Piglets born at TnF Farms
We have a couple of sows that are pregnant at TnF Farms. One is our registered American Guinea hog sow and the other is unregistered. The unregistered American Guinea hog has been expected to go first. To our surprise, early this morning, she released her hostages. “Minnie” is a very stout female with short, stubby legs. When she’s not being instinctually protective of her babies, she is a sweetheart. When this particular sow is in the final stages of her pregnancy, she almost drags her teats on the ground.
Once our sows are close to giving birth, we separate them from the herd into one of our farrowing pens. We’ve been pleased overall with the offspring she’s had in the past. This litter of 2 female and 3 male piglets should be no different. Her piglets have been very healthy and grow into muscular linebackers that integrate well into our herd.
3 month, 3 week, 3 day pregnancies
American Guinea hogs are a small, heritage breed pig that is known for its hardiness to the Florida climate and environment. They are docile by nature, and excellent at foraging. Pregnancies for these pigs is typically around 114 days, which is a standard gestation period for most pig breeds.
The rule of thumb for the gestation period is 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days from when you observe the boar performing his duty. Like other pig breeds, the signs of pregnancy in American Guinea Hogs include changes in behavior, increased appetite, and obviously, an enlarged abdomen.
When we know we’re getting close, we separate our sows in to farrowing pens. They get a separate shelter and plenty of coastal hay to bed down. Like clockwork, when we’re really close, the sow begins creating a nest or bedding area. American Guinea Hogs are known for being good mothers, and they usually handle the farrowing process well. Providing a comfortable and secure area from predators in a farrowing environment is important to ensure the well-being of both the sow and the piglets. For some it may come as a surprise, but the other pigs can mistake the newborns as a tasty treat.
American Guinea hog litters
A very pregnant sow has her eyes locked on a treat.
The number of piglets in a litter can vary, but American Guinea Hogs typically have smaller litters compared to larger pig breeds. An average litter size may range from 4 to 8 piglets. Last round, Minnie gave us 4 piglets. This time we have 5. We make sure our sows in the farrowing pens get proper nutrition including higher quality feed, treats and access to clean water. After the piglets are born, they will nurse from their mother for several weeks. Weaning typically occurs around 6 to 8 weeks of age. The amount of time can vary. We look to see the piglets are eating feed and foraging on their own. Ultimately, they do need to be separated or the mother can get exhausted providing milk.
Getting American Guinea hogs from TnF Farms
If you are interested in getting registered or unregistered piglets to start your own pig farm or to grow out. These and the piglets still coming should be ready for purchase as soon as mid-January of 2024. Please contact us to start the conversation of how you want your pig(s). Males are typically sold after they have been castrated as boars can be more aggressive and the pork typically does not taste as good to most people.
