Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-01-24
THE FARM AND GARDEN.
Why sows Destroy their Young.

why Sows Destroy their Young.
The following seems sensible article on this
subject, and at this period of the year is de-
serving the attention of the farmer. 1t is from
a correspondent of The Homestead:
have always kept breeding sows, and in ear
ly life met with many vexatious losses from the
sows destroying their pigs. Common sense
told me that this must be caused by some treat |
ment by which man thwarted the designs of
nature, as in the natura! state, animals may BE-
left in safety to their instincts, of all which the
strongest is love for the young. This led me
to study hogs closely during the latter period
OF pregnancy, and watch all their ways up to
the time of pigging. l also noticed my neigh
bors' treatment of their breeding sows, and by
comparing results, l learned what caused this
danger, and how to guard against it.
CoStiueneSS and its accompanying eUitS are
the main cause Of So,cs destroying their young
and proper food is tie preventive and cure.
| have never known a sow to eat her pigs in
autumn, when running at large with plenty of
green food; but with hardly any exception, sows
littering early in the spring are troubled with
costiveness, which is frequently so severe as to
be accompanied by inhamed eyes, great rest
lessness, and other signs of suffering. This
restlessness sometimes increases till it amounts
to frenzy l have had them become so savage
as to attack me fiercey, though at other times
perfectly gehue' IL not stoppeu; thls iIeh|!
may increase WIN Tue pains Vi iaoar, anu tno
SOW VIII !neh uesttoy ner .ounS ~ a"I ~ o.n.i
tiveness, and this restessness and irritation will
be cured, and if she good-natured SOW
she will become quiet and gentle again.
GREEN FooD Is THE CURE.-As it is usually
scarce at this season you ought to provide for
the emergency by saving roots to feed them
rorher! useu Po'"'oes ioi 'nIS PuiPose' ou'
sillo1 'ne Po'a'1 ~. L. nav I Isl
gar oeets, anu Always nafe soihe on nan. "
Ieeu " I'll! SoNs ioI SEVERN weeHs oeloIe 'he!
oDale l'n ihes are 'e'{ iU"u VI mem aiu cav
tlen SleIu,.y ,am nan Pr; PIT VI no,e
M,eu W. ntt,e o'ii, oou WIZ 81" -,
u.n,D ,oD.n;nn ,oai $3.50, So t,,,n;na
will do but II NAV he necessary n boil them
and m;y them with other food If Won have no
roots Of onv kind Won must resort 70 sulnbur.
and o;ve n large tablosnoonfnI two or three
times week for several weeks before litterinp
Give also little charcoal occasionally. and al
WAYS be kind a gentle TO them. and thew will
never attempt to kill their nios
A common mistake is to move the SOW To an
other pen shortly before she litters. This is
very irritating to her. She should be separated
from the others and moved TO her new quarters
several weeks before her time is out. She must
he kent sheltered. and week before she litters
supplied with all the straw she will want which
will be better for being short. After this her
nest must not he molested. and she ought not
to be disturbed in any way. as it is the nature
of all animals to seek privacy at this period
Hogs are more true to their time than other an
imals. and rarely vary more than a day or two.
But if YOU want to be sure to lose YOUR pigs,
feed your SOW on corn and cob meal. This will
make her very costive fed without much other
food. Then when she is sick and feverish, and
consequently cross. irri,ate her vet more by
driving her from the nest she has 5gcome SO ac
customed to; then let the bows tease and abuse
her every day, and if the moor maddened animal
does not DESTROY her Young so fast as they are
born. it will not be YOUR fault.
tFrom tho Massachusetts pIorrhrorl
pDr,,,Tyc Srn,ns No,. 49, '' hoa ,.
:, ~ 49, az No., WIZ. nao oo.ie
NJ; ;' Gnu .no oHom ., .Ie s.ouliu,
,hn roIa TaLa hi; ~ o s,; o'eo ,, "
Wv "a ~ IN IL ~ - WV ''a'9 w
stahle ;s GOOD nlace ~ vol % the ,,a;r ~ Grs,
Here tboy should he nern,;tted ~ stond IN tbo
yoke for . number of hours in order that tbny
NO., rradnail,, hooon,a ,,aad 70 nov, ,os;,;a,
The s9sahIe Joor should bo ,y;Je ono~dh ~ 10,
,ho FL o''t .oro,ho. 81 - 49, W.
ha ,oIan in nc Gre, r,oran'ont w. ,,.a,o,,,
tbe;r obto;n;rg The o,storv IIso iben, fh;nd,
h,, al ,,,aans b., 10. H., ~ nn n," ~
H. a., o, ~, 's umo" ,hS a. o'oe '''.
d noy are Tp po ~ run amy, 'nouSn ,ney ARE OUT
uooie' ine 'iue 'e''et VI managing your cat