into an outdoor run with a similar idea… deep bedding and then once D day comes a tractor bucket cleans it out for the next batch. Good idea about rethinking grouping. Pigs need to be pigs, I never enjoyed constant cleaning off the concrete in confinement

[@virginiaschwalen6725]

Looks like happy pigs make a happy farmer as well.

[@johnmccutchen1787]

Another good video Pete. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.

[@jessicabuckman9675]

I've been watching you and you're sweet wife Hillary do stuff, so keep doing stuff with Hillary. You might ask you're contractor what he thinks, has he done this kind of thing, and then do what you do so well. It's fun to watch you and Hillary do that Benny Hill kind of video. That was wonderful to watch her chase you around the place. Yes I loved this video. Michigan didn't get any snow from the last weather front. It's fun to watch you plow on the small tractor. Anyway, keep the videos coming.

[@wassabuck]

Sounds like you folks have a well thought out plan . Personally I feel it's always good to mull things over . Saves stress , and dollar's.great video

[@dickgoodey2528]

That old phrase ' If it ain't broke, don't fix it' is often the best and most cost effective solution.

[@davidcaskey7062]

Can't wait to see your plan come together! Sounds great!

[@karenzorn773]

Thanks Pete for giving update on the new pig layout, can’t wait to see your progress, you and Hilary are so brilliant thinking it threw, keep on farming.

[@dawnkanis42]

I'm excited you landed on this plan. 😊

[@anthonywinters2869]

I’m excited for you Pete. Take us along on the building journey. Thanks

[@taylorhomestead6644]

I enjoy seeing the care that you take with your happy animals.

[@douglasthompson9482]

A happy bunch of guys. Pigs are fun…they have their own personality. Enjoy your weekend Pete. Things are going well for sure. Funny thing with society today is that information is plentiful but hands on people are tough to find. In short too many cooks in the kitchen. Your logic is perfect for the pigs.

[@billcarlson4098]

Great videos Pete! Easy way to remember sow gestation: 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days (approx. 114 days). I use to pasture all my breeding stock - ring them. Give your sows a few weeks after weaning to "flush" them b-4 returning to adult herd. From an old farmer, love your channel.

[@artsyweirdo]

So excited to see the plan come together!

[@jonathancrissinger2301]

Taking the time to think through things usually saves money and work so I've been told. I'm excited to see how it goes.

[@ravenwoodacres-homegrown]

I like the new plan - it's very much what we do with ours with 2 exceptions - we do not allow sows to farrow together and we do not allow our sows to farrow in the pasture. I'm sure you can guess at the reasons so I won't elaborate unless you'd like me to.

[@vannemocilac274]

Wonderful! Thanks for taking us through the process of questioning beliefs!