A Winter of Baby Pigs

I'm just starting my blog, so I thought I'd catch you up with happenings on the farm in the last few months. This winter we were busy with baby pigs. The sows (mama pigs) are kept outside until they are ready to have their baby pigs. You can see the snow on the ground. We move the sows inside because on our farm it would be too cold for the babies outside. The next picture is my daughter washing the sow. Since the sow was outside, we need to get any mud off her udders so the babies can nurse in a clean environment.

The pregnant sows are kept outside

Washing the sows' underline before she has the babies.

 

 

 

 

 

We have the sows in a farrowing crate. When the baby pigs are born, they only weigh about 2 pounds. The sow weighs over 400 pounds. The crates give the babies room to move away from the mama pig where she can't step on them. If we didn't do this, we would lose about half of the babies. In the corners of the pen we have heating lamps. This is a place where the babies can get extra warmth. That also helps the sow keep cool. When the babies are first born, we want them to have a place to go that is 90 degrees. But that is MUCH too hot for a working mother! The warming corner lets the babies stay extra warm while giving the sow the rest she needs. These babies are so comfy that they fell asleep!

Babies nurse while the sows rests. The babies have a warming lamp in the corner
where the can get away from the sow's feet.

This baby fell asleep while eating!