[kazno10]

We have just rescued a load of pigs however tonight we ended up with a box of days old piglets which they hoped the sow had been delivered yesterday. No sows match up to the piglets and I fear they have gone without sooking for 24+ hours. One of the litter has passed away already. We mixed up warm water and sugar and tried to tube them but was unsuccessful. Any ideas?

[landroverroy]

Presuming the piglets are warm and conscious, will they not take the liquid from a syringe?
What was unsuccessful about tubing them?
Is it possible to get some glucose from an all night chemist or supermarket? Glucose is absorbed faster than sugar, so if they've had nothing for 24+ hours then their energy levels will be getting critically low.

[Pigsmightfry]

If there are any dairy farms nearby go and ask for some colostrum milk from a recently calved cow, it's ok for piglets as a replacement and they can use the nutrients. Warm it up and then use a syringe to get it down their throats, in very small amounts, do not warm in a microwave as this kills off the good bacreria.
You can freeze any excess in an ice cube tray for later use, it will remain good for a couple of months.

I've used it before when I had a piglet that would not suck, it worked fine and after a couple of days the piglet got the idea, it survived ok.

[Marches Farmer]

Are any of the lactating sows approachable enough for you to milk them off whilst they're suckling their own litter?  The best solution would be to locate the correct sow and see if she'll accept the piglets.

[landroverroy]

 The original post suggested that the piglets were at least 24 hrs old by last night. So the time for colostrum is well past. I assumed the problem was how to get anything down them.

However, I was interested in what you said Pigsmightfry, that bovine colostrum is of use for piglets as I always believed effective colostrum was very species specific. Have you actually used it on newborns, or just on piglets a bit older to supplement what they got from the sow?
 
Kazno10 - I'm fascinated to know the story behind these piglets/! Have you managed to save any?
How come you rescued sows and some piglets that weren't with their mother? Did the mother get delivered in time?

[waterbuffalofarmer]

If they are over 24 hrs old and haven't had colostrum it would be a good idea to give them yoghurt with water and honey, warm water. As this will put the bacteria into their guts, we have done this with both calves and lambs with great success. Hope you get it sorted soon and I am sorry to hear about this, although I will say well done for rescuing them.

[Sbom]

I've successfully reared piglets on a bottle and goats milk, although these were two days old when I had them so had colostrum off their mother.
I would have suggested warming the piglets before offering feed as if they are chilled through they are unlikely to suck.
It's been a day or two now....hope some survived 

[Pigsmightfry]

Bovine colostrum can be given to both piglets and lambs, it's not necessarily about time although the mother tends to produce most of it in the first 24 hours, it's more about getting some colostrum into their stomachs to boost their immune system in the first couple of days and give them a good kick start.
I've used it a couple of times on dopey piglets who are keen to suckle but can't seem to get themselves latched on, I've also bottle fed one for a couple of days that was not getting enough milk, it worked and kept them going until they sorted themselves out.
Having said all that I've never raised a piglet completely on the bottle, this would be rather difficult as you would need to constantly be feeding it.

[harmony]

I think we are all intrigued to hear the story behind this post. Bottle feeding piglets isn't generally that successful. Best to get them drinking from a shallow bowl and get them onto a good creep feed. Some creep for very young pigs still has antibiotics added I think and if you get this far with these ones then it would be worth looking around.


I'm guessing you been too busy to give us an update but we are all looking forward to one and hoping it has good news in it 

[Vey]

I have successfully bottle reared piglets so it can be done.

1 - get an ordinary human feeding bottle and a human teat
2 - if you can get live (not pasteurised) goat's milk, do. Unpasteurised cows milk does well also. move heaven and earth to get fresh, unpasteurised milk.
3 - piglets are small - the milk must be the perfect temperature, blood temperature
4 - feed every two hours, day and night until they are growing very well
5 - they will not take more than one or two ounces to start with.
6 - if they take almost nothing, try again in half an hour.
7 - vet for antibiotics if they scour
8 - keep them constantly warm - about 20c.

[Marches Farmer]

Has anyone ever tried raising piglets for the first few days using a multi-teated bucket, such as those used for calves and lambs?  My piglets have always been raised by a sow but feeding a whole litter every two hours at first would be exhausting.

[harmony]

Has anyone ever tried raising piglets for the first few days using a multi-teated bucket, such as those used for calves and lambs?  My piglets have always been raised by a sow but feeding a whole litter every two hours at first would be exhausting.

Absolutely exhausting which is probably why it is suggested you get them taking milk from a shallow tray.

[Sbom]

I never fed my hand reared ones every two hours. Last feed at 11 ish and then again 5.30/6. I had them under an electric hen type chick brooder in the back room.

[Pigsmightfry]

How are the piglets getting on, we are all waiting for an update?

[Waula]

I reared 5 4hr old piglets back in April. Everyone told me they would die. None of them did! I used pig milk powder in syringes to start with, then onto my kids old bottles then onto lamb bottles on feeding racks. They did amazingly and three are off to slaughter this week! The other two girls are in pig. It is all totally possible!