Dirt Nest
I’ve mentioned how sows build nests before. Some of straw, some of sticks, some of stones. This sow built hers from soil. Cool soil to soak off her body heat in the warm summer days.
While the nest looks like a crater it isn’t actually all that deep, about 4″ down and 7′ across. She scooped soil from the middle up to the edges to create a rim. While she was farrowing this helped to route piglets back towards her. Once a sow goes into the farrowing trance she pays no attention to the piglets. They pop out and she just lies there pushing. At least that is how it works with a good sow.
Mahogany actually built two nests about 25′ apart. Perhaps she wanted a backup or more likely she just has very strong nesting instincts. In a confinement operation this would come out as bar biting and vandalism but out on pasture it shows up as building nests, ripping down some brush in the area and good mothering instincts.
Outdoors: 86°F/66°F Sunny
Tiny Cottage: 69°F/65°F
Daily Spark: Crazy people do crazy things. Some of them survive. It can be hard to tell who’s crazy, who’s lucky and who’s skilled.
