Author Topic: Does Daisy look OK? (Read 3520 times)

loosey · « **on:** April 11, 2011, 10:04:04 am »

You all know what I'm like by now

She's having plenty of fruit and veg along with her sow nuts ... the piglets have double in size in a week and are soooo playful!

She seems to be feeling alright and her ear is sorted now

Last Monday, the day after farrowing

Yesterday

And a couple of the tiny ones!

I sat in with them yesterday but when Daisy realised I didn;t have anymore food she was REALLY angry with me! Made sure I made her settle a bit and calm down for an itch before I left and once the pioglets saw her having a scratch they descended on me in a flash! The first time I've had any good interaction with them as they're always so scatty ... they were climbing all over my lap ... amazing!!

Qick question ... will it be okay for them to stay in for 2 weeks? I wanted to put them out this weekend but the pig ark had cemented itself into the ground and we couldn;t move it ... I want them to go into a fresh paddock and can't sort it until the gilts go off next weekend?

HappyHippy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2011, 10:40:59 am »

She's looking alright

By the time the piglets are a fortnight they'll be taking lots from her, so daily feeding for her should be 6lbs plus 1lb for each piglet, just keep an eye on her condition. Some pigs manage well without loosing much, others put everything into their piglets and can end up looking really skinny.
There's not a huge problem in keeping her in, providing she's happy with that, my wee KK was chewing her way through the wooden side of the pen, trying to get out into the field again

Just remember to keep adding in tufts of soil for the piglets to play with/nibble.
HTH
Karen x
Beautiful piglets btw - they make up for all the worry & stress, don't they ?

Fowgill Farm · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2011, 12:25:56 pm »

She's looking well and agree with all said by HH.
If she's getting bored can you let her out for a walk on her own for 1/2hr and then entice her back to the piglets with a bowl of nuts thats what we do in winter when they have to be cabined up with piglets.
HTh
Mandy

ps lovely babies

loosey · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2011, 01:29:09 pm »

Thank you both

She's fine about being in. She kicks off if her dinner doesn't come quick enough but otherwise she is very calm in there! I let her out most mornings whilst I'm mucking her out ... she tears down the field, yells at the old spots, throws herself on the grass, remembers the piglets, runs back into the stable, itches on the wheelbarrow, knocks it over, tries to itch on my leg, stands on my foot and then repeats until I'm done and I give her some carrots!

Piglets just sleep whilst all this is going on and once they see me crouching down, descend on my muck boots like the velcro is the most exciting thing in the world!

I love being a grandma!!

little blue · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2011, 08:58:09 pm »

that sounds about right ... nothing quite like mucking out with a piggy helper!!
they are gorgeous

Tudful Tamworths · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2011, 10:33:02 pm »

She looks absolutely fine. Keep doing what you're doing. If you feel like putting her and the litter out and the weather looks stable for a couple of days, do it. Otherwise, she'll be okay (if a little frustrated) indoors. However the benefit is that you can keep a closer eye on the piglets - and they are a lot easier to catch when it comes to weaning and selling time. Swings and roundabouts. Well done and good luck.

Hilarysmum · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2011, 10:14:18 am »

As all the others, can you split her feeds into 3 ?

loosey · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2011, 12:17:26 pm »

I kind of have HM. When I'm home for the whole day she has Breakfast at 8am, Dinner at about 3.30 and then supper just before 9pm. If I'm working I still split it down but she has her meal of nuts at 5.30 and then another smaller one of fruit and veg at about 9pm.

Hilarysmum · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2011, 10:19:37 am »

Sounds perfect. She looks fine to me. Our Daisy used to go like a hat rack despite massive increases in the feeding. A couple of weeks after weaning she was back to being well rounded again.