Pig gestation runs approximately 114 days — a helpful memory aid is "three months, three weeks, three days." Good preparation in the final week before the due date, and close attention through the first 48 hours of piglet life, makes the difference between a smooth farrowing and a stressful, loss-heavy one.

One to Two Weeks Before

  • Move the sow to her farrowing area to allow her time to settle before birth
  • Clean and disinfect the farrowing pen or crate thoroughly
  • Set up a piglet creep area — a warmer, separate space piglets can access but the sow cannot easily enter, significantly reducing crushing risk
  • Check and test any supplementary heating for the creep area (heat lamp or heat pad) — piglets cannot regulate body temperature well in their first one to two weeks
  • Stock clean, dry bedding (straw is standard and effective)
  • Reduce the sow's feed slightly in the final few days as natural appetite typically drops before farrowing

Supplies to Have On Hand

  • Clean towels for drying newborn piglets if needed
  • Iodine or similar for treating navel cords
  • Iron supplement (injectable, as advised by your vet) — sow's milk is naturally low in iron and piglets need supplementation, particularly without soil access
  • A heat lamp or other reliable heat source for the creep area
  • Your vet's contact details readily accessible — not just saved in a phone you may not have to hand in an emergency
  • A notebook or simple log to record piglet numbers, any complications, and treatment given

Signs Farrowing Is Imminent

Sows show clear behavioural changes as farrowing approaches: nesting behaviour (pushing bedding into a pile or "nest"), restlessness, a noticeable drop in feed intake in the final day or two, and sometimes mild udder development or milk let-down visible in the hours immediately before birth. These signs give a reasonably reliable window to ensure you're available and prepared.

During Farrowing

Most sows farrow without assistance, and the natural process should generally be allowed to proceed without unnecessary interference. However, stay nearby and watch for: prolonged straining without progress (more than 30–45 minutes of strong straining without a piglet arriving may indicate a problem requiring veterinary attention); a notably long gap between piglets (more than 45–60 minutes may warrant a check); and any piglet that appears stillborn or is not breathing — gently clearing the airway and rubbing vigorously can sometimes revive a piglet that appeared non-viable at birth.

The Critical First 24 Hours

Ensure every piglet nurses within the first few hours of life — colostrum intake in this window is critical for passive immunity, exactly as it is in other livestock species. In a large litter, watch for smaller or weaker piglets being out-competed at the udder; brief assistance guiding a struggling piglet to a teat can make a real difference to its survival.

Watch for crushing risk especially in the first 48 hours, when piglets are weakest and least able to avoid a sow lying down — a properly designed farrowing pen with a creep area piglets can retreat to substantially reduces this risk, which is one of the leading causes of piglet mortality in the first days of life.

Administer iron supplementation as advised by your vet, typically in the first few days of life. Monitor the sow for normal recovery — she should be eating and drinking normally within a day or so, alert, and showing normal mothering behaviour toward the litter. Any sow showing fever, reluctance to nurse the litter, or visible illness in the days following farrowing warrants prompt veterinary attention.

Weaning Planning

Begin planning for weaning (typically six to eight weeks in small-scale systems) well before it arrives — have weaner accommodation and a weaner-appropriate feed ration ready in advance, since this transition is a vulnerable period for piglets and a smooth, well-prepared weaning reduces setbacks in growth and health.