CHAPTER V. 



LITTLE PIGS. 



// seems to me that the juniors always do best when neither 

 coddled, pampered, overfed nor underfed, but just have a fair 

 chance to take care of themselves. Dorothy Tucker. 



When the pigs are twenty- 

 four hours old let the sow out 

 into the air and sun for a little 

 exercise. If the weather is 

 cold a blanket may be needed 

 over the young things while 

 the dam is aosent. As the 

 pigs get older let the sow's 

 time for exercise be gradually increased. 



Young pigs, especially first litters, must be jeal- 

 ously guarded against cold. Early litters should be 

 born in closely-built and protected structures, though 

 even a tight building may be so roomy as to be unsafe. 

 In this case throw up a temporary floor or scaffold, 

 and cover it deeply with straw, so as to make a warm 

 compartment for the sow and her pigs. They will 

 need such shelter until the pigs are eight weeks old. 



As a rule, March first is early enough for a litter 

 to arrive in the Northern states, especially if the sow be 

 green or immature. September is a good time for 

 autumn litters. 



