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pinkcow · Joined: 26 Mar 2009 Posts: 30

we have a saddleback sow due this week, anybody have any advice about outside farrowing she lives outside in a shed, we have stables and can take her inside to do the business what about iron injections for piglets. thanks

sir. porky · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 59 Location: west of Ireland

Hi Pink cow,
it all depends on how large and warm your out door shelter is, our farrowing pens are 10ftx7ft and work very well we find the secret is plenty of straw , 2 full bales 3 or 4 days before the due date and let the sow do the rest. even if you only throw the straw in the enclosure she will take it in to her shelter and make a large and very organized nest to farrow in, we had one sow that would escape over her pen door to collect her own materials to nest with these included a quilt of the washing line,a full roll of electricity cable, a childs pram and much more. also do not atempt to move her to strange suroundings with in 1 week of farrowing this could upset her, by this time she has dicided where she will farrow, the less you upset her the better the results you will have. one last thing a sow with piglets will be very protective of her young and can be dangerous. i hope this will help you
Sir, porky