Carla D-Great new adventures and an Amazing Life

luvmypets

Herd Master
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
2,812
Reaction score
4,887
Points
413
Someone I follow on instagram has a really nice setup in her barn. I messaged her for some pictures, but basically its a piece of wood that blocks off one of the corners. It blocks the heat lamp from the sow and is slightly raised so the babies can get in and not have to be concerned with the sow laying on them.

Im terrible at describing things, but I will get a picture to you ASAP.
 

Latestarter

Novice; "Practicing" Animal Husbandry
Golden Herd Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11,384
Reaction score
17,481
Points
623
Location
NE Texas
I can picture exactly what you describe @luvmypets just from what you posted. You close off a triangle area, in a corner of the "stall"/area where sow and piglets are. You use a solid material such as heavy plywood that the sow can't break through. You place the heat lamp up over the top of this enclosed area where the sow can't get to it but where it will heat the created triangular area for the piglets. You have this partition high enough off the ground that the piglets can go right under it to enjoy the heat provided. And secured to the stall well enough that the sow can't get her snout under it and rip it off the wall. Very nice idea/plan.
 

Carla D

True BYH Addict
Joined
Oct 26, 2018
Messages
874
Reaction score
1,332
Points
233
Location
Wilson, Wi
Sorry for your loss. It can be hard when you become attached to the animals. Regarding providing heating, have you considered mounting heat lamps overhead so that the sows can't reach them?
That is a thought.but it would need to be at least 5’ off the ground. One of our sows got really good at putting her front end on 34” wall on the inside of the barn. Would a light that far off the ground provide any heat for the babies below? Especially in a -5 to 10 degree barn. I think we will be lucky to 20+ degree days until spring.
 

Carla D

True BYH Addict
Joined
Oct 26, 2018
Messages
874
Reaction score
1,332
Points
233
Location
Wilson, Wi
I can picture exactly what you describe @luvmypets just from what you posted. You close off a triangle area, in a corner of the "stall"/area where sow and piglets are. You use a solid material such as heavy plywood that the sow can't break through. You place the heat lamp up over the top of this enclosed area where the sow can't get to it but where it will heat the created triangular area for the piglets. You have this partition high enough off the ground that the piglets can go right under it to enjoy the heat provided. And secured to the stall well enough that the sow can't get her snout under it and rip it off the wall. Very nice idea/plan.
I think that is what my husband has in mind to do.
 

Carla D

True BYH Addict
Joined
Oct 26, 2018
Messages
874
Reaction score
1,332
Points
233
Location
Wilson, Wi
I am not a fan of farrowing crates; that said , the idea that they use, is for the piglets to get out away from the mother and into an area that is heated, then go back to the sow for feeding/nursing. That is what you need, a separate section that the little ones can get into that has the heat and she can't reach. Needs to be off the "floor" enough they can scoot under and go "lounge" in the warmer section. Actually can use the crate idea, with the pigs able to go in it, and not the sow. And yes, it needs to be made so she CAN'T get to the light, or tear it up or tip it over.
We personally didn’t like using the crates. I’m trying to come up with an idea where the sows can be in their crate for 7-10 days. But then give her the space that she can move around in after that. It could be as simple as using a tractor to lift out one side of the crate out of there. They do serve a very practical purpose. I do understand that. This last spring we used them because we didn’t have any other setup created. This winter/fall we used parts of the crate to try and replicate a safe zone for piglets. Our sows had other ideas. Because we used a dirt floor and not concrete, those old brats decided to excavate and rearrange their areas. It may be that we did things completely wrong, the stalls could have been made a bit smaller.in the spring I do know we will be leveling out the floor in the barn and pouring concrete. That will also make it much easier to clean and sanitize after each use. Personally I’d like to use barn lye and whitewash the walls with every use. The stalls are pretty big. We could possibly use the space of two stalls and make three slightly smaller stalls with a little bit more thought put into them. The concrete floor is a must though. We gotta control the excavating in the stalls. They make “nests” for themselves to lay in. But their babies end up in there underneath the sow and “bye bye baby”
 

farmerjan

Herd Master
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Messages
10,195
Reaction score
38,742
Points
748
Location
Shenandoah Valley Virginia
No, you would not have the light 5 ft above the babies. The light can hang down into the SOW PROOF corner pen to a height of say 2 ft or so above the piglets. Yes the sides will have to be high enough she can't get over. The bottom will have to be low enough she can't get her head under. But if it is sow proof, you hang the light to where the piglets are a comfortable temp. In a couple weeks they won't need it or you can raise it up higher to where they can't reach it.
 

Carla D

True BYH Addict
Joined
Oct 26, 2018
Messages
874
Reaction score
1,332
Points
233
Location
Wilson, Wi
No, you would not have the light 5 ft above the babies. The light can hang down into the SOW PROOF corner pen to a height of say 2 ft or so above the piglets. Yes the sides will have to be high enough she can't get over. The bottom will have to be low enough she can't get her head under. But if it is sow proof, you hang the light to where the piglets are a comfortable temp. In a couple weeks they won't need it or you can raise it up higher to where they can't reach it.
Thank you for explaining that. My head hasn’t been working very well since NYE morning. Some nasty bug has claimed our family at this time.
 
Top