[scruffbag]

We have 2 gilts and a boar, until now they have run together in one large pen, the plan was to split the pen in to 4 one for the boar (and sow when being serviced), 2 smallish pens for farrowing and a large fattening pen for the wearers which could if needs be be split. I'm now wondering if we need to split the girls up at farrowing or could they stay together if they had multiple houses to choose from, will they kill each others piglets? Would the boar kill piglets(I expect so). All the pigs are so friendly and social if I don't need to split them I won't. Any thoughts appreciated.

[Marches Farmer]

However happy together they may appear normally I'd issue one word of cautionn .....Hormones!

[oaklandspigs]

If you have multiple arks/housing, then normally a farrowing sow will choose an ark, and they other(s) will stick away whilst she has them. However after a few days the other pig(s) may move back in, and the risk of piglets being rolled on increases.  The boar will not kill then, in nature that happens when a foreign boar arrives, he kills any youngsters to bring the sow back into cycle so he can mate.  With sows he has lived with, he should be fine.

Now having said all that - it's not what I'd recommend you do.

I would separate the sow about a week before farrowing and let her have her own area so that you can be happy that other pigs won't move back in.

You can leave the boar with the other sow, that will keep him company, and alternating sows with him will give both sows and boar company, whilst only having sows on their own just before farrowing and with piglets until she weans.

[Fowgill Farm]

Ditto Oaklands comments.
Let each sow farrow in its own ark & area.
A note to say make sure your fences are strong between the boar and the sows when they farrow because as far as he's concerned she's fair game the minute she farrows and he scent drives them crackers. We had a boar next door to a sow that farrowed recently and we've had to move him as he was tryingto climb the fence into her pen! Naught boy
allthe best
Mandy
 

[Marches Farmer]

I like to settle the sows into their farrowing quarters three weeks before the due date if I can - the previous owner of our farm used to put them in the purpose-built farrowing shed three days before.  It must have worked very efficiently but he had problems with aggression towards the piglets which may have been down to the breed (British Landrance as opposed to our GOS) but .....

[Fowgill Farm]

I like to settle the sows into their farrowing quarters three weeks before the due date if I can - the previous owner of our farm used to put them in the purpose-built farrowing shed three days before.  It must have worked very efficiently but he had problems with aggression towards the piglets which may have been down to the breed (British Landrance as opposed to our GOS) but .....

Likewise i like mine to be in a week to ten days prior to first due date, time to worm and check them over and get prepared. Also spending time with the sow one to one helps if you have to go in at any time with her and the piglets, she learns to knw your smell and that you are friend not foe.
Mandy

[scruffbag]

Thanks everyone for you thoughts, we'll separate them up. Getting them used to us is not a problem my wife is the only person I know of who will sit and groom a pig with a hair brush for what feels like hours, they love it!