Comments on: How To Tell If a Pig Is About To Farrow http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/ Meet the animals and harvest the information without getting your hands dirty! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:34:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.6 by: claire http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14732 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:29:17 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14732 hi sara claire here again i'm just asking u if u would be interested in my boar as i really need him to go asap as hes had to be put in a stable at the moment as penelape is not well had to move the boar from her as i had to have the vet to her and she has an infection in her hoof moved up to her knee there is a name for it but can't remember at the mo so now tiny and her babies are down next door to penlape where my boar was. now hes up in the stable away from her as the vet said to move him away from her as she needs rest if i can't find a home for him i'm afraid i will have to send him to slaughter which i really don't wont to do that iv tried advertising him all over the net and no look do u no any one that might be interested as he needs to go asap thanks for any help u can give from claire hi sara claire here again i’m just asking u if u would be interested in my boar as i really need him to go asap as hes had to be put in a stable at the moment as penelape is not well had to move the boar from her as i had to have the vet to her and she has an infection in her hoof moved up to her knee there is a name for it but can’t remember at the mo so now tiny and her babies are down next door to penlape where my boar was. now hes up in the stable away from her as the vet said to move him away from her as she needs rest if i can’t find a home for him i’m afraid i will have to send him to slaughter which i really don’t wont to do that iv tried advertising him all over the net and no look do u no any one that might be interested as he needs to go asap
thanks for any help u can give
from claire

]]> by: Sara @ Farming Friends http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14539 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:21:38 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14539 Hi Claire, I am delighted that your piglets are doing well and that Tiny is a very good mother. Cagney and Lacy and their litters have been put back together in the barn and are enjoying rooting about in the straw. It is really interesting to see the difference in size between the two litters with a weeks difference between them. Congrats on selling one of your gilts. A great place to advertise is the River Cottage Forum under the farmers market section. I usually advertise on there as well as my own site. Would you like to do a write up and I could add it to my site for you? I enjoy getting your updates. Best Wishes Sara @ farmingfriends Hi Claire,
I am delighted that your piglets are doing well and that Tiny is a very good mother.
Cagney and Lacy and their litters have been put back together in the barn and are enjoying rooting about in the straw. It is really interesting to see the difference in size between the two litters with a weeks difference between them. Congrats on selling one of your gilts. A great place to advertise is the River Cottage Forum under the farmers market section. I usually advertise on there as well as my own site. Would you like to do a write up and I could add it to my site for you?
I enjoy getting your updates.
Best Wishes
Sara @ farmingfriends

]]> by: claire http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14529 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:14:04 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14529 hi sara well piglets are getting on well and tiny is a very good mother for her first time. i will send u a photo by e-mail hope all yours are getting on well i have sold a young girl to a family in wales for breeding so thats one sold when she get to 8 weeks do u know of any advertising places on the net where i could put the young piglets on there for sale thanks from claire :) hi sara well piglets are getting on well and tiny is a very good mother for her first time. i will send u a photo by e-mail hope all yours are getting on well
i have sold a young girl to a family in wales for breeding so thats one sold when she get to 8 weeks
do u know of any advertising places on the net where i could put the young piglets on there for sale
thanks from claire :)

]]> by: Sara @ Farming Friends http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14413 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:48:29 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14413 Hi Claire, I am delighted to hear that Tiny has 9 healthy piglets - well done to you and Tiny. I am glad that you found my comments useful. I don't have experience of putting the sow and piglets back in with the boar as I hire a boar from our neighbours. I usually only let this boar run with the sows once the piglets have been weaned at 6-8weeks old. I think i would seek advice from the vet about this or your local animal officer at the local council. When handling piglets I don't know if you know but if you hold a piglet by one leg they don't make a noise like they do if you hold them in your arms around their tummy which you would think they would prefer but they don't! I look forward to future updates and I would love to see photos. Cagney and Lacy's piglets are doing well. Lacy's are three weeks old andCagneys are two weeks old. They are growing well. Kind regards Sara @ farmingfriends Hi Claire,
I am delighted to hear that Tiny has 9 healthy piglets - well done to you and Tiny. I am glad that you found my comments useful.
I don’t have experience of putting the sow and piglets back in with the boar as I hire a boar from our neighbours.
I usually only let this boar run with the sows once the piglets have been weaned at 6-8weeks old.
I think i would seek advice from the vet about this or your local animal officer at the local council.
When handling piglets I don’t know if you know but if you hold a piglet by one leg they don’t make a noise like they do if you hold them in your arms around their tummy which you would think they would prefer but they don’t!
I look forward to future updates and I would love to see photos.

Cagney and Lacy’s piglets are doing well. Lacy’s are three weeks old andCagneys are two weeks old. They are growing well.

Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends

]]> by: claire http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14284 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:18:54 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-14284 hi sara well i,m a nanny tiny had 9 piglets 5 boys and 4 girls all doing well i would like to thank you on all your help u gave me through this birth u where very helpful well there 10 days old now and running around giving me lots a laughs watching them can i just ask u what age would u let mom and babies back to there pack as there is a boar with them. hes not nasty as he has seen the piglets throw the bars and he seemed ok so what age would u think would be ok. well i had to cut there teeth the other day as they where cutting moms teats what a lot of noise and struggles it was but all done now and tomorrow there going to have there iron injection well mom doing very well gave birth ok just had to help with one big baby that was coming out the wrong way but i was there throw all her birth which was amazing well ill keep u posted on tiny and her babies thanks for your hael dont think i could of done it with out your help thanks from claire :) hi sara well i,m a nanny
tiny had 9 piglets
5 boys and 4 girls all doing well
i would like to thank you on all your help u gave me through this birth
u where very helpful
well there 10 days old now and running around giving me lots a laughs watching them can i just ask u what age would u let mom and babies back to there pack as there is a boar with them.
hes not nasty as he has seen the piglets throw the bars and he seemed ok so what age would u think would be ok.
well i had to cut there teeth the other day as they where cutting moms teats what a lot of noise and struggles it was but all done now and tomorrow there going to have there iron injection
well mom doing very well gave birth ok just had to help with one big baby that was coming out the wrong way but i was there throw all her birth which was amazing well ill keep u posted on tiny and her babies thanks for your hael dont think i could of done it with out your help thanks
from claire :)

]]> by: Sara @ Farming Friends http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13722 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:32:52 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13722 Hi Claire, I am glad that you have seen a sow give birth. It is truely an amazing experience. Thank you for asking about my sow and piglets. I am afraid that poor little Snuffles passed away on Saturday afternoon. I had been feeding him every hour during the day and went to bed at about 2.30am Sat morn and got up at 6am to feed him again and he was very weak. I would have stayed up all night but I had to go to a farmer's market to sell my quail eggs so needed some sleep. Anyway I thought he was going to die on Sat morn but after feeding him he was revived and back to normal. My dad took over feeding duty and fed him every half hour whilst I was gone. When I came back I was steeling myself for bad news but was relieved to find that he was well. I went out an hour later to find poor little Snuffles laid out and he was a bit cold and not very lively. He didn't want any milk and his breathing was very laboured. I held him in my arns and this is where he took his last breath. Although I was very upset I am glad that Snuffles is no longer in pain. He was finding it very hard to breath as one of his nostrils was so bunged up after being bitten by the sow and I think that his heart just gave up, but I have to say that he was a very brave little Snuffles who fought hard to stay alive against the odds. Both my dad and I are very sad and as I write this it still brings tears to my eyes. The sow and other 8 piglets are doing well and my other sow, Cagney is due to farrow soon. Look forward to more updates about Tiny. Best Wishes Sara @ farmingfriends Hi Claire,
I am glad that you have seen a sow give birth. It is truely an amazing experience. Thank you for asking about my sow and piglets. I am afraid that poor little Snuffles passed away on Saturday afternoon. I had been feeding him every hour during the day and went to bed at about 2.30am Sat morn and got up at 6am to feed him again and he was very weak. I would have stayed up all night but I had to go to a farmer’s market to sell my quail eggs so needed some sleep.
Anyway I thought he was going to die on Sat morn but after feeding him he was revived and back to normal. My dad took over feeding duty and fed him every half hour whilst I was gone. When I came back I was steeling myself for bad news but was relieved to find that he was well. I went out an hour later to find poor little Snuffles laid out and he was a bit cold and not very lively. He didn’t want any milk and his breathing was very laboured. I held him in my arns and this is where he took his last breath. Although I was very upset I am glad that Snuffles is no longer in pain. He was finding it very hard to breath as one of his nostrils was so bunged up after being bitten by the sow and I think that his heart just gave up, but I have to say that he was a very brave little Snuffles who fought hard to stay alive against the odds. Both my dad and I are very sad and as I write this it still brings tears to my eyes.
The sow and other 8 piglets are doing well and my other sow, Cagney is due to farrow soon.
Look forward to more updates about Tiny.
Best Wishes
Sara @ farmingfriends

]]> by: claire http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13619 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:40:54 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13619 HI SARA well today i went to friends farm and watch his sow give birth it was so amazing i cant wait till tiny has her which should not be long now i hope. thank you for your pictures u sent me its really helpful as tiny vulva is the size in your pictures but not as red yet and i hope snuffles is still doing well and mom and other babies from claire :) HI SARA
well today i went to friends farm and watch his sow give birth it was so amazing i cant wait till tiny has her which should not be long now i hope.
thank you for your pictures u sent me its really helpful as tiny vulva is the size in your pictures but not as red yet and i hope snuffles is still doing well and mom and other babies
from claire :)

]]> by: Sara @ Farming Friends http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13454 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:42:25 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13454 Hi Claire, Sorry to hear that Tiny has not had her piglets yet. Yesterday Lacy farrowed 9 piglets. I would like to say that it was plain sailing but it wasn’t. Lacy is a lovely sow and is never aggressive towards me, although she will dominate Cagney, her sister, when it comes to feeding time and will often take a bite at Cagney but apart from that Lacy is a very good pig to deal with, that is until it comes to farrowing. This was Lacy’s third litter and I am delighted to say that she had 9 healthy piglets, 7 gilts and 2 boars which is a great result. When Lacy farrows she tends to become aggressive towards the piglets, which is not uncommon. At about 3.30pm yesterday she had her first piglet and soon followed a second and third. Infact everytime I turned round or went outside she seemed to have a piglet. All was going well and although I had got a box incase it was needed the three piglets were milling around quite happily. That is until Lacy took a swipe at the second piglet and bit him on the face, puncturing his face so that he is now breathing through the hole and she cut his tongue. Luckily I managed to get all three piglets safely away from Lacy and promptly phoned the vet who said keep the piglet warm and give about 0.1ml of penstrep if you think it’s needed. I wiped away blood which seemed to take forever and the poor little piglet was suffering from shock but miraculously has survived. As the piglets were born I gathered them up into a box under the heat lamp. The numbers began to increase and the box became quite full, so I had to resort to two boxes. The containers are deep but one piglet, I think the first born, was a determined little piglet and kept trying to jump out of the box and succeeded on a few occasions. By about 9pm Lacy had farrowed 9 piglets and was cleansing, a sign that farrowing has finished. Everytime I tried to place a piglet near Lacy she started to snap at it, yet everytime a piglet squealed she became concerned and when she tried to lay down she did so with caution so as not to sit on any piglets. I waited a couple of hours for Lacy to calm down and then Steve and I decided that it would be best to release all the piglets into the farrowing pen and to try to keep them away from her mouth with a stick. When this happens there is an awful lot of grunting goes on and Lacy paces up and down the farrowing crate before settling down. I was relieved that she didn’t attack any and I stayed whilst the piglets suckled. I also wanted to make sure that the poorly piglet suckled which it seemed to do. Today all the piglets are well and Snuffles (the poorly piglet) is trying his hardest to suckle but I think he is having trouble breathing and sucking at the same time, so I am supplementing his feed every hour with a drop of warm calf milk. I’ll keep you posted about Snuffles. I look forward to hearing about Tiny. I hope she takes to farrowing well. I will sort that photo tnight if I get chance. Best Wishes Sara @ farmingfriends Hi Claire,
Sorry to hear that Tiny has not had her piglets yet.
Yesterday Lacy farrowed 9 piglets. I would like to say that it was plain sailing but it wasn’t.

Lacy is a lovely sow and is never aggressive towards me, although she will dominate Cagney, her sister, when it comes to feeding time and will often take a bite at Cagney but apart from that Lacy is a very good pig to deal with, that is until it comes to farrowing.

This was Lacy’s third litter and I am delighted to say that she had 9 healthy piglets, 7 gilts and 2 boars which is a great result.

When Lacy farrows she tends to become aggressive towards the piglets, which is not uncommon. At about 3.30pm yesterday she had her first piglet and soon followed a second and third. Infact everytime I turned round or went outside she seemed to have a piglet. All was going well and although I had got a box incase it was needed the three piglets were milling around quite happily. That is until Lacy took a swipe at the second piglet and bit him on the face, puncturing his face so that he is now breathing through the hole and she cut his tongue.

Luckily I managed to get all three piglets safely away from Lacy and promptly phoned the vet who said keep the piglet warm and give about 0.1ml of penstrep if you think it’s needed.

I wiped away blood which seemed to take forever and the poor little piglet was suffering from shock but miraculously has survived.

As the piglets were born I gathered them up into a box under the heat lamp. The numbers began to increase and the box became quite full, so I had to resort to two boxes. The containers are deep but one piglet, I think the first born, was a determined little piglet and kept trying to jump out of the box and succeeded on a few occasions.

By about 9pm Lacy had farrowed 9 piglets and was cleansing, a sign that farrowing has finished. Everytime I tried to place a piglet near Lacy she started to snap at it, yet everytime a piglet squealed she became concerned and when she tried to lay down she did so with caution so as not to sit on any piglets.

I waited a couple of hours for Lacy to calm down and then Steve and I decided that it would be best to release all the piglets into the farrowing pen and to try to keep them away from her mouth with a stick. When this happens there is an awful lot of grunting goes on and Lacy paces up and down the farrowing crate before settling down.

I was relieved that she didn’t attack any and I stayed whilst the piglets suckled. I also wanted to make sure that the poorly piglet suckled which it seemed to do.

Today all the piglets are well and Snuffles (the poorly piglet) is trying his hardest to suckle but I think he is having trouble breathing and sucking at the same time, so I am supplementing his feed every hour with a drop of warm calf milk.

I’ll keep you posted about Snuffles. I look forward to hearing about Tiny. I hope she takes to farrowing well. I will sort that photo tnight if I get chance.
Best Wishes
Sara @ farmingfriends

]]> by: claire http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13451 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:33:33 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13451 hi sara hows your girl has she had her baby's yet well tiny still holding on to hers I'm so tired lol i keep getting u cheeking on her but still no babies hope all gone well with your girl from claire :) hi sara hows your girl has she had her baby’s yet
well tiny still holding on to hers I’m so tired lol i keep getting u cheeking on her but still no babies hope all gone well with your girl
from claire :)

]]> by: claire http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13428 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:02:43 +0000 http://www.farmingfriends.com/how-to-tell-if-a-pig-is-about-to-farrow/#comment-13428 hi sara yes it is tiny's first time mom and i think u sending a pic of your girls vulva would be very helpful in seeing if my tiny is close hope your girl is doing well and hope she has all healthy piglets :) from claire hi sara yes it is tiny’s first time mom and i think u sending a pic of your girls vulva would be very helpful in seeing if my tiny is close hope your girl is doing well and hope she has all healthy piglets :)
from claire

]]>