Homemade Hog Feeders

Feeding hogs can be done by hand by throwing the feed on the ground or, to save time and keep a supply of food available for the hogs, a hog feeder can be bought or made. Making a hog feeder requires some thought and an indestructible process and materials, as hogs are very strong and can tear apart conventional feeders.

  1. Keeping Hogs Out of the Trough

    • Many times a large feeding trough is used to feed the hogs, but they crowd each other out or climb into the trough, making a mess and creating a nuisance. To keep the hogs out of the trough the book "Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them," by Rolfe Cobleigh, details a trough divider that sits on top of the trough and has several V-shaped areas built in that help to keep each pig in its individual area. This allows each of them to eat their share and not get in another hog's way.

    Hog Feeding from a Tree

    • To feed one or two hogs in an area that has a large tree, use a large PVC pipe, about four inches in diameter; cut the end on about a 45 degree angle. Strap this pipe securely to the tree with the diagonal end at the bottom and facing away from the tree. Fill the pipe with corn or other dry feed. The feed will come out of the bottom, but will only come out in small portions at a time. As the hogs eat the corn, more will fall out of the pipe for continuous feed.

    Barrel on a Rope Method

    • Using a barrel that can be securely closed, drill holes around the barrel that are wider than each individual piece of feed and drill about one hole every 3 inches. Fill the barrel with feed, secure the top closed and drop the barrel into the pig pen. As the barrel rolls around, the holes will allow the corn or feed to escape onto the ground and the hogs will eat it. When there is no more feed on the ground, the hogs will roll it around some more until feed comes out. The hogs love the activity and it keeps the feed from being too much of a mess in the yard, only feeding a little at a time.