The hog pen

Farming pigs outdoors poses a number of problems but the small scale of family farming made it possible to manage these problems. In particular, hogs suffer 'heat stress' in high temperatures and have no sweatSweating

Perspiration is the production of a fluid, consisting primarily of water as well as various dissolved solids , that is excreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals....

glands to naturally cool themselves. To cool themselves hogs require access to water or a 'wallow', which is an area of mud. Without access to water or mud, pigs are forced to wallow in their own excrement. Normally, pigs avoid their own excrement, unlike other farm animals, pigs do not defacate just anywhere in their pen - they use one corner of it for their 'bathroom'. Ideally a cement wallow which contains water cools the pig much better, although mud serves to protect pink pigs from sunburn and heat stress, although more pigmented varieties were used on the family farm.. Alternatively, shade may be provided for the animals.



Many family farm hog pens were improvised enclosures made of any material that is handy and free. The size of the pen is often kept small to conserve building material and effort.