I'm trying to set up a space for my kids' 4-H/FFA pigs, and I'm considering pouring a concrete slab (4" x 10' x 10'). I want to keep them from digging up my yard and prefer to avoid the costs of a pro installation. Is this a project that I along with a few friends could tackle over a weekend or two, including all the prep work?
3 Answers
Honestly, raising pigs on concrete isn’t the best idea. Pigs love to root around and if they’re stuck on a slab, it could really stress them out. Maybe consider giving them a dirt area instead—it's better for their health and also turns into great fertilized land for your garden!
I’ve poured a smaller slab, and it turned out to be much more demanding than I initially thought. Make sure you have a good plan, and if you can, hire a concrete truck for delivery. Mixing by hand was exhausting, and you want to avoid that sloppy finish from working against time. Also, remember that thicker slabs might be better for pigs since they’re heavy!
If you’re committed to pouring a slab, it's going to be some serious work. For a slab that size, you're looking at mixing about 2.25 tons of concrete. Expect to spend 9 hours of hard work on this. For a beginner, it’s probably best to split the job across two weekends. Also, definitely rent a concrete vibrator to help with the quality of your slab—it makes a significant difference!
That sounds like a heavy workload! Last time I did something like that, I wished I had rented a motorized mixer. It made a huge difference.
100% agree! Plus, they’ll naturally fend off rodents that might be lurking around.