Set the alarm for 3:59 a.m.

Web alarm clock for 3:59 a.m.

As you hand over watch of a sow about to farrow on the family farm, set the alarm for 3:59 am so the next person knows exactly when to check the pen. The handover comes just before 4:00 am, leaving little room for a vague “around four” instruction. Mention what signs you have already observed, where the clean towels and lamp are, and who should be called if help is needed.

During a farrowing handover, a silent alarm can leave the sow unattended at the planned check. After setting 3:59 am, confirm where the sound will play: wireless earphones may still be connected inside a pocket or charging nearby, sending the alert where nobody hears it. Disconnect them or select the phone speaker, then test the volume. Keep this browser alarm open and the device awake, because closing it or letting the device sleep may prevent the farrowing alert from sounding.

A pre-dawn farm room in the Philippines can still feel warm, especially after people have been moving between pens. Set the air conditioner to a steady, comfortable level before the next watcher settles in, rather than making a sharp temperature change near 4:00 am. Position the phone away from the airflow so its alarm remains easy to hear, and leave drinking water within reach for the person taking over.