Homemade pig feeders. The main types and requirements for pig feeders, their independent production

There are many ways to make your own pig feeder. Hopper-type devices are designed for dry food, which is considered the most effective in pig farming. These devices are designed very conveniently and are easy to manufacture. Dimensions are selected depending on the age and number of animals. In the article we will analyze in detail all the advantages and disadvantages of “feed bunkers”, and also give instructions on how to assemble them yourself.

Benefits of a bunker

The bunker-type design is arranged according to the following scheme: it is a box tapering towards the bottom, which goes into a feed tray. The feed is poured from above and enters the trough through a narrow horizontal slot.

When the tray is empty, the next batch comes from the hopper. The main advantages of such a feeder:

uniform feed supply;
the animal cannot contaminate or scatter food;
food is provided for several feedings at once.

Hopper feeder is only suitable for dry food. Otherwise, they are subject to the same requirements as other types of equipment for feeding pigs. Feeders should be:

made of non-toxic material;
safe for animals;
easy to clean;
the size is selected based on the number of heads per product;
installed so as to guarantee the pig free access to food.

When making your own pig feeder, keep in mind the number and age of your animals.

For yourself or on an industrial scale

It is more useful to use bunker feeders on farms with 5 animals or more. Although using them to simplify the feeding of a pair of piglets taken for fattening until the fall is also not bad. There should be at least 50 cm of tray per adult pig. If you plan to feed young piglets, 30 cm is enough. The height of the container is also adjustable (from 15 to 60 cm)

If you are making a feeder for piglets with your own hands, then the height of the tray (trough) must be selected depending on the age of the animals. Approximately, the sides should reach the pigs' chest. In this case, they will not need to bend over, and feeding will not harm their bones and joints.

Metal feeders are stronger and more durable than wooden ones, but require higher initial costs and manufacturer qualifications. It is better to use metal bins for feeding adult animals, and wooden ones for young animals.

What to do and from what

If you decide to make your own metal or wooden feeder, you need to select the material, calculate its quantity, stock up on tools and fasteners.

In order for the bunker feeder to serve for a long time and faithfully, it is important to think through all stages of manufacturing in advance, for example, how to correctly connect the parts.

For production you need: several sheets stainless metal(2-3 mm thick), grinder, welding machine and electrodes for it, corners, mallet.

If you have no experience working with metal and electrical equipment, you may find it easier to use wood as a material.

To make a wooden feeder you will need:
several boards (40 mm thick or more, and 60 cm wide or more);
a pair of bars (40x40 mm, length depends on the size of the product);
screws or nails;
screwdriver or hammer;

several metal corners.

Regardless of the material chosen, first study the drawings of the future product, which we will discuss below.

We measure and cut

Double-sided bunker feeders for pigs are good for large livestock (from 20 heads above). If the herd is small, in a couple of days you can make a small one-sided structure for 3-5 pigs. To prevent the sows from pushing, divide the tray where the food goes into sections.

Before making your own pig feeder, evaluate your skills in working with metal and wood. Calculate the number of boards or rolled metal and fasteners. Check if the tools are working properly.

The drawing of the bunker feeder should include a visualization of the connection of the sides of the box and the fastening of other parts. Approximate dimensions must be indicated:
bunker (wall height - 150-270 mm, width 90 mm at the top, 60 mm at the bottom, length - 200-290 mm);
limit bar with a diameter of 20x20 mm;
trough height (20-60 mm);

sidewalls (two triangles - 100x180x205 mm).

If the feeder is double-sided, add the required dimensions to the other side as well.

With welding machine and grinder A metal feeder for adult sows and wild boars is made in several stages. First from metal sheets

A bunker is welded inside it. One or two sheets (depending on the type of feeder), located at an angle so that there is a gap at the bottom for feeding feed. A limit bar is also installed there. The feed will begin to accumulate at the bottom of the hopper.

As the tray is emptied, the food in it will be renewed by gravity. The hopper ends in a single- or double-sided tray. Provide the tray with limiters. Reinforcing bars are suitable for this. Finally, sand and paint the piece.

Such a structure is easy to wash and disinfect, and a large supply of feed (from 40 kg) allows you to optimize the feeding process.

Saw and hammer

To make a cheaper wooden feeder for piglets or adults, you can use both boards and plywood or chipboard.

The main disadvantage of such a feeder is its short service life. This is due to the fact that wood does not tolerate moisture well, and the bunker and tray behind the pigs will have to be washed. The boards begin to rot, but it is impossible to impregnate them with special compounds, because they are poisonous to animals.

A do-it-yourself bunker feeder for pigs is made from boards in several stages. First, mark and cut out the structural parts - two triangular end walls, the back and front walls, the sides and the bottom of the tray. The dimensions are the same as those indicated for a metal feeder. Sand the resulting parts.

Connect the structural elements with metal corners, placing them on screws or nails. If necessary, additionally install a limit bar at the bottom of the hopper. If the feeder will be installed in the yard, provide the hopper with a lid on the piano ( furniture hinges) to prevent precipitation from getting into the box.

To enhance stability, nail two bars to the bottom of the tray along the long side of the structure. Using timber crossbars, divide the trough into sections.

You can install and fill in the food. Check out the article for other options for similar products.

Let me know in the comments if you use hopper feeders for your pigs.

When starting farming and breeding animals, including pigs, you first need to take care of the housing of future pets, as well as their nutrition. In order for the pigs to be well-fed and healthy, it is necessary to properly arrange the feeding area and prepare a suitable feeder for them.

Feeding livestock is the most important component of both the health and life of the animal. The health of its and its offspring, the quality of meat and lard depend on how the pig eats, so the feeder plays a very important role.

The main requirements include:

type and size of feeder;
sanitary condition.

For the size of the feeder, the number of pigs that will eat from it matters; size and age of individuals and piglets (adults and piglets need to be fed separately); gender of animals (boys need more food than girls).

The length of the feeder depends on the “population”. For babies up to two months of age, 20 cm is enough, and adults need at least 30 cm. A nursing mother (sow) needs 40 cm, and a large boar needs all 50 cm.

If the structure is made long, then divisions must be made at every required distance so that each pig has its own “plate”. Liquid and dry food are served to the animals separately, just as water is poured into a separate tank.

Other requirements for the pork “table” include:

accessibility for easy cleaning (after each animal meal, the feeder must be washed thoroughly);
protection against foreign organic and inorganic substances(contrary to what most people think, pigs don't eat everything);
strong fastening (to protect against overturning and contamination of the enclosure);
tightness to prevent spillage and spillage of feed.

Before you make a pig feeder with your own hands, you should master carpentry skills and calculate the drawing future design. There are several basic requirements for any feeders:

availability of food for animals;
tightness;
absence of toxic components;
compliance of materials and consistency of feed.

A closed structure must have a ventilation system. If the air circulation inside the container is impaired, this can cause spoilage of the grain feed. High humidity in the absence of ventilation leads to the appearance of mold and mildew.

Artiodactyls have a well-developed muscle mass and rarely eat food carefully. The container must stand firmly on the ground. In addition, a do-it-yourself feeder for piglets should be equipped with special thresholds to prevent food from spilling out onto the ground. When the young animals eat food from the stall, they begin to pick up the scattered remains. Also, drinking bowls are often installed near the feeders, so dirt can get into the water.

Sanitary requirements

When choosing the right trough for piglets and adult pigs, you should pay attention to a number of sanitary requirements, which will simplify animal care and prevent the development of health problems in livestock. The main points to pay attention to include:

tightness of the container, which will eliminate feed loss;
freedom of access for animals to food;
simplicity of design, which will ensure the most thorough cleaning of the feeder from food residues;
the presence of special limiters that will prevent manure and dirt from getting into the food;
stable support that prevents the container from tipping over and, accordingly, additional feed consumption;
a small fixed slope, which leads to the accumulation of feed in one of the parts of the feeder, which will ensure that it is more completely eaten by the animals.

Another important requirement is the selection of separate feeders for dry and wet food. Water is also poured into a special container.

Types of pig feeders

The types of feeders for pigs are very diverse and differ not only in the principle of feed dispensing, but also in the age of the animals. For example, for small piglets a small container made from a plastic bucket will be sufficient, but large boars and sows need to install spacious and comfortable models, containing required amount feed

DIY bunker feeders

The bunker type design is considered the most practical. You can make it yourself, using drawings and photos. A hopper (a small box made of wood or metal) is installed in the upper part, into which dry food is poured. The hopper is inserted into a trough made from any available materials (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Drawing and photo of the bunker structure

A wooden limit bar is installed in the front part, which prevents the scattering of feed.

The convenience of this design is that you can pour a lot of food into it at once. It is constantly in the bunker, but some of it is poured into the trough. When the pigs have eaten all the food, a new batch is poured out of the hopper.

Automatic feeders

Automatic models are an improved version of the bunker. Feed is also poured into the top drawer, and dispensed gradually as the food is eaten.

As a rule, automatic models are purchased ready-made. They are equipped with special limiters to prevent animals from scattering food and contaminating it with bedding and manure.

DIY feeders

Making your own pig feeder is very easy. You don't have to choose for this complex design. It is enough to make a small trough from plastic, metal or wood, and install limiting strips along the edges.

But when making homemade containers, you need to carefully select materials (Figure 3):

The finished product must be durable and resistant to corrosion, but at the same time easy to clean and disinfect;
The size must correspond to the age and number of individuals on the farm;
Rebar rods are installed along the edges so that the animals have Free access to food, but at the same time they could not turn the container over.

DIY pigs" width="912">Figure 3. Types homemade feeders

You will find drawings for making and photos of homemade feeders in this article.

Galvanized feeders

A simple elongated trough can be made from galvanized steel. It is better to take sheets with a thickness of at least 0.5 mm so that the finished container has sufficient strength and durability.

The edges of the sheet are folded inward so that the animals do not get hurt while eating, and the legs are screwed at the bottom for stability. finished design.

A galvanized container can be of any shape, the main thing is that its size corresponds to the age of the individuals and their number.

How to make a feeder with your own hands: 3 ways

Before you start making a feeder with your own hands, you need to choose available tools that will help simplify the process. Such means can be: metal, plastic barrels or old gas cylinder.

Metal feeder

The so-called bunker feeders are usually made of metal - this is an iron structure that allows you to feed the pig in portions, due to the fact that its lower part is the usual divided “plates”, and the upper part is a cone-shaped iron box with a narrow bottom. This allows the food to spill out after the pigs have eaten the existing portion.

So, let's start preparing a regular bunker (dimensions are designed for 10 large piglets):

Take a square one profile pipe(approximately 12*12 cm), cut on one side along the edge, open, you get two “trays”, and in the middle there is a corner (the bunker itself will be attached to this corner).
To prepare the bunker, you will need two thick sheets of metal (length - 60 cm, height - 4 cm, width - approximately 1-1.5 cm), place them on a long edge parallel to each other at a distance of approximately 7 cm and weld the ends using suitable sheets metal (it turns out to be a long rectangle without top and bottom).
The upper part (the so-called cone) needs to be made of 4 sheets of metal: 2 wider for length (to make the length the size of the tray itself) and 2 narrower for width. We weld in such a way that the result is a four-sided conical triangle, with a hollow middle (the volume of food placed should be 3 buckets of dry food, the height of the hopper should be approximately 15 cm).
We weld the top part of the bunker to the bottom (long rectangle).
We connect the hopper and the feeder so that the middle of the bottom of the hopper coincides with the corner of the feeder (for even pouring of food).
We take ordinary fittings, cut them into equal parts as long as the width of the tray and weld them at the same distance so that only 1 pig can freely insert his nickel into the tray (thereby providing a “plate” for each pet).

Video: making a metal feeder

Important! You should not make bins that are too large: the piglets will not be able to stop and will eat until the food stops spilling out. Overeating is very harmful for your pig.

Plastic barrel feeder

The easiest way will be to make pork " dining table» from ordinary plastic barrel, which you no longer need. The main thing is that such a base is environmentally friendly (only harmless natural biological substances should be stored in it).

To prepare such a feeder you need:

Important! It is advisable to make dividing beams so that each pig has its own place and no one else gets into its plate.

Feeder from a gas cylinder

Another one, relatively easy way, which requires an old used gas cylinder (for example, propane). It is important to remember that when working with special dangerous objects, which specifically includes a gas cylinder, you must follow safety regulations.

So, after the gas cylinder is found, you should check it: to do this, you need to take a soap solution, lubricate the place where the gas should come out, and open the valve: if there are no soap bubbles, the cylinder is empty.

Important! In order to get rid of the smell of gas, it is necessary to treat the cut cylinder with fire (on a fire or with a burner).

Main types of drinkers

There are several types of drinking bowls for pigs, but they need to be selected so that the water remains clean at all times and the animals can drink freely at any time. Below we will describe the main types of structures that are best suited for use in homestead farming.

Cup

The cup model is a small container with sides along the edges, which is filled with water through a valve or nipple (Figure 5).

The design of this model is very convenient, since animals have constant access to clean water, but at the same time they cannot splash it around. The principle of operation is that water is supplied to the container through a special hose, but does not pour out until the animal presses a special pedal inside.

Figure 5. Using a cup design

Pigs quickly get used to such drinking bowls, and water is used evenly, as it is supplied only when necessary.

Nipple (nipple)

Nipple models can be used to supply water to individuals of various ages. Water is supplied through a rubber hose or plastic pipe, at the end of which a valve with a nipple is installed (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Teat (nipple) structures for adults and piglets

When a pig wants to drink, she simply goes to the nipple, presses her mouth on the nipple, and a portion of water flows out of it. This design is highly hygienic, since drinking water is not contaminated, and the containers themselves only need to be washed occasionally. The only drawback is the high cost of the finished structure, which can only be purchased in the store.

Vacuum

Vacuum drinkers are considered the simplest, and you can easily make them yourself from scrap materials.

In order to make a vacuum design, you need to take a jar or any other container, pour water into it, cover it with a bowl and turn it over. As a result, some of the water will flow into the bowl, and when the pigs drink it, a new portion of liquid will come from the jar (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Example of a vacuum drinker

Such models are installed mainly in piglets, since it is difficult to find a large container that can hold enough water for adults. However, vacuum models need to be monitored as they are easily knocked over by animals.

Standard feeder lengths for piglets of different ages

There are standards for calculating the length of a structure and they depend on the age and number of artiodactyls:

For one piglet at the age of two months, you need 15 cm of free space.
Five-month-old young animals require 30 cm of length per individual.
An adult female requires 40 cm of free space, and a male - 60 cm.

The depth of a regular trough should be at least 30 cm for any age of pigs.

Separation of feed supply for animals of different ages

IN large farm Young animals and adults should eat separately. Eating food together between pigs of all ages can have the following consequences:

adults can trample piglets;
bacteria and harmful insects from older pigs can cause diseases in young animals;
the piglets will not receive the required amount of feed and will be stunted.

To ensure that the young animals eat well, a separate structure is made for them. Separation between animals occurs by adjusting the thresholds and sides: in this way, adults will not be able to reach the piglets’ feed, and young animals will not eat from a common high trough.

The best option would be a do-it-yourself pig feeder, the sides of which are at the chest level of small piglets. This will allow animals to eat without tilting their heads, which will have a good effect on the development of bone and muscle tissue.

The food tray should be angled so that food collects in one place. To achieve this effect, you need to make the rear pillars a few centimeters higher than the front ones. This design not only simplifies eating, but also facilitates the process of cleaning the container.

To make the feeder last longer, you can adjust the height of the threshold using hinges. To do this, grooves are made in the side walls of the feeder, and the front sheet of plywood should go down to the floor in front of the racks. To secure the adjustable side at the desired height, you can use self-tapping screws.

To prevent young animals from getting into the trough of older pigs, you need to install a ceiling made of boards. This will not be an obstacle for adults, and piglets will not be able to scatter food. To properly cover a pig feeder with boards, you should watch a video or photo from master classes.

conclusions

Pig feeder can be simple and automatic, individual, group, stationary, mobile.
When creating a container for food, it is necessary to take into account the age of the animals- young and adult pigs require completely different lengths.
You can easily make a feeder yourself. Most often, plastic barrels, gas cylinders, long half-pipes and wooden blanks are used for these purposes.

Video:

Such food containers, like feeders, are intended for daily feeding of the animal. Because of this, the health of the pig will also directly depend on it. After all, if such containers are constantly dirty, then the animal will definitely get sick sooner or later. To maintain the health of piglets, when using feeders you should follow a few simple rules. These rules apply to all types of structures and are mandatory to comply with.

General sanitary standards

The pig feeding container should always be kept clean. To do this, you should adhere to one very simple rule, namely, such a device should be easy to clean and wash.
Then the feeder constantly gets clogged. Such clogging must be prevented in advance.
It is very bad if food constantly spills out of the container. It is necessary to prevent dry food from spilling out and wet food from pouring out.
For different types feed must be taken different types containers, and drinking water is given only from the drinking bowl.
The main requirement for a container for liquid food is its tightness. After all, the constant leakage of liquid will not only bring economic loss to the owner, but will also constantly clog the pigsty. Thus, the humidity in it will always be high, and this is also bad for pigs.
The design of the device for feeding piglets must be such that the animal can easily reach the feed. The best option containers with beveled edges or rounded corners are considered.
It will be good if you install the container at an angle. Thus, the leftover food will always be collected in one place and if the animal does not finish eating, the owner can easily remove it.

Common sizes

When purchasing or making feeders for piglets, you should remember that their size should constantly change throughout the life of the animal. So, for example, small and low containers are perfect for small piglets, and, on the contrary, large containers for large ones. Then, if there are a lot of pigs, it is better to install long troughs as feeders. This way, all the pigs can eat at the same time. At the same time, it is also worth dividing the trough into compartments with jumpers so that animals cannot climb into it.

Table of norms for the width of animal feeders of different ages Table of norms for the length of feeders for pigs of different ages

Do it yourself

Based on the number of pigs and their age, as well as the type of food they will be given, several types of feeders can be made.

The first type is ordinary feeders for piglets and pigs. These include various types of simple containers, such as a basin, a trough, etc. The second most common type when feeding dry food is automatic structures, which are also called bunkers.

There, the feed is supplied automatically depending on how much the pig eats. But this type of feeder is quite difficult to build, so we will look at simpler options. In addition, no matter what kind of feeder you build, it can be fixed, mobile, individual or for a group of pigs. Here the decision is yours.

If you have an old large plastic barrel lying around that no one needs, then do not rush to throw it away. It will make an excellent feeder for wild boars, pigs and piglets, you can see an example in the photo. But before making a food container out of a barrel, you should be 100% sure that no toxic substances were stored in it.

Tools

large plastic barrel;
several wooden blocks;
screws;
pencil or marker;
jigsaw;
sanding paper.

Manufacturing

From a gas cylinder

If you have an old gas cylinder lying around at home, then don’t rush to sell it for scrap. It will make an excellent and durable feeder that will last about 20 years.

Tools and materials

old gas cylinder;
a brush and soap solution to check the remaining gas in the cylinder;
a bucket of water or other container with water (you will need a lot of water);
hacksaw for metal;
Bulgarian;
reinforcement bars;
several metal corners;
gas-burner;
welding machine.

Manufacturing

From a piece of pipe

You can also simply make a feeder if you have a piece of asbestos-cement or ceramic pipe. Such materials are also durable, as they do not corrode.

Drawing of a pipe feeder: 1 - ceramic half-pipe; 2 - concrete support; 3 — protective grille; 4 - holders.

Tools and materials

a piece of pipe (its length depends on the number of pigs);
several pieces of boards or prepare cement mortar;
reinforcement bars with a diameter of 15 mm;
welding machine;
Bulgarian;
Master OK;
saw or jigsaw.

Manufacturing

We take a piece of pipe and saw it lengthwise in the same way as in the case of a gas cylinder. The pipe diameter should be about 220 mm.
It is better to choose a feeder from a pigsty permanent place, since it will not be removable. We prepare a concrete support for it in the right place.
We install the pipe and put plugs at both ends. The plugs can also be made of concrete or made from pieces of boards.
To prevent the pig from getting into the feeder, you need to make a mesh from reinforcement that will be installed above the feeder. At this point, the feeder is ready, and you can examine its design in more detail in the drawing.

What other options exist?

Some simple options We have already examined feeders for pigs in detail. But it should be said that there are quite a lot of variations of such designs. So, for example, you yourself can easily make an automatic feeder for pigs from several galvanized sheets of tin. Then you can use any convenient container for this or make a completely wooden trough. And finally, you yourself can easily come up with your own version of the design for animals based on available means and general recommendations which are given above.

Photo gallery

Video “DIY pig feeder”

Most novice farmers want to make feeders and waterers for pigs with their own hands. You can buy them, as well as drinking bowls for piglets, in specialized stores without any problems. However, the price of the products is too high for those who are just gaining experience in this business. To save money, we suggest learning how to design comfortable feeders with your own hands. Original ideas with photos and videos will help you choose the appropriate option.

Making feeders and drinking bowls for pigs with your own hands is very simple and cheap if you use available materials

DIY feeders for piglets, photo O

Experienced farmers, when choosing a pig feeder, pay attention first of all to the ease of use of the product. The feeder must have a sufficient volume so that there is enough food for all individuals in the pigsty. It is good if the size of the product corresponds to the age of the individuals. If the feeder is too small, the animal will not be able to stick its head inside, and if it is too large, it will climb in with its legs. Special meaning Farmers pay attention to the quality of the material and the shape of the product. Feeders with sharp corners and the edges can injure the pig.

Metal pipes and galvanization are durable materials for making feeders

2-sided feeders are very popular. They save space in the pigsty as they are compact. In addition, its design allows it to be securely attached to the floor. Animals can freely approach food from both sides. Internal partitions allow each piglet to take its place. The spacious tank holds a day's worth of feed, making it convenient for busy livestock farmers.

One of the most important aspects when making feeders that should be thought through in advance is ease of cleaning.

DIY feeders for piglets: photos, original ideas And

One of the most important aspects when making feeders that should be thought through in advance is ease of cleaning. Compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards will allow. Feeders that are inconvenient to wash will quickly become dirty, the food in them will turn sour, and this is a potential source of infection.

When choosing a material for making a feeder with your own hands, preference is given to durable and corrosion-resistant materials. Then the device will last for many years. The most popular and cheapest feeders are made of wood, as shown in the photo. It takes a minimum of time to make one mold; they are convenient to attach to the floor and wash. The tree does not contain toxic substances. When fed to pigs, the durability of the tree is reduced. Dry food does not cause wood swelling.

A wooden trough will last for several years, but if you use it to serve dry food, it will last for several decades.

Feeders for pigs are often made from scrap materials, namely:

DIY feeders for piglets, video:

DIY drinking bowls for piglets and pigs And

The photo shows an original drinking bowl for pigs

They make drinking bowls with their own hands from scrap materials, trying to make the most functional design possible. As consumables most often pig farmers choose wood, plastic, and metal. The easiest way to assemble a cup drinker. The nipple design allows you to save water and keep it pure.

Drinking bowl for piglets from plastic pipe – best option. It is necessary to cut the pipe into 2 equal parts so that you get gutters, as shown in the photo. The ends are covered with improvised material, and compartments can be built inside the gutter. The seams must be sealed. You don’t have to install the legs, but simply fix the drinking bowl from the pipe in the right place.

On the picture nipple drinker made from a plastic barrel, made by yourself

DIY drinking bowls for piglets, video:

It is very easy to make feeders and waterers for pigs with your own hands. If you use available materials, the costs will be minimal. A well-assembled product will last for many years, especially if you use durable materials such as plastic. What drinkers and feeders do you use at home?

Before delving into this issue, it is worth familiarizing yourself with general requirements, which apply to feed containers.

The feeder should always be clean, which means the container should be one that can be easily removed from food debris and washed.
Feeders can become clogged with particles of bedding, hay, etc., and this is best avoided.
Feed should not spill out of containers; this applies to both wet and dry components.
Each type of food has its own container. For drinking water drinking bowls are intended.
For liquid feed, containers are properly sealed to prevent leaks. Such wastefulness of feed leads not only to losses, but also to pollution of animal premises.
The design is made so that pigs can easily get to food. All corners must be properly sealed and free of sharp edges to prevent injury to animals.
It is best to install the feeder at a slight slope, so that all the food will be on one edge, and the leftovers will be easy to remove.

A few words about sizes

It doesn’t matter what choice the owner makes: buying feeders or making them. It is important to note that containers for young animals are not suitable for adult animals and vice versa. It is preferable to feed piglets from small containers with low sides; adult pigs will need other sizes. With a large number of livestock, to save maintenance time, you can install long bowls so that the animals can feed at the same time.

In the following table you can get acquainted in more detail with the sizes for different feeds, which will correspond to a particular age group in width. For suckers, the width and height are indicated.

The second table shows length norms for animals belonging to different groups.

What types of feed containers are there?

As mentioned above, each animal of a certain age needs its own container. Based on this, they can be divided into two types:

Simple design. Any container that is at hand will fit this definition: a basin, a bowl, a pelvis, a pig trough.
Bunker type. Everything is automated here. Food comes from the upper compartment when the lower one is empty. Making such a feeder with your own hands is not so easy.
Stationary. They are installed in animal housing and secured in such a way that pigs cannot move them from one place to another.
Mobile. They can be one-sided or two-sided (with longitudinal partitions). Most often they can be found on a large complex with big amount animals.
Individual feeder - designed for one animal.
Group design - for several pigs.

The best option for any farmer is to approach the issue of creating a container for feed creatively. This not only saves money and time on searching, but also as a result you can get a feeder that will be ideal for your household.

DIY pig feeder

Plastic barrel

Any disused barrel will do. The main thing is to make sure that it was not used for storing pesticides.

What should be on hand:

large capacity plastic barrel;
wooden bars;
several screws;
felt-tip pen;
electric jigsaw;
sandpaper.

Step-by-step instruction:

Divide the barrel into several parts, for example, 4. Apply appropriate markings.
Using an electric jigsaw, cut the plastic along the contour lines into 4 even pieces.
Sand all sharp edges and sandpaper perform grinding.
The legs are made of bars and attached to the sides of the structure using screws.
The feed container is ready and can be placed with the animals.

Using a gas cylinder

Such a thing exists in any household. It is not necessary to get rid of an unnecessary cylinder and think about where to donate it. If you have pigs on your farm, you can make a strong and durable feed container. The service life of such a structure is at least two decades.

What tools will you need:

used cylinder;
a brush and a solution with added soap to check if there is any gas left in the container;
a large number of water;
scissors for cutting metal;
Bulgarian;
reinforcing bars;
metal corners;
gas stove;
welding machine.

Step by step instructions:

Open the valve on the gas cylinder fully. Residual gas (if any) must be released. You can check with a soap solution, which is applied to the outlet hole. If there is no inflated bubble, you can begin work.
The cylinder must be turned on one side and the valve must be cut off using scissors. The next part must be done with an assistant. While sawing work is going on, you need to water the cut to prevent heating and sparks.
Then the container must be filled completely with water, shaking it periodically to get rid of condensation. Used water should be poured as far as possible from living areas.
It is necessary to determine the desired depth of the feeder. If you intend to use the container for sows and young animals, then the container must be divided in half. Make one half larger and the other smaller. If feeders are needed by adult animals, then the container must be divided into 2 equal parts horizontally.
For sawing you need to take a grinder.
To prevent pigs from getting into the feed container, you need to weld reinforcement on top of the structure.
To completely eliminate the gas odor, you need to apply gas burner and carry out firing.
The remaining reinforcement is used to create strong legs.
The feeder is ready and can be used.

How to use pipes

A ceramic or asbestos cement pipe is suitable for making feeders. The durability of the materials will make the container suitable for long-term use on the farm.

What you will need for production:

pipe, its length must correspond to the number of livestock;
boards or cement mortar;
reinforcing bars;
welding machine;
Bulgarian;
Master OK;
electric jigsaw, saw.

How to make a pig feeder:

Cut the pipe to the required length horizontally.
It is worth considering that such a structure is best made stationary, and therefore you need to take care in advance of choosing a place in the room for the animals, and create concrete supports there.
Install the pipe with plugs at the edges. Concrete or wooden planks are suitable for their manufacture.
The remaining reinforcement will be used to create a kind of mesh that will prevent animals from entering the feeding container.
The design is ready and can be used for its intended purpose.

Automatic feeders: what are their advantages?

The invention is really useful, suitable for dry food, and also very simple principle work. Top part is filled with feed, which enters the lower compartment, from where the animals get it. As soon as it becomes empty, a new portion will go to the pigs.

This method promotes proper distribution of food - there will be no new food until the old one is eaten. These feeders help maintain cleanliness in pigsties. Animals cannot climb into the container and scatter the feed. The price of the devices is not that high.

Making feeders yourself or purchasing ready-made containers - individual choice every farmer. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, after considering which you can either take the materials at hand or go to the store to make a purchase.