The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-04-02

In order to give the pigs the right
kind of a start in life, they must be
born under good conditions. If the
brood sows can have their way they
will slip off to the woods when ready
to farrow, pile up lot Of leaves at
the side Of stump or in fence cor
ner and here the pigs will be born in
the open air. This procedure is all
right in warm weather, but in the
spring when cold, wet weather pre-
walls much of the time, large loss
is sustained when the pigs come amid
such surroundings, writes w. F. Pur-
due in Successful Farming. Hogs are
so poorly protected by nature against
the cold that warm, dry quarters are
a necessity for the sows that farrow
early in the season, or so many Of
the pigs will be lost that most of the
profit Is gone in the beginning. The
loss of young pigs every spring is
enormous, though it is largely pre-
ventable. All farmers who are wait
ing until they are able to build a fine,
big hog house, with all modern con-
veniences, are making mistake.
These men should do the best they
can at once and provide such shelter
The portable type of narrowing
house has rapidly come into favor
lately, even with those who are we'll
able to provide more expensive quar-
tiers. The A-shaped building is very
serviceable type of the portable house
that commends itself to many farm.
ers who are engaged in the hog bust
ness on a large scale. 1t is warm at
all seasons and it may easily be kept
in sanitary condition. Two men
can move it to a new location in
few minutes and thus it does not be-
come infested with rats or hog house
smells. The stopping and feeding are
always done outside. hence the floor
never becomes wet and filthy. These
houses are just the thing for nervous
sows, as they can be located SO as to
be out of the hearing of other sows
and pigs.
For the man who rents, the portable
house is very advantageous, since it
can be readily moved. He can we'll
afford to construct portable houses at
his own expense, If his landlord will
not provide them, since he can retain
them as personal property when he
moves. These houses need not cost
much. One can be made out of good
materials for from four to five dollars.
Any farmer who can handle hammer
and saw with any degree Of skill at
all, can construct these buildings dur
ing spare time and thus save the
large wages demanded by carpenters.
Houses 6 by feet at the base are
large enough for young sows, while
they should be made 6 by s feet for
the large sows. Floors are not essen
tial If the houses are located on a
high, dry site that provides perfect
drainage. In cold weather swinging
door should be provided; a piece of
heavy canvas may be used for this
purpose. There is an opening for VEN
tilation at the back of the house.
The sows should be placed in their
individual quarters at least a week
before due to farrow, in order that
they may become accustomed to their
new surroundings. Quietness and but
little feed are needed by the SOW for
the first "a hours after farrowing;
water with the chill removed and a
little middlings stirred in it is all that
she needs in any case 1t is not de-
sirable to start the milk of the SOW
too rapidly, as it might be more than
the little pigs would need, and if it
is not all drawn out of the udder it is
liable to congest and cause trouble
not only to the SOW but to the pigs
1t requires caution, therefore, in the
start not to push the SOW with feed
that will start the milk too rapidly
II the litter is small one, more time
should be taken in getting the SOW on
full feed than otherwise But the de
mands of the pigs will increase ever,
day and it will not be long until they
will be able to take about all the
milk their mother will furnish from
the best quality of feed. Care mus
be taken not to overfeed.
A practical method of feeding SOW
with young pigs Is to allow her a
regular times, night and morning
just what she will eat perfectly clear
and still want little more. Thi
method of feeding will retain tn,
sow's appetite and keep her in a goo,
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