Housing for free range-ish market hog.

[newchicktochicks33]

I need some housing ideas for a future market hog that i will be raising for fair this year. It will have about 1/2+ fenced acres to roam. But i need a somewhat easy idea for a small building.

Thank you for any ideas!

 

[arabianequine]

You don't need much just something to keep the animal out of the sun/snow/rain etc. A top is better then nothing but sides would be great!

 

[Skyesrocket]

As long as your weather isn't too extreme one way or the other (hot or cold) you could get away with a three sided run in. If it is cold there put some kind of a floor in to keep it off of the ground. Make the doorway facing away from the north. Pigs love to make beds give it plenty of straw and change it out if it gets wet. They appreciate fresh straw at night to remake the nest. My friend uses a large igloo doghouse and they push the straw in front of the doorway to keep the wind out. She has a rubber flap across the opening.
During the summer it would be best to put the house in the shade. If not possible make sure it has a roof for shade and that you have big open spaces to keep it ventalated good. Pigs can't handle a lot of direct sun and heat. They can get nasty sunburns.
Your pig will appreciate having that much space to root around in and to make a wallow. The area will also stay a lot cleaner and be easier to keep clean. Given enough room, pigs are clean animals. It's when they are crowded or in too small of an area that they smell.

 

[newchicktochicks33]

Thank you both so much! I will take this all in to consideration. I will have to start getting set-up in march sometime.

 

[arabianequine]

Your welcome, ask questions you may have anytime.

Remember in the hot months pigs can't sweat so shade and water is much needed. We have really hot temps in the summer so I usually fill a pool or a big dirt hole in the pen is what we have. I will fill it 1-2 times a day. I sometimes run a little sprinkler in there and they love it, they do play in it

Good luck!