The average family hog farm is about 2,100 square feet. This includes the living quarters for the pigs, the pens, and the farrowing area. The average farm has between four and six pigs. The sows are usually kept in separate pens from the boars and other male pigs. The reason for this is to prevent fighting and aggression. Farrowing is the process of giving birth to piglets. A sow will have a litter of between six and twelve piglets. The gestation period for a sow is three months, three weeks, and three days. On average, a hog will live for six years. However, commercial farms often butcher hogs before they reach this age. Family hog farms typically sell their pork directly to consumers or to local restaurants and butcher shops.