[jent1964]

my greman micro x pot bellie had 2 little piglets on sunday is this normal for a first litter, she eating and drinking and feeding them well!

[robert waddell]

i would say natural selection         the micro pigs are breed from the runts so not surprising that she had only two piglets
is she in a house flat or field

[welshlass181]

My gilt (KKxGOS) has just had her first litte and she had 10 live and 1 still born.  I agree with Robert re the whole "micro" thing. 

[Rosemary]

Come on, we've been through the whole "micro" pigs already. The lassie asked a legitimate question - all seems to be well, so let's not give her a hard time.

[velcro]

My first GOS Sow had 2 the first time and then went on to farrow 8 plus regularly.
As long as Mum is well and the piglets are feeding thats fine

[jent1964]

yes i was just asking a question..... she is in a filed within 10 acres! and the sows mum was a german micro pig and for people who dont know the breed they are very big pigs and not micro as the name suggests! she is not a small pig and a size of a pot bellie like her dad!
I am not stupid and would not keep any pig in a house of flat! I asked a question here as you ahve always been very helpful in the past and wanted just some friendly advice!

[welshlass181]

Like i said.  My KKxGOS had her first litter and she had 10.  I don't know if her litter is normal or if yours is

[HappyHippy]

my greman micro x pot bellie had 2 little piglets on sunday is this normal for a first litter, she eating and drinking and feeding them well!

There are lots of reasons she's just had 2 - providing she's passed both afterbirths and isn't showing any signs of distress, temperature or 'straining' that's the main thing - don't want to maybe miss some others (but this is just me thinking of worst case scenario stuff, please don't panic if she seems fine & content)
The main things I can think of that would affect litter size are (in no particular order  )
Age of gilt at service (younger gilts tend to have less)
Condition of gilt (too fat can cause a drop in fertility as can too thin)
Feeding around conception (I always up the protien levels - even with my KK's)
Age and breeding record of boar used
Stress or moving within 4 weeks of conception (it can affect how the embryo's implant in the womb)
So it could be any number of factors really, but as long as she is fit & looking well, I wouldn't be overly worried this time.
HTH
Karen x

[robert waddell]

as hh said boar fertility is one reason        to old a gilt also produces small litters as does being to fat at service
that is good you are keeping her in a field   and a large one
rosemary i was not giving jent 1964 a hard time  you know what like i am when i give somebody a hard time

[little blue]

Our girl just had a litter of three (kune kune)
  It is technically her second litter, but the first lot had mummifed, and she farrowed the same night as her sister & fostered her survivor.

One of this litter is particularly massive, they are all fairly big &have been nibbling solid food since day 3 once they established mud isn't edible!  They have "come on" really quickly.

Some pigs do have large litters, some have small. Don't worry too much, see what happens next time.
We know Maud isn't likely to have big litters, but she's proved she'll make her piglets independent, and porky! 

[doganjo]

i was not giving jent 1964 a hard time  you know what like i am when i give somebody a hard time

Remember our discussion on Saturday, Robert? 

[robert waddell]

yes annie i remember        but you are only as good as the person teaching you  and every day is a learning day 

[doganjo]

yes annie i remember        but you are only as good as the person teaching you  and every day is a learning day 

Yup, but the teacher has to be a good teacher as well as an expert in their subject.

[robert waddell]

or at least give the pupil the thirst for knowledge and the want to do better
sadly our education system now is devoid of these teachers and lecturers 

[doganjo]

or at least give the pupil the thirst for knowledge and the want to do better
sadly our education system now is devoid of these teachers and lecturers 

Perhaps some of us should come out of retirement then