The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: HappyHippy on December 04, 2011, 08:58:07 pm

Title: Happy accident
Post by: HappyHippy on December 04, 2011, 08:58:07 pm
Having gotten over my embarresment (more on that in a minute) I thought I'd share news of our newest arrivals  ;D

Our OSB gilt, Poppy was due to go and visit Biff the boar on Tuesday for a 6 week stay  ;) Spotted her season just over 2 weeks ago and thought "great, perfect timing"  :thumbsup: Went to move them all to a drier paddock last week and noticed she was still in season  :-\ Only, when she got into the drier paddock (and wasn't almost belly deep in mud) it became very obvious that she was in fact, in-pig and going by the udder only a wee while away from farrowing  :o
Here came the dilema - our proven boar left on 3rd of August and the younger boar had been written off as firing blanks after failing (seemingly) to get anything in pig  ::) So by my reckoning it's 123 days since Syd left - meaning it pretty much has be to Red's offspring  :thumbsup: Great news for him as he was on his 7th last chance  :D
But I'd love to hear others views on the gestation period.

So anyway, we've got 10 very ginger, very spotty piglets - all looking really good and mum seems fine now she's had a wee sweetheart stout  ;) I think she's finished - but will report back with photos & updates.
Karen  :wave:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: little blue on December 04, 2011, 09:01:45 pm
congratulations
and well  done Red - he's so gorgeous its a relief to hear he can do the business.  He'll have lovely piggylets!
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: princesspiggy on December 04, 2011, 09:39:44 pm
great, well done to red, lucky for him!
we ate our drake that wouldnt work... :o :o :o
fotos soon wud be lovely  :wave:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: robert waddell on December 04, 2011, 09:48:08 pm
3rd august= 24th november :farmer:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: Fleecewife on December 04, 2011, 10:23:31 pm
That's lovely news Karen - looking forward to the piccies  :pig: :pig: :pig: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: doganjo on December 04, 2011, 10:31:13 pm
3rd august= 24th november :farmer:
So Red got in there fast as soon as tthe big boy got out of the way  ;) ;) Well doen, Red!
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: ambriel on December 04, 2011, 11:56:55 pm

That's great, Karen! Can't wait for the piccies!
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: HappyHippy on December 05, 2011, 05:57:13 am
3rd august= 24th november :farmer:
So Red got in there fast as soon as tthe big boy got out of the way  ;) ;) Well doen, Red!
That's what I'm hoping ! His life really does depend on it (cos great as he is, I can't keep him if he's not doing the job he's supposed too)  :'(
The piglets are really big & bouncy - it's making me wonder  :-\ I've heard the stories about pigs going past due dates because of a lack of suitable places or not feeling safe enough to farrow and the paranoid bit in me wonders if this is what she's done  ??? Can anyone reassure me (or not, as the case may be)

I did sit down to upload some pics - but I don't know where I've put the camera  ::) Since it's still a bit early to go putting on lights and trying to find it (kids won't be at school because of the snow - there's no point in getting them up too early, it saves my sanity and my eardrums just a little bit longer  ;)) I'll have a look later and get it done.

Just been up to check them and unfortunately we've lost one (why, oh why is it always a gilt ?) but the rest seem to be doing fine. They are shivering a bit, but it is cold & snowy - there's just a pile of piglet under the heat lamp, can't make out one from the next  :D and Poppy seems to be doing okay for a first time mum  :thumbsup: Photo's soon (I promise !)
Karen  :wave:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: Rosemary on December 05, 2011, 08:47:14 am
Congratulations! Hope mum and pigglies continue to do well.

Maybe Red was intimidated by Syd?
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: Fowgill Farm on December 05, 2011, 09:30:45 am
Well done HH & Poppy  :thumbsup:
By my reckoning she was got around 8th Aug to be due 1st Dec on average they go 3 or 4 days over so thats my reckoning.
Glad alll safe & well
Best Mandy  :pig:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: lill on December 05, 2011, 10:05:47 am
first, congrats on your wee piglets.

Poppy was in season on the 4th August, 3 months 3 weeks and 3 days after that puts Poppy's due date of 24th Nov as Robert has quite clearly stated ;).

I have been brought up with pigs from a very early age and can confirm that a pig with either farrow 2 days before due date, on her due date or 2 days after her due date, definite dates can only be confirmed with vigilance of the pig involved, pigs will not hang onto there babies as the reasons you gave above, poppy must have been humped around 1 week after the 4th August ;).

Hope everything goes well for the remaining piglets. In weather temps as we are getting at the moment use 2 heatlamps for the piglets for 1 is definitely not sufficient :pig:.

Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: robert waddell on December 05, 2011, 10:33:23 am
well as usuall i am am going to fubar this one
when we had cattle we had one that had an 11 month gestation  a Charolais x heifer was inseminated with Aberdeen Angus seamen   nobody else had an Angus bull anywhere near us           :farmer:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: Blinkers on December 05, 2011, 10:38:46 am
Congratulations - excellent news. Enjoy. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: HappyHippy on December 05, 2011, 11:33:38 am
I'm fairly reassured that they are Red's piglets, for if they were Syd's that would have made her 10 days or so late.........that seems unlikely  ;)
Here's a pic  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: thestephens on December 05, 2011, 12:28:37 pm
very very cute!! keep them cosy!!
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: Sylvia on December 05, 2011, 05:45:30 pm
I hope all goes well for them :) Good luck.
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: sabrina on December 05, 2011, 07:54:57 pm
Lovely surprise  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: Miss Piggy on December 05, 2011, 08:34:34 pm
So cute and so tiny, congratulations and the best of luck with them. Look forward to seeing more pics as they grow :pig: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: SallyintNorth on December 05, 2011, 08:39:23 pm
Very good news about Red, well done Poppy, welcome babies, congratulations Karen!

And, am I the only one to spare a thought for poor old Biff... ?   ;) :D  His lonely bed remaining lonely...   :'(
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: Miss Piggy on December 05, 2011, 08:46:26 pm
Ha ha Sally, Red has spoilt Biffs Christmas! Poor old Biff, maybe Santa will suprise him.  :love: Lets hope so  ;)
Title: Re: Happy accident
Post by: HappyHippy on December 05, 2011, 11:04:47 pm
And, am I the only one to spare a thought for poor old Biff... ?   ;) :D  His lonely bed remaining lonely...   :'(
Ah, he's not lonely - Poppy was an 'extra', supposed to be joining another couple of gilts. So Biffy boy has company & copulation to look forward to down in the Borders  :thumbsup: ;D

Thanks for all the good wishes - the remaining 9 are all continuing to do well and I'll try to get better photo's tomorrow.  :wave: