The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Tamsaddle on September 02, 2012, 04:01:47 pm
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My poor Tamworth sow Rhubarb who is waiting to farrow is in a state of great agitation, marching furiously back and forth, trying to dismantle the gates and fencing, and grunting in desperation for attention from anyone. She walked the half mile up to the farrowing plot quite happily last Thursday as she is due on Monday or Tuesday, but since then has been continuously unsettled - about what I do not know. She has ample drinking water, her normal twice daily feeds, a nice muddy wallow, a huge clean ark all to herself and a reseeded plot full of grass and clover and mustard to eat. She is not ill, no temp, and a voracious appetite 24/7, which I am trying not to indulge as she has become too fat anyway over the past couple of months. This afternoon I gave in and offered her a few extra nuts soaked in a can of stout which usually works a treat at calming pigs down, but has had no effect today. She has also been given fresh straw outside in case she wants to take it in and nest, but that hasn't worked either. It is her second litter; she had a tiny litter of 2 piglets in March, and I don't think she is going to have a large litter this time either.
The only thing I can think of is that she might be missing the other pigs, indeed she has never been alone before, even though several of our other pre-farrowing sows have been here on their own for up to a week without getting themselves in such a state. I keep wondering whether I should have, or still should, bring one of the others up to the adjacent plot to be nearby; the reason I originally decided against it was to avoid either arguments and/or any forcible attempts to break through and sleep together in the same ark, probably the wrong one, when Rhubarb is meant to be getting used to being alone in her ark, the same one she used in March.
In short, should pigs be able to cope with being alone for a few days on the trot, or is it cruel separating them from their friends for anything more than one or two hours? I know all pigs need other pigs for company, but do they need constant and continuous companionship to stay happy? Tamsaddle
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I don't know, Tamsaddle, just wanted to wish you and Rhubarb luck and send you both a hug :hug:
Hopefully someone more experienced will be along soon to give you some practical input :fc:
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It's most likely a combination of missing her pals and the impending birth. As long as she's well it's nothing to worry about. My wee Kunekune sow breaks her way out of the pen on the day she usually farrows (one which successfully contained both Large Blacks and Tamworths :o) because she gets so 'antsy' ::)
In the absence of being able to go and sit with her, rub her belly and reassure her everything is going to be okay, a can or two of stout, beer or cider will just help her chillax a bit :thumbsup:
It won't harm her or the piglets and it works wonders ;)
HTH
Karen :wave:
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Thanks Karen - Fortunately the long, restless wait finally seems to be coming to an end, as within the last hour frantic nest building has been taking place and the ark is now so full of straw I don't know how she'll get in. The grunting is now much more purposeful, and sort of, please, get out of my way, I'm extremely busy, just go and get some more straw. What a sweet pig, she helpfully stood completely still while I rinsed gallons of mud off her rear end and teats. So hopefully overnight, or tomorrow, I will have some piglets to report - very exciting, as always. Tamsaddle
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And also thankyou SallyIN for your kind thoughts too!
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good luck!
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Good luck, hope all goes well, i think if i was due to farrow i might be a bit aggy too!! piccies of little pigs would be lovely
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mine usually farrow in the stable and im thankful for a good strong door or theyd be out in a flash. they r not too impressed at being cooped up but its the price to pay for living the high life ;D ;D ;) ;)
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i too always feel guilty taking roxy away from the others, before we have put her in her quarters in our big shed, lots of humans going about but no pigs, this time we put her in the polytunnel which worked a treat, shelter when she wanted it but the back leads out to a grassed area which also worked when the vet came, put roxy out to the grass, close the big gate and we could attend to piglets etc.
good luck :fc:
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i too always feel guilty taking roxy away from the others, before we have put her in her quarters in our big shed, lots of humans going about but no pigs, this time we put her in the polytunnel which worked a treat, shelter when she wanted it but the back leads out to a grassed area which also worked when the vet came, put roxy out to the grass, close the big gate and we could attend to piglets etc.
good luck :fc:
is it a polytunnel with fixed walls like they lamb in? ie she cant bite the plastic? :wave:
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PP yes it is :thumbsup:
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one of mine always has a hissy fit prior to farrowing, drives me mad never mind her! and when she has the first piglets its like WHAT IS THAT ITS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME and then she settles down has the rest of thelitter and is a good mum, every pig is different and each as you're all finding out have their own characters, chill and just be there for her, best of luck
mandy :pig:
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Any news? :fc:
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Indeed there is, I was just about to start typing, but P6te's fantastic home made sausages were far too tempting. To my amazement it was a litter of 10, but the last two didn't make it out alive. No. 9 arrived 90 minutes after No. 8, backwards, and was clearly drowned on arrival, and No. 10 I discovered this morning with the afterbirths, having waited 3 hours after No. 8's arrival, by which time I was nodding off every few seconds and could barely drag myself indoors to bed. Pity, there were both very pretty and perfectly formed gilts.
But the other 8 are absolutely fine, wobbling about and squabbling over the teats as usual, even though there are masses to go round. Feeding seems to be going OK, so brilliant having my little CCTV camera in there so I can observe from indoors without causing any interference. No idea on gender yet. Such a relief, as this was the sow who only had 2 piglets in March, so obviously her first litter was just a one-off situation. Will try and take some photos later - at the moment Rhubarb is being very protective indeed and doesn't want any visitors, and I need some extra sleep too now that all the other pigs have had their breakfasts. Thanks for all your comments and interest - Tamsaddle :relief: :relief: :excited: :thumbsup:
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Congrats TS & Rhubarb :thumbsup:
Looking forward to the piccys, when you not so :tired:
:love: :pig: :love:
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That's lovely, congratulations! :pig:
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Well done to you both, glad alls well.
bestest mandy :pig:
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Congratulations on your new arrivals, hope she and her new babies continue to do well
Michele
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My camera is playing up and won't focus properly, but here are a few photos of our new litter. Lots of horrible flies everywhere, but piglets dont seem particularly bothered; 4 of them out exploring already; and feed time a few minutes ago, with mum having just come in from visiting the wallow and the piglets consequently not very photogenic. Tamsaddle
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ahh bless, muddy already ;D ;D ;D
welldone, love the sows name too :wave:
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Lovely pics :thumbsup: :-* :love: :pig: :pig: Blimey, they're up and exploring quickly! Mine didn't venture out of the ark for best part of a week!
So glad it's all turned out well.
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I think they more tumbled out of the ark, and got shooed in again pretty quick - by Rhubarb.
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What a lovely even-sized litter, Rhubarb's done you proud this time Tams :thumbsup:
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Congratulations :thumbsup:
Beautiful babies :love: and it sounds like Rhubarb is an excellent mum ;D
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Good news. So glad she did better this time x