How to Build Troughs for Pigs

Raising and feeding pigs is time consuming. This venture can be simplified and shortened to a certain extent by building pigs troughs of their own. Troughs make the feeding chore a more sanitary and economical process. A pig trough or pig feeder can be built easily at home. Moreover, one can be built by making use of hardware that the builder might have around the home or supplies that can easily be obtained at the nearest home improvement store.

Cut the wooden or plastic barrel into two halves lengthwise so that they look like two long, mirror-image, trough-like containers. Ensure that your barrels don't have a coating of leftover harmful liquids, such as oil, which could sicken your pigs. Scrub and wash the barrel with soap and rinse well in order to get rid of any residue.

Turn the barrels with their cut side down and, using a measuring tape and a marker, place a 6-inch mark, laterally, on each end of the barrel, at the points where the trough will meet the ground. These marks are an indicator that the barrel's feet will be attached here. Ensure that the marks are straight and even.

Place the PVC pipe on the marked point of the barrel and mark two points indicating where to drill on the barrel and pipe. Remove the pipe from the barrel and then drill holes on the barrel and the pipe separately. Be careful when drilling so as to keep the holes in proper alignment.

Turn over the barrel and bolt the pipe sections to the rounded side of the barrels. Place the bolts in such a way that the heads are inside the trough and the nuts outside, to keep your pigs safe from injuries that could be caused by exposed bolts intruding into the trough. Fasten the bolts firmly, using washers for better hold. Pigs are avid eaters and can break down even the toughest troughs if they are not built properly.

Repeat the same process on the remaining barrel half and place both the troughs on a flat surface. Ensure that the troughs' feet are even and they do not tilt while you are dumping the feed to the pigs. Sometimes while dumping feed, the trough’s feet start shaking. The main reason for this is improper alignment and fastening of bolts.

Turn the troughs upside down when you need to clean up leftover, uneaten feed. Wash the troughs every few days in order to prevent excess accumulation of rotten feed. The decomposed feed could invite flies and other insects and could even cause your pigs to be repelled, if insects swarm over the place.