Author Topic: to heat or not? (Read 2376 times)

SuzyJ · « **on:** February 01, 2010, 12:17:23 pm »

Hi we have 6 piglets now 9 days old and doing well, mum is taking good care of them.

When they were born it was unfortunately the coldest weather on record here for around 5 years so they have been inside with a heat lamp as we were worried we might lose them - the temperatures were -22 degrees C but have now come up to around zero during the day and no lower than -9 at night.

Would it be best if we start trying to move the heat lamp further away from them or leave be until they're a bit older? They have plenty of straw to snuggle in.

gavo · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2010, 12:44:09 pm »

Personally i'd start moving the heat lamp away;mum will generate a huge amount of heat;and if they are feeding well they will snuggle up and stay warm .Do you plan to put them outside? They do need to lose the lamp if that is your plan.

SuzyJ · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2010, 12:51:50 pm »

They will eventually go outside, as soon as we can get some work done on a larger pig house and pen - the current weather is keeping us indoors next to the wood burner!

ukag0972 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:28:57 pm »

Gradually move the lamp higher! I have a lamp on when my pigs farrow as I feel you don't have as big a risk of squashed piglets! I move it higher every day till the piglets are 2 weeks old then switch it off.