Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-09-04


The variety Of hog houses is almost
as great as the variety Of individuals
using them. 1t is rare, indeed, to
find even a semblance Of uniformity
prevailing in a community. There
are, however, only two or three gen.
eral types which commend themselves
to the careful hog man. Of the two
styles of large houses, the larger has
two rows of pens, an alley through the
middle, and jog in the roof for win
dows to light the north pens, while the
smaller has but one row Of pens, with
an alley and row Of windows on the
south side The double house is much
cheaper per pen, and for that reason
is to be preferred. Less work is also
required to care for the hogs than
where a single row of pens is used,
says the United States department of
agriculture.
Probably the cheapest house posi-
BILE is a low building with a single
row Of pens and no alley, but such
a house is much less convenient, espe-
cially in stormy weather.
A large hog house should always
stand east and west, facing the south,
so that the maximum amount of sun
shine may be had in each pen. When
a double house is used, which Is much
the cheapest, the outside pens on the
north are often of little use in early
spring and late fall on account Of the
shade and the cold winds. This diff
Guilty can be partially overcome by
changing sows SO that those which
have not narrowed and those with the
oldest pigs, which have least need Of
warm outside pens, are on the north
side.
In the majority of large hog houses
the upper windows are not SO placed
that the sunshine will strike the floor
when it is most needed there. Indeed,
hog house with the windows in the
proper position is rarely seen. Direct
sunshine should strike the floor in
every pen for as many hours in the
day as possible at the time when the
pigs are narrowed. Nearly every one
realizes this is matter of the great
est Importance, but too often the build
er does not take the trouble to find
out whether he is getting it or not.
Ordinarily the farmer has no means
of ascertaining where to put the win
dows so as to get the maximum
amount of sunshine at the time he
wants it, unless he happens to be
building just at that time, which is
very unusual. The country Is dotted
with hog houses in which the owner
thought he was putting the windows
where he wanted them, but found
later they were in the wrong place.
Whether the large house with indi-
vidual pens is better than the indi-
vidual cot is an open question, per-
haps largely matter Of individual
preference. Each has it's distinct ad-
vantages which can not be secured in
the other Many of the best hog
raisers are now providing themselves
with both types Of houses, and this
seems to be the most satisfactory
the long run, for all the buildings can
be kept in use the year round. In such
cases the larger houses are used for
narrowing quarters, and as soon as
the pigs are week or two old, or as
soon as the weather permits, the sows
and filters are removed to the individ-
ual cots. During the remainder of the
year the large houses are utilized for
sleeping quarters.
The small cot has the advantage of
keeping each SOW from being dis
turbed by the others, and lessons the
danger from contagious and infectious
diseases. The disturbance in a large
house, however, is usually not seri-
GUS matter, and is often unduly en-
phasized. After the pigs get lit
tie start there is usually more or less
robbing where many are together.
The individual cot lessons this trou-
BILE. When the surroundings become
insanitary, the cot can easily be moved
to clean place.
Probably the greatest disadvantage in
the cot is the large amount Of work
S1quired to tend the stock. This is
matter Of no small Importance. There
are usually no windows, SO there is no
sunshine or light when the roof door
is closed. There is, however, no rea-
son why windows and ventilation
should not be provided. The open
roof which is commonly used places
the pigs in more danger of being
chilled by cold winds and sudden