How to Make a Pig Pen for 4H

Members of 4-H raise market pigs for fairs and shows. Often the young pigs are purchased at weaning when they are six to eight weeks old and weigh about 40 pounds. The pigs are raised to a market weight of about 200 to 250 pounds. Market weight is usually reached at five to six months of age. Pigs are smart, often root in the ground with their snouts, and can easily escape from poorly constructed pens.

Things You'll Need

  • Three-sided wood or metal shelter
  • Bedding such as straw or wood shavings
  • Woven wire fencing or welded wire panels
  • Metal or wood posts with attachments for fencing
  • Source of water
  • Metal or wood gate and hinges
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw a simple pen design. Each 4-H project pig requires at least 10 to 12 square feet of pen space and an additional six to eight square feet of shelter. However, a larger pen allows the pigs to exercise and is often easier to keep clean. A 6-foot by 12-foot pen with a shelter provides adequate space for one or two project pigs. Pigs deposit manure in one part of the pen, so a rectangular shaped pen rather than a square pen provides a better "toilet" area.

    • 2

      Design the pig shelter. A three-sided building with a sloped roof is a common design for 4-H project pigs. Face the shelter toward the south. Design a shelter that keeps the pigs dry and protected from the sun in the summer. In the winter, the shelter protects the pigs from cold temperatures, precipitation and wind. Inside the shelter, a wood or cement floor covered with dry bedding provides a comfortable sleeping area.

    • 3

      Locate the pen for the 4-H project pigs in a suitable area. Pigs require shade, so place the pen near trees if possible. Pigs have a unique odor, so locate the pen away from residential areas. Find an area with good drainage. A source of fresh, clean water is necessary. A buried water line with a pig nozzle provides fresh cool water in the summer. In temperatures above 80 degrees, a mister or sprinkler will help keep the pigs cool.

    • 4

      Purchase suitable fencing for the pen. Hog wire or tight woven wire fencing strongly attached to wooden or steel posts are common fencing materials for 4-H project pigs. Sixteen-foot lengths of welded wire panels also are a strong fence material. Purchase fencing to create a minimum pen height of 40 inches. To prevent small pigs from escaping, select wire with close spacing at the bottom.

    • 5

      Bury the welded wire panels at least two feet deep or install boards around the bottom of the woven wire fencing to prevent the pigs from digging out. A strand of electric fence wire attached to an electric fence charger will also prevent pigs from rooting under the fence. Build a strong gate out of welded wire panels, metal or wood. Make the gate wide enough to make cleaning out the pen easier.