The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: nails on March 30, 2011, 10:01:19 pm

Title: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on March 30, 2011, 10:01:19 pm
Hello
Well very exciting here at the moment, we think Marilyn is about to farrow, she is puffing and panting, hubby has checked her teats and there is milk there, her vulva looks quiet pink, is there anything we should do, or do we just let nature take its course? This is our first time of a sow having piggies
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Helencus on March 30, 2011, 10:13:42 pm
Is she inside? Do you have towels at the ready to wipe them off? Scissors for cutting very long cords off and iodine/purple spray for same. Presume you have a lamp ready if inside. Do you have any antibiotics, oxytocin if placenta doesn't all come or stresnil if she gets stressed.
If you don't, get the guinness in for the stress (thanks again Karen!) if she's a gilt you may need to give her a few cans to calm her if she shows signs of aggression to piglets. Saved a litter of 11 for me. For the rest if you don't have it keep a close eye on her and have vet on speed dial just in case.
You will probably find everything will go absolutely fine but best to be ready.

Keep checking her regularly now I did hourly checks when the milk was in you'll have babies by the morning no doubt. So keep calm and enjoy watching nature at her finest   ;D

Oh and I hope you've the day off tomorrow chances are you're not gonna get much sleep tonight! ;D :pig:
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Roxy on March 30, 2011, 10:15:52 pm
And don't forget to have a flask and some biscuits with you - something to enjoy while you are waiting for something to happen!!

Good luck, hope your piglets arrive soon.
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on March 30, 2011, 10:22:00 pm
towels yes, scissors yes, spray yes, lamp yes, penicillian yes, no stresnil or oxytocin, she has had a litter before, and has i believe from previous owners not had any problem, thats not to say she may or may not this time.
Guiness is on the way, and no i have got work in the morning, but work felexi so not to much bother, better get back up there to keep hubby company, and put this web site on my phone just incase
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Helencus on March 30, 2011, 10:35:15 pm
Youll be fine especially if she's had a litter before. If she doesn't need the guinness you have one to celebrate when they're here. Keep warm, I hope they arrive soon and you get some sleep. All the best  ;D :pig:
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on March 30, 2011, 11:44:11 pm
No sign yet, but have the guinness
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Helencus on March 30, 2011, 11:50:47 pm
Good stuff. It will probably happen in the early hours that's pigs for you :-))
If there are 2 of you able to keep watch I'd do shifts so you can get some sleep. When it all starts happening you can call on the mobile to get the other one up.
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on March 31, 2011, 01:02:03 am
Well 1am and she is sleeping now, i think i will go off to bed and get up early to see what is happening, nite nite
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Hilarysmum on March 31, 2011, 08:02:03 am
Any news?
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Roxy on March 31, 2011, 09:40:21 am
Did she see you go off to bed and have the piglets, then? ;D
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Blonde on March 31, 2011, 01:24:52 pm
she will  have the piglets and very sucessful at haveing them.   I dont cut the cords they dry and shrivel of their own accord.   I also dont wipe them down as they will dry on their own and get around to the milk bag for a feed on their own.   I think it is fine to watch but not to touch or to intervene unless you absolutely have to.  Then yes Stresnil is a handy product.  Failing tha a cuple of tinnies given to the sow will give her some peace and allow her muscles to become limp.
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on March 31, 2011, 01:55:13 pm
Well i am pleased to announce that between 9-30 and 12-05 Marilyn gave birth to 10 piglets all on her own, with no help all feeding well, cant believe she had 10!!! Mangalitza'a are not meant to have 5 to 7. She hasn't passed the placenta yet tho
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: HappyHippy on March 31, 2011, 03:03:39 pm
That's a great result Nails  ;D Well done you and well done piggy  ;) :bouquet:
I know a lady who's Mangalitza only had 3 piglets - so 10 is fantastic, you must be doing something right  ;D
Karen x

PS Photo's PLEASE  :wave:
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: JulieS on March 31, 2011, 04:12:24 pm
Congratulations!  Would be great to see some pictures  :love: :pig: :love:
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Helencus on March 31, 2011, 04:24:42 pm
The joy of living in warmer climes Blonde.. It's bloody freezing here at night in winter and early spring so my preference is to wipe babies off to get them dry and warm to mom.

Well done Nails would love to see piccies !
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Hilarysmum on March 31, 2011, 04:56:06 pm
Congratulations!  Job well done.   :D
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on March 31, 2011, 05:42:47 pm
So pleased with her, passed the placents as well now, just going to leave her be for 24hrs all babies are suckling well all clean and belly buttons are all done just need to spray them, anything else i need to do???? just going to do some picces now
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on March 31, 2011, 05:55:06 pm
(http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/nails2009/IMG00207-20110331-1317.jpg)
(http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/nails2009/IMG00208-20110331-1317.jpg)
(http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/nails2009/IMG00210-20110331-1657.jpg)
(http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/nails2009/IMG00211-20110331-1657.jpg)
Some photos of my new Mangalitza piglets, 10 in total
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Eve on March 31, 2011, 06:11:42 pm
Fantastic!

 :wave:
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Helencus on March 31, 2011, 06:53:12 pm
What a clever girl! Lovely babies :-)
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on March 31, 2011, 06:59:36 pm
She is a clever girl, she has done it all on her own bless her, so proud of my beautiful girlie.
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Eastling on March 31, 2011, 11:18:19 pm
Congratulations they are lovely
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Roxy on March 31, 2011, 11:22:15 pm
Aren't they gorgeous!!!
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Olly398 on April 01, 2011, 08:18:59 am
I love their little hairstyles  :love:
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Hilarysmum on April 01, 2011, 09:14:36 am
lOVE the colours.  Lovely photos. 
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: JulieS on April 01, 2011, 09:26:30 am
They are beautiful.  I love the different colours  :)
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Tudful Tamworths on April 01, 2011, 11:53:44 am
They look great. You must be well chuffed. Congratulations - first litter is always the most nerve-racking. You'll be fine next time!
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Beewyched on April 01, 2011, 05:12:29 pm
Nails  :wave:

They are absolutely gorgeous - see you have all 3 colour-ways too.  Well done you both  :love: :pig: :love:
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on April 01, 2011, 06:19:36 pm
Beewyched, these are our first Mangalitza's so i am unsure of the colours of the piggies at mo, i know there are 2 reds and i can work out the blondes, i take it the ones that have the more prominate lines could be the swallow? Some help would be great, all i know is that i have 10 very healthy looking piglets, not been in and sexed them yet, trying to let mum just get on with it.
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: Beewyched on April 01, 2011, 08:03:34 pm
Yep, looks like it Nails - not an expert myself, just that my OH was looking at Mangals before we decided to go with KKs.

Talk about an amazing start to your breeding programme - all you need now is for them all to be gilts  ;D
Title: Re: THink we have piglets on the way
Post by: nails on April 01, 2011, 08:59:27 pm
lol i am hopeing there will be a red girl and perhaps a swallow girl, as the 2 sows and boar are blondes