how long to leave sow and piglets inside

[pedro1]

my sow is due to give birth on Christmas day and i was wondering as i have seperated the sow from my gilts and boar she has a concrete area where she can walk outside and have some freedom rather than being locked in a stable for 2 weeks. but i was wondering how long i should leave it before i take one of the fences away and give them access to a 1.5 acre field. the other sows and boars are in a different field so the piglets wont be in contact with other pigs than there mother and also at what age should i worm the piglets from pedro

[wendy scu]

the sooner you can get the piglets outside the better as piglets need to get their iron intake from the soil. they will need shutting in at night because of foxes but i would leave the door open for them to come and go with mum after the first couple of days.
they will need worming between 6 and 8 weeks of age. i usually do mine at weaning (8 weeks)

[pedro1]

So should I keep her in the concrete area until she gives birth and then when the piglets are about 4 days old as long as the weather is good shall I open one of the gates and let her and the piglets have access to the 1.5 acres of field from pedro

[wendy scu]

yes, that sounds about right

[pedro1]

Thanks for your help but what should I use to piglet proof my boundary fences as the fences has the rectangular hole that im sure the piglets would be able to get through when they are still young and small From pedro

[wendy scu]

build them a creche so they will stay in the proximity of the arc and the mother can wander at will

[pedro1]

how big and what should i use to create the creche, also the hole is the fences are only 8cm tall by 10 cm wide do you think the piglets would be able to get out of them from pedro

[wendy scu]

no, i don't think they would

[pedro1]

could i just let them have an acre and a half then without building a creche and if not how do i build a creche from pedro