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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jun 10, 2007 11:18:16 GMT -5
The Friday night birthing of 11 piglets has gone terribly wrong.
The sow is ill and overnight, she laid on 4 piglets and killed them.
We've managed to get the other 7 to safety. Now I find I'm suddenly faced with handfeeding 7 orphans. The youngest is a real challenge. I don't think she got much to eat (if anything) from her mama.
I got out my old sheep books with a homemade colostrum recipe. And I've managed to get some feed into her. She is now wrapped in a towel and resting in a small cage. I don't know if she will survive.. But I will give her every opportunity to do so.
I've handraised piglets from two weeks of age, but never this young.
Lots of lambs though..not much different except these guys aren't quite as cuddly.
Found a good article in an old Mother Earth News from 1982 on feeding orphaned piggies..
Gotta go check on my babies and try and get some gardening done besides.
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Post by downinmyback on Jun 10, 2007 15:28:38 GMT -5
Blue a trick i have used to many times and it works all of the time. We would even out litter sizes if two sows birth close to the same time was to dust the foster mothers piglet and dust the one from the sick sow too so both litters smell the same. A sow will not accept pigs unless they all smell the same. Blue i am hoping that everything works out. GOOD LUCK to you and your sow tooo as its sounds like both are going to have it hard the next few days. Jeff
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Post by johno on Jun 10, 2007 18:18:40 GMT -5
Blue, I'm afraid I can't offer you any advice about pigs... But I sure hope you save some of them. It's terrible when things go wrong like that, but there will be a better day just around the corner!
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jun 10, 2007 18:33:51 GMT -5
I don't know anything about raising piglets, either. I sure hope things go better for you though, Blue!
I'll say a prayer to Saint Anthony... patron saint of swineherds! Just for you.  ;D
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Post by mbrown on Jun 11, 2007 8:39:31 GMT -5
Blue,
Sorry to hear about your problems with the piglets. This just a few days after losing the baby turkeys. You are definitely having a run of bad luck.
Maybe this next week will be better. We'll be thinking of you.
Mike
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Post by houseodessey on Jun 11, 2007 16:14:03 GMT -5
That is so sad. How are the sow and her piglets doing now? I'm sure that you're a great surrogate mother!
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jun 11, 2007 20:21:52 GMT -5
The sow is recovering. I've been treating her infection with terramycin.
But one piglet left. I think it's going to be a house pet for a few days..At least it has caught on to eating from a bowl and burrowing under things to keep warm.
Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone.
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jun 12, 2007 5:11:52 GMT -5
A pig in the house, Blue? What is the dog saying? Good luck with the sow's health. I have my fingers crossed for you.
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Post by flowerpower on Jun 12, 2007 6:44:16 GMT -5
Wendy, what a terrible situation. I am so sorry. Hope the sow is doing better.
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Post by johno on Jun 12, 2007 15:39:03 GMT -5
I hear piggies actually make good housepets. Any chance the lone ranger gets to be papmered all his life?
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jun 12, 2007 16:00:44 GMT -5
No, she's outside now. One day with a piglet in the house in the heat was one day too many for DH's nose...Besides, she was one noisy little brat last night and he has trouble hearing the television anyway, let alone with a squealling snorting little porcine 3 feet away..
Right now, She's outside on the lawn in a cage, enjoying the sun and fresh air. She's graduated from a small margarine tub to a non-tippable dog bowl.
Quite the little character!
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jun 12, 2007 16:59:45 GMT -5
Have you guys named her? (And tell your husband that 'Hoagie' is not a name! Neither is Patty or Link, when it comes to cute piggies. Well, maybe they are...  )
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jun 12, 2007 17:58:21 GMT -5
Many years ago, I had a wonderful sow named SPAM..Nothing to do with junk mail, if you catch my drift..
Nope, no real name as yet, although he made a few references to Miss Piggy earlier today..But that was her GrandDam's name and that was an ill tempered sow. She wasn't ours. She was just here for a breeding..I know he's forgotten that was 'Grandma's' name.
I've got it!! How about Little Orphan Annie?? The piglet is a redhead don't forget...I think it would be a great name for her don't you??
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Post by flowerpower on Jun 13, 2007 6:07:36 GMT -5
I have a pot belly pig that lives in the house. I would never suggest it to anyone. Precious can open the fridge, cabinets, drawers etc. But pigs are very intelligent. First I litter box trained her and then I house trained her. It only took one day for the pig to get the hang of it. She will go out in a blizzard or pouring rain. And she smacks the door when she needs to go out.
Little Orphan Annie is cute.
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jun 13, 2007 9:59:22 GMT -5
Are pigs smart enought to learn the lyrics to "Hard Knock Life"?
I think the name is cute, Blue, but what about Little Orphan Spammie?
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;D 
)