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pigs

Baby pigs and heat

John F Dean

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My KuneKune sow fell in love in Sept and decided to deliver last week. Amazingly, things have gone well. At what age can I wean the babies away from the heated pen? Of course, this begs tons of related concerns … such as how long can they go outside at what temp?

In my area people start talking about the weather being cold when the temp hits 32f. So, for the sake of discussion, let’s assume a day temp of 35f and overnight at 20f.

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Cj Picker

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Great post. Getting in here for responses.

John F Dean

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Hi CJ,

Of course, I am running on the side of caution until proven otherwise. Right now mom and the kids are in a nice warm pen with a heat lamp and an electric heater.

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Cj Picker

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John F Dean wrote:Hi CJ,

Of course, I am running on the side of caution until proven otherwise. Right now mom and the kids are in a nice warm pen with a heat lamp and an electric heater.

I'm honestly hoping I can time everything to where I never need electric. I'm on grid but I want everything operable off grid.

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Do a search for “pasture farrowing”. I know some people do it, but I have never really looked into it.

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John F Dean

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I have multiple pens as well. However, love was in the air. The boar smashed through 2 fences. This is the second time this has happened. The first was woven fence. The second was woven fence and steel roofing panels. I will probably add electric fence to the boars pen this time around.

I know it was a typo, but so as not to confuse any newby reading this …that is 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days.

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S Philomena

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We have had over 450 piglets born in the last few years. I have never used supplemental heat (except for two litters that got an initial warm-up with hot water, then blown dry, but we lost most of them anyway) -- but we do have a fairly high squish rate (especially in the winter). I think there is a balance to strike. The more you leave to nature, the more you have to accept some losses. I had a farmer tell me that in the wild there is a 5% survival rater (of piglets) -- so anything higher that that is success!

May God bless you!
Sister Maria Philomena

John F Dean

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Hi S,

While I have raised pigs for a few years, I am small scale. …one boar and sow. The last time I was in this situation, I kept the pen heated for 2 weeks. Then for the next 2 weeks I had the heat lamp available (currently, I have a heat lamp and a small electric heater. I will probably continue with this approach. The Permie community is a pretty experienced and creative group, so I am always eager to hear their input. Even if I don’t use their ideas immediately, it is more knowledge to file away for future use.

The babies are now around 5 days old, so they are experienced enough not to get squished. I am concerned about keeping them warm enough (fortunately, for them, we are having unusually warm weather). They are laying well away from the heat lamp, and they seem to know the rails around the pen will protect them from momma. I am now letting momma out for a couple of hours a day to stretch her legs. If I want her to return, I pick up one of the babies, it squeals, and she comes at full gallop.

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Matt McSpadden

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Hi John,
I have never raised pigs (though it is on my list to do), but I just wondered if you could let the mom and piglets choose? Pigs are pretty smart. Could you give them access to a "cold pen" and the "hot pen" and let them wander back and forth? Maybe access to where mom is stretching her legs as well as the "hot pen"? I know with chickens when they get cold they go back to the warmth. Would pigs do the same?

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S Philomena

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Absolutely. That is what they do when the heat is their mother . . . or if you put a heat lamp in the corner.

May God bless you!
Sister Maria Philomena

John F Dean

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Hi Matt,

In a general sense, you are correct. But there are other elements to consider. The problem is the purpose my question is from a different angle. Start with the idea that in my area feeder pigs sell for about $100.00. Kunekunes, female, sell for about $550.00. Males sell for a couple of hundred less. So, to make this simple if a litter of eight I would have 4 females and 4 males (it never works out that simple). The 4 females and one male would be sold ….so total about $2500.00. I would castrate 3 males and raise them for myself. The idea I am trying to present is more is at stake than when raising regular pigs. Losing one female is expensive.

It is also important to keep mother comfortable. So, her pen is lightly insulated and has an electric heater for her as well as a lamp for the babies. Electric heat costs $$$. So, I am trying to find the balance of providing the best possible care for mom and the kids and not needlessly throwing money away. In warm weather, a simple heat lamp for 8 to 14 days or so would address the issue. In colder weather, there simply needs to be a warmer setting than a heat lamp will provide. And with that comes the schedule to taper off on the heat.

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Matt McSpadden

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Hi John,
Please forgive me if this comes out wrong. As I said, I have never raised pigs before.

In my theoretical situation, I would want to keep the boar separate to plan when the pigs would be born, so they are born in warmer weather. I would also want a mother pig who needs the least amount of care. As you say, it costs money to pamper, but losing a piglet is also costly. I would think breeding in the resiliency would be helpful long term.

John F Dean

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You are perfectly correct in your reasoning. In reality, sometimes the pigs have other plans. Love can be a powerful force.

I know of several pig farmers who have given up on keeping their pigs separate. That solves some problems and creates others. As for myself, I am hard headed. I am running an electric fence around the boar enclosure (making a triple layer). I suspect we can flip a coin to determine if the boar will charge through it or not. If you are interested in raising pigs, keep in mind that Kunekunes are regarded as one of the less troublesome breeds. I agree with this observation. Other than the boars habit of smashing through anything keeping him from his lady, all the Kunes respect fencing, do a minimum Of rutting, and come at a gallop when I call them.

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Matt McSpadden

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If you are interested in raising pigs, keep in mind that Kunekunes are regarded as one of the less troublesome breeds.

Good to know :)

I have been eying the American Guinea Hogs (especially since there is a farm about 30 minutes away that has some) which are reported to be fairly low key as well. I will have to add KuneKune to my list of possibilities.

John F Dean

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The American Guineas seem to be a good choice as well. Do remember that all things are relative. While I find my Kunes much easier to raise than a more standard breed, they are not without headaches.

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Matt McSpadden

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John F Dean wrote:The American Guineas seem to be a good choice as well. Do remember that all things are relative. While I find my Kunes much easier to raise than a more standard breed, they are not without headaches.

From my research, I don't think there is such a thing as a headache free pig :) Haha.

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