The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Button End Beasts on August 03, 2013, 10:04:13 am

Title: Piglet vaccination fun
Post by: Button End Beasts on August 03, 2013, 10:04:13 am
Well we just finished vaccinating the piglets for ery. It was every bit as nerve wracking as I imagined! First we did their mum Flo - no problem at all. Then we went into the piglets. They were immediately suspicious. The first one I grabbed and tried to hold down bit me. So OH went on to the pig wrestling and I took over the needle work. I have to say the ery vaccinator gun is terric and makes the job very simple. It's just catching the damn little guys. They are very strong already so not looking forward to doing the second shot :(


Wish it wasn't so early as I could do with a stiff drink to steady my nerves! ;D
Title: Re: Piglet vaccination fun
Post by: Tamsaddle on August 03, 2013, 12:32:48 pm
Sounds very familiar!   Well done getting it done anyway.   It will be just as bad in 4 weeks, but at least you now know what to expect - Tamsaddle
Title: Re: Piglet vaccination fun
Post by: Eve on August 03, 2013, 04:29:23 pm
Do it whilst they're eating. What do you mean by vaccinator gun? We use a slapshot injector, before that we constrained the pigs (which are running around freely in afield  ::) ) and used normal syringes and needles  which was a nightmare. We now vaccinate for erysipelas every year, getting quite the hang of it with this slapshot thingie - makes it much less fun for others to watch, though, the first few times it was hilarious if you were a spectator :D
Title: Re: Piglet vaccination fun
Post by: Button End Beasts on August 03, 2013, 05:55:41 pm
Yes we have a slapshot which is good but Tamsadle recommended the ery vaccinator gun and it is really easy to use. I got it from vetmeds direct and really would recommend it.


Lets just hope then that in 4 weeks time, the piglets are so interested in food they don't run off... But I'm sure it will be wrestling match. There's one that looks quite like a Tamworth and she was a real bugger to catch! Perhaps we should try beer an hour beforehand?!