Fri 4 May 2007
For some time we’ve been keeping pigs. They are “free range”, pastured porkers who contentedly while away their days in woodland glades rooting about for subterranean treats to compliment their diet of whey, organic greens, vegetables, bread and grains.
For sometime, I have been playing Gunga Din to them, hauling water from a nearby stream throughout the early spring. Now that summer is upon us however, I have come up with a solution which not only frees up my time, saves my back, and makes sure our 6 bacon factories have as much clean, fresh water as they need–The Pig Fountain.
The Pig Fountain is gravity fed from a water butt up the hill from the wooded pasture area the pigs occupy. It is made up largely of common plumbing parts and three universal hog nipples I purchased from a livestock supply company. The idea came to me at an Agricultural Youth Fair I attended several weeks ago where I saw some unique, home built, watering tubes in the corner of some of the Hog Barn stalls. That set me thinking, but it was a trip to the Building Supply store which finalized 
the form my Fountain took.
Once installed in the pen I was surprised how quickly the piglings took to it. I was sure I would have to coat the nipples in molasses or show them that water came out, but they found out quickly for themselves what it was all about. I haven’t had to worry since. Neither have I had to worry about them mucking about with it either. The pigs seem content to leave it alone except to drink out of it. Hopefully they won’t turn to anger should it ever run dry. So far 6 of them have drunk 50 gallons in 5 days which is about on track and will leave me filling the tank once every week.
The other great factor is that it is completely portable so as I move the pigs through the wood the fountain comes with. My little buddies also don’t seem as motivated to break out of the fence as often either. . . .But I do think they may miss the watering tub they had previously been able to splash around in. Perhaps before the stream dries up in midsummer I’ll make them a mud wallow.
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January 20th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
The piglets look great. I’m always amazed at how much pigs drink! Ours have automated drinkers, which aren’t portable, a real bonus to your method. Sometimes our pigs love to play with their water, they put their snouts deep into the basin and blow bubbles!
March 19th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
what a great setup! I’m hear by way of Walter’s - fascinated to see the pics and read about it. No pigs for me yet, but soon….