Author Topic: First litter of Pedigree Welsh PIglets (Read 2729 times)

Yberllan · « **on:** November 16, 2016, 11:02:49 am »

HI All,

We recently purchased an in pig Welsh Pedigree Gilt. She was due to farrow in 2-3 weeks. When husband checked her yesterday morning he spotted 2 piglets.

She was in the outside pig house as we were planning on bringing her in the weekend, with running water and farrowing rails etc - she had other ideas. On checking around lunch time she had around 6-8 and by tea time she had 12. She is in a well built outdoor house with loads of straw and she seems to have nested with lots of bits and pieces, twigs etc taken into the house.

All piglets are busy active and alert and seem to be feeding well. We have been told that her bloodline are great mothers and very placid.

Its the strangest/cutest thing seeing these tiny piglets poking there noses out and front feet into the mud.

These are the first animals born on our holding - something good was very much needed after the last couple of weeks.

Hoping you are all well

Take Care
Tx

pharnorth · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2016, 11:16:55 am »

Congratulations you must be very pleased. It is always somewhat amusing when they produce perfect off spring early when you have had all the preparation angst and none of needed.... It may be next time though so never wasted. Enjoy.

greenbeast · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2016, 12:23:39 pm »

I tell you it never gets old checking the sow in the morning and seeing those piggies nestled against her

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2016, 01:04:24 pm »

I agree - if the magic ever disappears I shall give up keeping pigs.

Bionic · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2016, 04:43:51 pm »

Awww, what a nice surprise for you

harmony · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2016, 09:13:39 am »

Really pleased for you. Isn't great when they just arrive and you don't have the sleepless nights!

I would put something across the door so Mum can get out but they can't. Just to let them get going a bit before they get properly out into the mud and wet.

Yberllan · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2016, 09:48:05 am »

HI,

Thank for the replies.

We are going to pop a board across but have seen her nosing that piglets back in and currently at 10 days all seem to still be in.

We unfortunately have lost two of the piglets to being squashed, something that had she farrowed where intended we had taken steps to stop but............... the full moon put pay to that!

harmony · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2016, 09:57:07 am »

Looking good. You may of lost the piglets to squashing anyway. Farrowing rails help prevent losses but it can still happen.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2016, 11:17:17 am »

We have farrowing rails and set up a creep area next to Mum's nose, with a lamb creep hurdled chained in place. The piglets generally find it the first day in Winter. Not yet lost one due to squashing, although I generally see our sows snuffling through the straw before they lie down and hoiking out any stray piglets.