Self-installation of slatted floors for pigsties

In animal husbandry, cleanliness is the key to the health and comfortable living of pets. The ease and speed of cleaning the home of farm animals largely depends on how and what the floors are made of. For example, slatted floors will provide the most convenient way to remove manure from a barn or pigsty. How to install it yourself? What does that require? Read more below.

Slotted floors in a barn

Slotted floors

Bedding in a pigsty

Bedding in a pigsty is necessary.
No matter how perfect the floor is, animals still need a layer of bedding material for their health and comfort. The two most successful bedding options are described below. p, blockquote 22,0,0,0,0 —>

Disinfectant

A popular type of non-removable bedding for pigs is a disinfectant. Helps save time and effort on removing livestock waste and processing manure. Only one person can handle cleaning with a disinfectant when there are a large number of pigs.

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The litter is created from straw and sawdust, then a culture of special bacteria that process manure is added to it. During this processing, bacteria (and they multiply quickly in conditions of abundant nutrition) produce a large amount of heat. The farmer receives sewage treatment with additional heating of the room from below.

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You can purchase such bacteria in farm stores, veterinary pharmacies, or order them online directly from manufacturing companies. The use of the drugs does not require any special skills, the main thing is to follow the instructions included in the kit.

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Fermentation mat

This litter is the most modern and farmer-friendly option for deep, permanent litter. Its two advantages are complete safety and self-maintenance of cleanliness. Manure and urine are broken down in the deep layers of the litter by lactic acid photosynthetic bacteria. These microorganisms are safe for animals and humans; they do their job well, leaving neither dirt nor odor.

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Fermentation bedding will last up to 5 years without replacement. This is a tangible saving of time and effort for the farmer. On small farms, the use of such a floor may even eliminate the need for hired workers to perform regular cleaning of the premises. This is additional savings.

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When used, the morbidity and mortality of piglets is reduced, since under these conditions, manure does not become a source of infectious diseases in young animals.

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What requirements must a slatted floor meet?

The slatted floor, first of all, must be wear-resistant, durable, easy to install and safe for animals. You should also take into account the cost, the material from which the floors are made, the service life and the area of ​​the pigsty. The width of the slots can vary from 10 to 20 mm, but no more, so that the hooves of piglets do not fall into the holes, and adult pigs do not catch their hooves. The length of the gap is about 15 cm.

There must be a second tier - to collect waste, in fact, for this purpose we will need a perforated upper tier. The depth of the lower compartment (for waste) must be at least 60 cm. This can be a tank made of any material, not necessarily the same as the top cover. A slope is required for self-draining of waste. So, before making such a structure with your own hands, let’s find out what types of it exist.

Concrete

Reinforced concrete or concrete slatted floors are perhaps the most popular type of covering for modern pigsties, especially large ones. Concrete perfectly withstands the weight of animals, does not absorb odors, and has a service life of at least 15 years. Concrete slatted floors will be useful to you if your pig farm is planned to be large, and not in the amount of 3-4 heads. However, there are also disadvantages: it is better to keep adult animals on concrete; piglets will not be very comfortable on it.

By the way, concrete slotted coverings for pigsties are difficult to make with your own hands; a lot of money and effort will be invested in this, so it is more economically feasible to buy ready-made forms. You can install them yourself, which from a practical point of view is extremely beneficial and correct. The basis for such a floor is concrete slabs, which best withstand heavy loads (per 1 meter up to 600 kg).

Plastic

A relatively new type of flooring, but already loved by many. Ready-made panels are produced by a large number of companies; they are convenient to order and complete at your discretion. The advantages of this flooring material: ease of installation, affordable price, can be transported by regular transport, non-slip. In addition, the plastic texture is such that the floor seems to become warm on its own, without the cold coming from it.

This type of floor will be an excellent option for teenage piglets and suckling sows, as it is designed for medium weight. It is almost impossible to make a plastic floor with your own hands; this requires special molds and technological equipment. Since plastic fragments are attached to each other during casting, any fastening of the fragments will lead to the appearance of cracks. So this option will have to be chosen either in finished form or replaced with something else.

Metal

A rare but acceptable option for the material from which slatted floors are made is galvanized iron or cast iron. A metal surface is not the best solution, but if there are no other materials at hand, then metal can be used. Remember that on such a floor the pigs will be cold almost all the time, so you will have to additionally heat the pigsty premises. But for sows during lactation this floor is very suitable!

The fact is that the metal floor covering perfectly cools the nursing pig, making it less restless. But in this case, only the place where the nursing pig lies should be metal (plus the installation of holes for draining manure under it). By the way, the combined version of metal and plastic is very good. With your own hands, you can weld a metal mesh (for example, from reinforcement), and place a plastic backing underneath it. Read more about the methods of manufacturing and installing floors further in our article.

Plastic structures

Plastic slatted floors began to be used not so long ago, but they managed to win the hearts of many breeders due to their affordable price and ease of installation. Installation of a plastic slatted floor does not require any special skills. This type of flooring is non-slip and has high hygienic qualities.

Plastic slatted floors are perfect for keeping pigs with young animals of suckling age. The design has a fractional relief, so even the smallest pig cannot get injured when moving on such a flooring. Used for keeping pigs of medium weight category.

You can only purchase plastic shields in ready-made form. It’s simply not possible to make them yourself. The fasteners are connected to each other at the casting stage.

Laying technology

There are two technologies for laying floors for pigs: slotted and solid.

Modern pig farms are equipped with a self-floating manure removal system, which involves the presence of a slotted floor covering. This design is also suitable for a home mini-pig farm.

Slotted floor covering

Slotted floor installation

Pigs, contrary to popular belief, are clean and intelligent animals, so they very easily and quickly get used to defecating in a certain place. Therefore, slatted floors will be an ideal option for these animals. Their essence is as follows: these double floors are assembled as if from two parts. The lower part is like a concrete trough with a slope towards the ditch, and the upper part is slatted floors. The cracks may not be located throughout the entire floor area, but only in one specific place.

Slotted floors can be concrete, metal or plastic. The last two options are applicable for young animals - they come with roughness and ribbing to protect against injury, and the gaps in them are very small so that the kids’ hooves do not fall into the holes. Serially produced concrete slatted floors have small slot sizes and wide jumpers between them - this minimizes injuries.

The great advantage of the slatted floor design is its simplicity and ease of cleaning and maintenance. In order to save money, sometimes they make a slatted floor from thick boards, but this option is a bad idea, since pigs can get caught in the cracks and turn the boards out.

Advantages of slot covering

The most effective flooring technology for pig farms is currently considered to be a slotted flooring system.

This coating is the most suitable option for manure removal compared to a solid floor. This also applies to large industrial enterprises, where manure removal would require an incredible number of workers. And private farms with more than 30 heads of livestock would not have the strength to remove waste by hand.

This coating is a well-coordinated structure through which manure is independently collected. This is the optimal solution for comfortable keeping of cattle and pigs.

The material for the manufacture of such a floor is selected depending on the final purpose.

Concrete slabs for slatted floor

Slit coating has significant advantages:

• Much less effort is spent on maintaining a full standard of living for a pet. The percentage of colds and intestinal diseases decreases significantly, and their duration is reduced.
• The amount of weight gain per day is increasing.
• For your own household, you can independently organize a similar floor system.
• Thanks to the slot coating, electricity consumption is reduced by almost 2 times.
• The water spent on cleaning work is required almost 5 times less than with a solid floor system.
• Subtleties of the structure of a continuous coating.

To simplify the process of cleaning the floor, a groove is made along the perimeter of the walls of pig pens, and the flooring is made with a slope towards this groove. It is built of brick and plastered. The groove itself flows into a collection container where pig excrement accumulates. For normal outflow, the groove must also have a slope. The collected masses are either taken out by special machines, or pumped into pits for rotting and fermentation, and then it all goes to fertilize the soil.

Automation of manure removal

A slatted floor for pigsties involves the installation of a self-floating feces removal system. After laying the foundation, special baths are installed, to which the sewer line is connected. A slatted floor made of the selected material is placed above the baths. There are 2 methods of installing slatted floors:

• when the grate is located around the entire perimeter of the floor;
• part of the floor is slatted, and part is solid.

Continuous slatted floors around the entire perimeter are used for large pig farms. The design involves equipping the coating with a heating system. Such floors are designed to support a large number of pigs. Under the lattice slabs there are special tanks into which animal waste products fall, flowing from there into the drain pipe.

Automation of waste product removal

Partially, slatted floors differ from the previous design in that the cleaning process is not fully automated. Manure tanks are equipped with plugs. For some time, the manure is stored in liquid form in baths.

When filling the tanks, the mesh part of the floor covering is removed and feces are pumped out of the bowls into the sewer line after opening the plug. The second installation method allows you to significantly save on the purchase of lattice slabs. Pigs go to the toilet in one place, so in small private properties there is no point in installing continuous slatted floors.

Zemlyanoy

The cheapest option for a pigsty. This is where the advantages end. But there are more than enough shortcomings:

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• does not retain heat, cools instantly, has difficulty warming up in cold weather;
• absorbs urine and odors;
• mixed with manure: it is unclear where the waste ends and the floors begin;
• easily torn apart by pigs, who can dig under the wall of the pigsty and escape.

When considering this option as a temporary solution, keep in mind: when you want to install another type of covering, you will have to dig to a decent depth and remove the soil. He will be completely saturated with urine and ineradicable odors.

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Types of flooring

The floor in the pigsty is made taking into account the size of the barn, as well as financial capabilities. Floors in a pigsty must meet certain requirements:

• be warm; waterproofed; safe; durable;
• the coating must be resistant to disinfectants and pig waste products;

Before you make a floor in a pigsty with your own hands, you need to look at all the options and choose the most optimal one. First of all, materials for flooring are considered. The floor for a pigsty can be slotted or solid. The second option is much easier to implement, however, from a hygiene point of view, it is preferable to make a slotted floor covering.

The most economical and warm covering is wood. But wooden floors have a lot of disadvantages. Wood quickly absorbs unpleasant odors and swells when exposed to moisture, resulting in the process of rotting, which can negatively affect the health of pigs. Disinfection and cleaning of the premises with such a coating becomes much more difficult. Pigs have inherited from their wild relatives the ability to dig; they can easily tear off such covering with their teeth.

A brick floor in a pigsty is the best option. The coating will not be too cold, and the pigs will not be able to damage it. The bricks are laid in a herringbone pattern, and the remaining space is filled with cement. The only negative is the high price. Although, if you consider that the wood coating will have to be changed often, it is better to spend money once and make it thorough.

Most often, pig barn floors are made of concrete. This type of flooring can last at least 15 years. It is perfect for a large pig farm, but if a couple of pigs will live in the pigsty, then it is better to choose another option. The concrete surface is very cold, so it is completely unsuitable for keeping sows with offspring. The heating problem can be solved if layers of heat-insulating material are used at the pouring stage.

Final part

Concrete, strong slatted floors for pigs are a must. When building small and large pig farms, an important place is given to the arrangement of the floor. It is on the floor that animals will defecate, so the health of the livestock will directly depend on its quality. Slotted floors are the best option, which allows you to fully or partially automate the removal of feces from a pigsty. The price of flooring will depend entirely on the material from which it is made.

Today, plastic slatted floors are quite popular. They are characterized by low hygroscopicity and can withstand animals of average weight. The price for such coverings is more than acceptable, and the ease of installation makes them an ideal option for keeping a not too large number of livestock.

Metal gratings

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Metal gratings can be used as the top tier. This is not the best option, but if you have metal gratings, but funds for other materials are in short supply, you can use it. Metal can serve well in pens with lactating sows. A lactating pig has an elevated body temperature and constantly wants to cool down. The metal coating will allow such a sow to feel comfortable.

Metal slatted floors can be made from sheet iron. To do this, a sheet of metal is cut into strips up to 10 cm wide. Then these strips are welded overlapping and limit the finished floor to a side. For the pigs to rest, part of this floor is covered with boards or plastic. The structure will be supported by supports welded to the bottom.

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Slotted floors

Functional and comfortable slatted floors are increasingly used in pig barns. You can install them in the pen with your own hands and without much difficulty, which is also a definite advantage.

The slatted floor is wear-resistant, safe for animals and easy to install. Of course, this is only true if everything was done correctly.

As a standard, the slot width should be from 10 to 20 mm. This is no longer possible, since then the hooves of pigs, especially piglets, may fall down. The length of one slit is about 15 centimeters.

Under the upper tier, the slotted floor has a lower one, which is intended for collecting waste. Its depth should not be less than 60 centimeters. The reservoir can be created from any material. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account a sufficient slope so that the waste drains itself.

There are concrete slatted floors, plastic and metal. The first option is the most common in large farms, as they can withstand heavy loads, and the material does not absorb odors. But it’s difficult to make such slabs with your own hands; it’s easier to purchase and install.

You also cannot make plastic slatted floors for a pen yourself, but you can buy them inexpensively. They are light and also warm due to the properties of the material. Perfect for keeping piglets that may not be comfortable on concrete.

Metal slatted floors. They are great for lactating sows who need to be calmed, but otherwise not very good. The fact is that they freeze easily, so it’s impossible to do without additional heating. If you still need slatted floors like these for your pen, use cast iron or galvanized iron.

How to do it yourself

The easiest way to make iron slatted floors at home is by yourself. For production, galvanized sheets or sleepers are usually used, which are welded together. You also need a welding machine, skills to work with it and electric shears.

Step-by-step instructions for making it yourself look like this.

• Take a sheet with a thickness of 5 mm. Measure the number of blanks using a gap width allowance of 1-1.5 cm. At the same time, the width of one strip should not exceed 10 cm.
• The iron strips prepared and measured on the pig machine must be welded. This is done overlapping. One half can be covered with wood or plastic so the pigs can sleep on it warmly.
• When you have finished with the horizontal part of the floors, you will also need to make the sides on the sides with your own hands. They are needed so that the feed and hay do not fall out of the pen. However, slatted floors can be installed without them.
• Then make supports, of which you need at least 5, of which 4 are at the edges and one in the center. This will ensure that the slatted floors are stable and durable. The height of the supports is equal to the lower tier.

Building a pen for pigs

If you want to build a pen with your own hands, you definitely need to take into account such an aspect as climate. If your farm is located in the northern region, insulation on the walls and full heating will be a mandatory requirement. If the farm is located in the south, then simply heating and minimal sealing of cracks in the walls will be enough. At the same time, in any region it is important to make windows large enough to allow sunlight to penetrate into the pigsty.

It is also necessary that the pen is located far enough from living quarters. The minimum distance is 15 meters, but if it is possible to move it further, then it is better to do so.

Further instructions will be devoted to the construction of pigsties of medium and large sizes, that is, for 20 and 100 heads. If necessary, individual elements of these schemes can be adapted to accommodate smaller or larger pens.

For 20 heads

In principle, 20 heads is not a significant amount, so the construction of the building itself will require most of your work. Inside, everything will be done the same for almost all pigs.

The only exception will be boars and sows, because the latter also need a separate cage for feeding. However, it can be purchased. But a boar in a pigsty for 20 pigs needs a pen of at least 3 square meters. meters in area. Be sure to include it in your project.

Instructions

Construction always begins with a foundation, and in the case of a pen for 20 pigs, it is advisable to make a solid version. Also be sure to dig a waste pit nearby. If you plan to use pumps to pump them out, then the pigsty must be located on an elevation and this must be included in the design.

You can use bricks or cinder blocks to build walls. Rubble stone is also suitable. The inside needs to be finished with boards or veneer, and insulation should be used if you are in cold latitudes. Don't forget about large enough windows. The height of the windows should be 1.5 meters from the floor, and they should be located so that there are no drafts.

For brick walls, the minimum thickness is 51 centimeters, for wooden walls - 18. Also make holes for fresh ventilation, at least two in the wall opposite the entrance.

In temperate climates, you can get by with only wooden flooring and floors. If in winter the temperature drops very low, you need to build a ceiling. Also make outlets for ventilation.

When you have 20 pigs, the pen is best made of timber. In principle, you can buy ready-made metal ones, but this will cost more. With regard to other elements, such as drinkers, feeders, a pen for 20 heads is no different from other options.

For 100 heads

If you are going to create a large farm with up to 100 pigs, then this will require quite a lot of effort. It is necessary to understand that keeping such a large number of animals in one room creates certain difficulties. And it’s better, when construction is underway, to try to make future work easier for yourself.

The construction project is of great importance. It is necessary to take into account all the necessary nuances. The next paragraph is devoted to exactly what a large pigsty project must include.

Instructions

The main characteristics, such as the materials used for DIY construction, are similar to those indicated for the 20 head pen. Therefore, we will not dwell on them again, but will immediately move on to those features of a large pigsty for 100 pigs that must be taken into account.

First of all, this is ventilation. In such a large room for 100 heads there must be several exhaust pipes. Pull holes are also required. Through them, fresh air will flow inside, which will then be removed along with the air from the inside through a pipe on the roof.

Ventilation is especially important in winter, when windows and doors cannot be opened. In winter, it is absolutely necessary not only to prevent animals from overheating, but also to remove ammonia from the room. This harmful gas is released from manure. Large pipes are required, with a diameter of about 40-50 cm. It is advisable to have one hood for every 20-30 square meters of paddock area.

Modern large-scale pigsties for 100 pigs must be equipped with a high-quality cleaning system yourself. In addition, insulation is definitely required, especially if the farm is somewhere in cold regions.

The standard arrangement of pens is in two rows, with a passage between them. This is the most convenient way to keep pigs. Separate large pens will be required for sows and piglets. Boars need the same ones. In this case, each individual pen must be equipped with a drinking bowl and feeder.

Tent-type pigsties have also become popular, in which pigs can roam freely over a large area covered with hay. This option is common in Europe and the USA.

Concrete slatted floors

Slotted floors made of reinforced concrete slabs are rarely used in private households. The main place of their application is large livestock complexes.

Positive properties of slatted floors

• High strength. Reinforced concrete is one of the most reliable and durable building materials. Coating slabs will last 15 – 20 years.
• Resistant to absorption of unpleasant odors. Due to its finely porous structure, concrete does not store unpleasant odors.
• • Wear resistance. Reinforced concrete floors can withstand prolonged and intense mechanical impact.

• Labor intensive and high cost of installation. To build slatted floors for pigs from reinforced concrete slabs, you will need the help of third-party specialists and special equipment.
• Young animals cannot be kept. Veterinarians do not recommend using a concrete surface for raising piglets. It is suitable for keeping adult animals.

Concrete structures

On large pig farms, concrete slatted floors are most often used. This design can withstand a large mass. Compared to other flooring, concrete slatted pig barn floors are the strongest and most durable. The material does not absorb odor and does not deteriorate under the influence of waste products of pigs.

The price of concrete slatted floors is quite high, plus installing the structure yourself requires a lot of effort and certain construction skills. To install this type of coating you will need special construction equipment. Only adults can be kept on such flooring; piglets need warmer material.

Concrete slatted floors can withstand up to 600 kg of load per square. Even if you want to do such a design yourself, it is very difficult. An alternative to concrete screed is to purchase ready-made reinforced concrete slabs.

General installation principles

• When installing a slatted floor for pigs or a slatted floor for cattle, the first thing to start with is the foundation and waterproofing of the base. The fact is that manure itself is a rather aggressive environment and therefore it is impossible to save on its basis.
• If you decide to build a small farm with your own hands, then we recommend making the area for bathtubs and channels for manure at least 30 cm. As a rule, it is made of crushed stone or sand, but if you have the opportunity, then a moldboard is well suited for this purpose slag, and it can be covered with a thinner layer. After shrinkage, the dump slag turns into a strong monolithic mass.
• Waterproofing is laid on top of the blind area; the most budget option is roofing felt.
• Next, the reinforcement frame is installed and the monolithic concrete covering is poured. You can use reinforced concrete slabs, but in this case the joints between the floor slabs should be well waterproofed with bitumen.
• The depth of the manure bath is 60 cm to the level of the top covering.
• For comfortable cleaning of the bathtub by gravity, you need to make a slope from the far wall to the channel with a height difference of about 50 cm.

Keeping sows with piglets.

• The supports under the slatted floor for pigs must be adjusted strictly to the level, because otherwise the slabs will begin to “dance” and can injure the animals.
• Plastic panels have a standard size of 60x40 cm and they are laid on special logs. Logs can be made of galvanized metal or fiberglass.
• If you plan to lay reinforced concrete or cast iron slabs on the floor, you should take into account their weight; the supports for them are reinforced.
• The use of wood for arranging the upper flooring is also possible; moreover, wooden flooring is quite warm and comfortable, plus its price is quite affordable. But wood has a number of serious disadvantages when used on farms. So wood is quite hygroscopic and quickly becomes saturated with moisture, then the wood is afraid of pests and rodents. And the worst part is that such a floor will last a maximum of 3 years without repair.
• But there is a good option: a concrete slatted floor for cattle can be equipped with removable wooden flooring. With this option, animals receive a clean room and warm, comfortable flooring.
• When installing a slatted floor for pigs, you can save money by combining slatted and monolithic flooring. But for this you need to think through in detail the location of the feeders and drinkers. In particular, we recommend placing a feeder with a drinker on the slotted part of the pen, and you need to add another drinker in the far corner of the slotted pen. Next, you need to separate the two pens with a transparent partition. With this layout, animals make a den on a monolithic floor, and feed and defecate on the slotted part of the pen.

Piglets for fattening.

Calculation of the cost of building a floor in a pigsty

The cost of building a floor depends on its type. A solid floor is cheaper to install than a slotted floor. They save on concrete by replacing it with asphalt, and wooden floors are replaced with pallets. Clay and earthen flooring do not require financial investments at all. The price consists of the cost of individual materials and tools, floor area:

To cover 1 cu. meter requires from 550 to 600 kg of cement, and to cover 1 sq. meters about 20 kg. To concrete a small room of 10 square meters. meters you need at least 15 bags with a screed thickness of 5 cm (the shortage is compensated for with sand).

You will have to pay about 4,000 rubles for cement alone. Sand costs the same amount. You will need gravel and galvanized pipes, timber and boards. The approximate cost of a solid floor is 6,000-10,000 rubles, a slotted floor will cost 10,000-20,000 rubles.

During pouring, concrete gets into all the cracks; when calculating the required amount, 25-30% is added to the already determined value.

The floor in the pigsty is of paramount importance. It should be dry and warm, not absorb moisture, and easy to clean from dirt and excrement. Pigs love to dig holes, and they often open up wooden floors, separating the flooring from the ground. The result may be that they receive wounds and injuries, as well as escape.

It is better to make the floor from more durable materials, such as concrete or metal slabs. The cost of the coating depends on the chosen material. Concrete will cost more; you will have to pay a decent amount for a slatted floor. In households, pigsties are easier and cheaper to equip with solid floors.

Farmer talks about quality floors in his pig barn:

Instructions

In order not to reinvent the wheel and avoid possible mistakes, it is better to use these instructions, it will be a good hint when laying the floor with your own hands:

• Floor strips are cut from 5 mm iron sheets. The number of blanks is determined by measurements. The width of the slots is taken into account, about a centimeter, one and a half in each row. Enough iron strips are cut to form a lattice covering the entire pen. Each strip is 10 cm wide.
• Then these strips are welded together into a solid lattice structure. The tapes are laid in a lattice on top of each other. Pigs are clean and usually defecate in one part of their home, so the place where she will constantly be and sleep must be covered with any material that can retain heat, wooden or plastic shields will do.
• When the plane is ready, it’s time to move on to welding the sides on the sides so that the contents of the feeder and straw do not fall out of the stall. Some people make it simpler: sheets of galvanized iron are placed on the bathtubs under the pen. This option is more economical in terms of time and effort.
• The number of lower supports depends on the size of the section, but 5 is a minimum, 4 in the corners and one in the middle, this will protect it from sagging. The length of the support corresponds to the height of the waste tank. They need to be adjusted to the level, otherwise the stove will start to play, and this is dangerous for the animals.
• After the grate is installed, feeders and water containers are placed on it. A flooring made of the selected material is applied to the resting place. It can be made removable, then cleaning will be easier.

It is up to the farmer to decide what flooring to use in the pigsty; it is important to do it correctly, and then his charges will blissfully feel comfortable and quickly gain weight, and when you manage to do it yourself, this is also a significant saving, and a novice pig farmer needs it . Watch this video on YouTube

Watch this video on YouTube

DIY slatted floors for a pigsty

Let's take a closer look at the option of creating slatted floors with your own hands. It is not difficult if you follow all the rules and subtleties of construction.

Step 1. A ditch is created into which the pipes necessary for draining feces will be laid.

Ditch for laying pipes

Step 2. Pits are dug in which colostomy bags or manure baths will be equipped. Drain necks are formed in them, which will eventually connect to the entire waste drainage system.

Excavation pits for colostomy bags

Step 3. Pipes with a diameter of about 25-30 cm are laid in the ditch and connected to each other. In this case, each pipe should be led to a separate colostomy bag, above which there will be a slotted floor. The slope of the pipes towards the storage tank should be about 5-10 mm per 1 m of pipe, so that the manure moves independently along the highways to the storage tank. An air valve is installed on the other side of the entire manure disposal system. All drain pipes must be insulated, otherwise in winter the drain will stop working and the slatted floor will not function.

Pipe laying

Example of fastening drain necks

Step 4. A waterproofing layer is laid at the bottom of the pits, then a layer of reinforcement.

Laying reinforcement

Step 5. Formwork is constructed, the foundation is poured, and a concrete screed is formed.

Wooden formwork

Filling pits

Another photo of the process

Step 6. Slotted floor gratings are installed above the manure baths

They can be plastic, metal, concrete - it doesn’t matter, the principle is the same. Then the premises are equipped with pens for animals

In this case, plastic slatted floor gratings are used

Installation of gratings

Grille installation process

Photos of the process

Next, a storage facility is built into which all wastewater from the pigsty will be discharged. To do this, it is convenient to build something like a cesspool, and the smaller the farm, the smaller the storage volume can be. The simplest option is a tank in the ground, assembled from concrete rings, closed on top with a lid and with a concreted sealed bottom.

DIY manure storage device

You can create floor lathing with your own hands from metal. To do this, the metal sheet is cut into separate strips, from which a lattice will later be formed, which will cover the manure bath. The width of each strip is about 10 cm. It is worth remembering that pigs are clean animals, and subsequently the place on the floor where they sleep can be covered with boards - the pets will still go to the toilet only in the chosen place.

Slotted floors in pigsties

Materials and tools

So, what tools and materials might you need to make slatted floors yourself? The list will largely depend on what type of flooring is selected for installation in the pigsty.

Table. Materials, tools for installing slatted floors.

fittings

Construction of a pigsty

The material, depending on the type of floor, can be sheets of galvanized iron or metal sleepers that are welded together, thick boards, ready-made plastic or concrete modules of slatted floors. The last two can be purchased at a hardware store. If you decide to create metal floors, then you need to purchase a sheet with a thickness of at least 5 mm.

Creating slatted floors yourself is not that difficult. By and large, the main difficulty will only be to create a manure removal system. These are containers for collecting feces, pipes for transporting it to a storage tank. Wells must be equipped here, which will allow the pipes to be cleaned in case of blockage.

Example of a pigsty diagram

On a note! It is also very important to ensure waterproofing of both the foundation and colostomy bags. Livestock waste is a rather toxic mixture that poses a danger to the environment. Therefore, it is impossible to allow feces to fall on the ground.