Need help with farrowing

[Becker]

Let me start off by saying I have never raised a pig in my life. I raise cattle and have been doing that my whole life. The other day I decided to buy so.e bred sows that are going to farrown in a week or so. I have them in the barn and I'm getting ready to separate them into a small 6x6 section to farrow in. I know the pigs need to be warm when they come out, but its currently winter here so that's not real easy. I have no heat in my barn either. I do have 55 gallon plastic drums that I thought I might set up right, cut a small hole at the bottom so the pigs can get in it. Im going to cut a hole in the top and mount a heat lamp at the very top of the barrel so that it should be pretty warm on the barrel. This is just a thought, does anyone know if it'll work? Do I put the pigs in it or will they just go towards the heat? How do I know if and when she going to farrow? I can't just sot at the barn all day and night . Thanks!!

 

[Gotpigs]

Are you putting the sows in farrowing creates ? Keep checking the sows tits for milk, when it's shooting out you know she close to pigin, piglets will be drawn to the light and warmth soon has they are born.

 

[multi power]

If you have no farrowing crate make a secure creep area for the piglets and put heat lamp there