By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Mastering these skills will help you create safe, efficient, and sustainable pig housing that supports healthy pig production and a successful farming career.
Compiled by: Wesley Kimutai
Constructing pig structures is a foundational skill for animal production professionals in Kenya, directly affecting pig welfare, productivity, and farm biosecurity. Properly built pig housing safeguards animals from harsh weather, predators, and disease, while facilitating efficient feeding, waste management, and breeding operations. This chapter focuses on the essential tools, equipment, and materials used in constructing durable and functional pig structures suited to diverse Kenyan farm settings.
Construction of pig housing combines manual skills with the right choice of tools, equipment and materials. On Kenyan smallholder and commercial pig farms, a good choice lowers construction cost and later maintenance, and it gives the pigs a dry, safe and easy-to-clean house. A pig farm technician needs to know what each tool does, which machine suits the size of the job, and which material suits each part of the pen.
Hand and power tools let the builder measure, cut, fasten and finish the framework, roof and fittings of a pig house. The table lists the main tools a technician uses when building pig pens.
| Name | Specification | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Hammer | Claw hammer with a steel head and a hardwood or fibreglass handle | Driving and pulling nails when fixing roof timbers and pen partitions |
| Screw drivers | Flat-head and cross-head tips of several sizes | Fixing and removing screws on hinges, latches and feeder fittings |
| Tape measures | Steel pocket tape and a long tape for setting out | Measuring pen sizes, timber lengths and the building layout |
| Level | Spirit level with a bubble vial | Checking that floors, walls and troughs are level and upright |
| Saw | Hand saw, hacksaw and power saws | Cutting timber, plywood, metal pipes and rods |
| Drill | Corded or cordless drill with wood, metal and masonry bits | Making holes and driving screws in wood, metal and masonry |
| Pliers | Combination, long-nose and wire-cutting types | Gripping, bending and cutting wire mesh and fencing wire |
| Chisel | Wood chisel and cold chisel | Cutting joints in timber and chipping masonry or metal |
A hammer drives nails and removes them. The claw hammer is widely used for pen construction, because its head drives the nail and its claw pulls out bent nails. A heavier sledgehammer drives fence posts, and a mallet taps a chisel without damaging it. A farm builder selects a hammer that is comfortable to swing and keeps the handle tight in the head.
Screw drivers turn screws into timber and metal. A flat-head driver fits slotted screws and a cross-head driver fits cross-slot screws. The tip must fit the screw head exactly, otherwise the head is chewed and the screw cannot be removed later. Screws hold gates, hinges and feeder fittings better than nails where parts must be taken apart for repair.
A tape measure gives lengths of timber, pen sizes and distances between posts. A short steel tape is enough for timber work. A long tape is used to set out the building on the site, so that the corners are placed correctly before digging starts. Reading the tape twice before cutting avoids wasted timber.
A level shows whether a surface is horizontal or a post is upright. The spirit level has a sealed vial with a bubble that rests between two lines when the surface is level. In a pig house the level checks the foundation, the wall courses and trough positions. The pen floor itself is built with a slight slope towards the drain, so the level is used to set that slope accurately and not to make the floor flat.
Saws vary by function and cutting mechanism, and the right saw improves speed and finish.
Hand saw with handle and serrated blade (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Proper use and care of saws extend their life and keep the user safe.
Drills make holes and drive screws in wood, metal and concrete, which is needed when assembling pig pens and fixing fittings.
Effective drilling depends on correct use and upkeep.
Pliers grip, bend and cut. Combination pliers handle general gripping and wire cutting. Long-nose pliers reach into narrow spaces. Fencing pliers are used with wire mesh and fencing wire to cut, pull and fasten strands around pen frames. Insulated handles are needed where pliers are used near electrical fittings.
A chisel cuts away material to shape a joint or an opening. A wood chisel is struck with a mallet to cut joints in timber frames and door posts. A cold chisel, struck with a hammer, chips masonry and cuts metal. The cutting edge must be kept sharp, and the user should wear eye protection because chips fly off.
Equipment is heavier plant and machinery that does work too large or too heavy for hand tools. On many smallholder farms a pig house is built by hand and with a few light machines. A large commercial unit with many pens may hire heavier machines for a short time, because buying them would cost more than the job saves.
A bulldozer clears bush, levels uneven ground and shapes the site before building starts. Its front blade pushes soil to form a flat platform for the pig house, with a gentle fall that moves rain water away from the building. It may be hired by the day, because it is used only at the start of the project.
A crane lifts and places heavy items that workers cannot raise safely by hand, such as steel roof trusses, prefabricated panels or large water tanks on a raised stand. A trained operator is needed, and the load must stay within the crane's rated capacity. Workers stand clear of the load while it is lifted.
A dump truck carries bulk materials to the site and tips them where they are needed: sand, ballast, quarry dust, hardcore for the floor base and excavated soil. Tipping saves hours of loading and offloading by hand. The driver must tip on firm, level ground to avoid the truck overturning.
A concrete mixer blends cement, sand, ballast and water into uniform concrete for foundations, floors and walls. A uniform mix gives a stronger and more durable pig pen than mixing on the ground by hand.
A forklift lifts and moves loads on pallets, such as stacked blocks, bags of cement and bundles of roofing sheets, from the delivery point to where they are used. It saves labour on large sites and reduces back injuries from manual lifting. Loads are carried low, and the machine is driven only by a trained operator on firm ground.
Wheelbarrows and trolleys move small loads of concrete, sand and blocks where machines cannot reach, such as inside a half-built pen.
Working at height during roofing or wall building needs safe scaffolding and ladders.
Where mains electricity is unreliable, a generator powers electric tools and lighting during construction.
Materials influence the durability, cost and welfare of the pigs in a pig house. Kenyan farmers balance availability, price and performance, and choose surfaces that resist moisture, can be washed and do not injure the pigs.
Cement is the binder that holds sand and ballast together as concrete, mortar and plaster. Ordinary Portland cement is sold in 50 kg bags. Bags are stored on a raised wooden platform in a dry room and stacked a short height, so that moisture does not turn the cement hard in lumps. Old stock is used first, and any bag with hard lumps is not used for structural work.
Sand is the fine aggregate that fills the spaces between the larger stones in concrete and makes mortar workable. Clean, sharp sand free of clay, silt, salt and plant material gives strong concrete. Dirty sand weakens the mix and may cause cracks. The load is checked on delivery, and sand is stored on a clean, hard surface so it does not mix with soil.
Blocks are the main walling material for permanent pig pens. They are laid in cement mortar, with joints staggered from course to course so that the load is shared. Walls of concrete or machine-cut stone blocks are strong, durable and easy to wash and disinfect. Wall thickness is chosen to suit the load and the height of the wall.
Quarry dust is the fine crushed rock left from stone quarrying. On construction sites it is used as a cheaper partial substitute for river sand in block making, in screeds and as a compacted layer under floors. It must be clean and free of soil. Used under the concrete floor of a pig house, a compacted layer of quarry dust gives an even base that drains well and reduces settling.
Concrete forms the foundations and floors of pig houses and sometimes the walls. It gives a sturdy surface that is easy to clean.
Timber is widely used for framing, roofing and pen partitions because it is available and easy to work.
The roof protects pigs from rain and heat and must allow good ventilation.
Fencing keeps pigs in and separates groups or age classes.
Rusty metal pipes on a beach construction site (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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Create a free accountThis chapter explored the essential tools, equipment, and materials required for constructing pig structures, highlighting the roles of saws, drills, and other necessary implements. It emphasized the importance of careful site selection to ensure optimal conditions for pig housing, considering factors such as drainage and accessibility. The construction process was detailed, focusing on building durable and functional pig structures that meet animal welfare standards. Maintenance practices were discussed to prolong the lifespan of the facilities and preserve a healthy environment for the pigs. The chapter also covered the systematic recording of construction and maintenance activities to support effective management and accountability. Finally, it addressed waste management strategies crucial for maintaining hygiene and reducing environmental impact around pig farms. Together, these topics provide a comprehensive understanding of constructing and sustaining pig housing facilities.
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