A 10'X12' pen would be to small for 4 butcher weight pigs and would encourage a lot of fighting/bickering, not to mention cleaning it or keeping it clean would be almost impossible. You would need to build a second pen to move the pigs to so you could clean the first pen as there simply would not be enough space to safely clean with 4 pigs in there with you.
You want 20sqft per pig if your going to have a slat floor and gutters etc for waste..so 2 pigs would be 40sqft and 4 pigs would be 80sqft this comes out to be 8'X5' for 2 pigs and 8'x10ft for 4 pigs. This is the size alloted for sows to farrow in in the new style farrowing crates and is the minimum space needed...this is however not how you want to raise meat pigs, you want them to be able to move around more. For meat pigs i would recommend at least double this size on one side which would be 8'x10' or 16'x5'(80sqft) for 2 pigs and 32'x5' or 8'x20'(160sqft) for 4 pigs plus taking into account your ability to clean the pen and the area feeders and waters will take up.
Our pig stalls are 8'X12' and we keep two butcher pigs per stall. We could actually use a smaller stall for just two butcher pigs but we breed pigs as well so we have large stalls for farrowing. When we get the stalls on the other side of the barn done the butcher pigs stalls will be 8'x10' again for 2 butcher pigs per stall. Our pens need to be cleaned approx every 2 weeks and they do not stink.
2 butcher pigs - 80SQFT this can be 8'x10', 16'x5', 11'x7.25'
3 butcher pigs - 120SQFT this can be 10'x12'
4 butcher pigs - 160SQFT this can be 32'x5' , 8'x20', 12'x13.25'
You can use any measurements you like but keep in mind most of these will still require another area you can put the pigs in so you can clean the pen. Alternatively you could make a small shelter and a larger pasture area..the pigs will use the bathroom outside greatly reducing the need to clean the inside pen. If your going to provide pasture space the inside shelter space can be as small as 8'x8' for 2 pigs and 10'x10' or 8'x12.5' for 4 pigs. If your looking at those numbers thinking i made a mistake, i didnt and yes i said 8'x8' for 2 pigs. It all has to do with pig space and the general rule is no matter how few pigs you have you need an 8ft long space because that is the length a pig can comfortably lay down in, at butcher weight 250-300lbs.
If you wanted to do a pasture and hut system thats easy to maintain and clean you could make a hut per pig that is 8'x4'x4', the pig enters and exits on the 4' side usually. For two pigs you could do 8'x8'x4' but i would make a hinged roof so you can lift the roof to clean the hut and save your back. Huts and pasture work great for meat pigs, the poo stays outside. i know one farmer who uses nothing but huts and only needs to clean them once every 3 months and thats only in case of parasites. He uses dirt floors with hay or straw for bedding.
Electric fence works really really well for pigs btw and is pretty cheap to put in a "big" pasture. The larger their pasture the more forage they can find which saves you on feed.
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Selecting the right material and post spacing for your fence is almost as important as choosing the proper fence style. Check out our blog “The Right Post: The Foundation for a Solid, Long-Lasting Fence” to learn more about post possibilities. Remember, the proper combination of brace and line posts is an essential component for a fence’s durability and longevity. Once you have the right posts, it’s time to space them properly. So, how far apart should line posts be set?
Most fence posts can be spaced 8 to 12 feet apart. While this is a general criteria, it doesn’t cover all scenarios. For instance, high tensile fence can have larger spacing, requiring line posts every 15 to 20 feet for field fence styles, and as much as 20-30 feet for high tensile barbed and smooth wire. Check out this simple table to find your fence’s recommended spacing.
Let’s take a square 40-acre pasture. This pasture calls for exactly one mile of fence. Using the above rule of thumb, posts can be spaced anywhere from 8 to 12 feet apart. Generally, a successful structure will have five steel t-posts to one wooden post.
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Spacing the posts 8 feet apart will require 660 posts. On the other hand, a 12-foot spacing requires 440 posts. A total difference of 220 posts is significant when looking at cost of materials and labor.
The primary benefit of tighter spacing is added security. By increasing the number of line posts, you are increasing the amount of support your fence has. This also decreases future maintenance, as there are more points of contact for the fence to brace itself against impact. In the short term, a larger spacing decreases labor and material costs. For temporary fencing, increased spacing may be the best solution.
Consider this: a 20-year-old mare and her pasture pals probably won’t need the same tight spacing as a lone stallion. And, a substantial herd of cattle will put more pressure on a field fence than a few lingering, docile calves. Therefore, talk to your Red Brand dealer to make sure your posts are spaced properly for the animals you are containing.
While there is no such thing as over protection, a Red Brand dealer is the most qualified person to assess your animals’ needs, and what spacing is best for your farm. Find a dealer near you at our website.
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