The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on January 18, 2014, 10:51:00 pm
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Our OSB is due to farrow around 26/1 but today we noticed her vulva really swollen and red, all teats very dark around and looking like milk starting to build as udder area full all way along. My question is will she last another week like this?
Hope so as we have to finish her new house tomorrow if the weather holds. She hasn't lost her appetitie though except for veg!
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Will she let you squeeze her teats? If there's milk coming out (a good squirt - not just the occasional bead), she should farrow within the next 8 hours.
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Yes she will. She loves her belly being rubbed and under her back legs. No milk yet, teats feel empty but will keep an eye on them. She is definitely more grumpy as tried eating OHs leg last weekend. Mind that might be due to us making her a new bigger house and she didn't like the activity in her pen.
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If there's milk there it is imminent for sure.
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I think today could be the day. Our sow gave birth on Christmas Day - usually they go off their feed/make a nest/get restless - not this one. No milk in the teats, ate supper as usual, no nest building (but had a compacted layer of straw in her sty anyway). Checked her two hours later and there were 11 piglets at the milk bar and she'd just delivered the afterbirth!
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If theres no milk i would say certainly within the week if not sooner. Check for milk as often as she will let you, give her a handful of straw if she takes it in her mouth and takes it to her bed shes a day or so away, if on the other hand she drops it to the floor and starts pawing it around her it'll be within next 24hrs. Vigilence is the key word if you want to be present.
see http://www.gospbc.co.uk/so-you-want-to-keep-pigs-part-6/ (http://www.gospbc.co.uk/so-you-want-to-keep-pigs-part-6/)
hth
mandy :pig:
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Thanks for all the feedback. Teats are definitely empty at moment. She played with her bed in new house but grunted in disgust and went back to her small ark! We thought we'd give her a day or so to get used to it and then block the ark entrance.
Just trying to organise some lighting and heat lamp arrangements. It's really exciting, just hope they pop out when we're not there or I will spend the whole time fretting. :relief:
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Just trying to organise some lighting and heat lamp arrangements. It's really exciting, just hope they pop out when we're not there or I will spend the whole time fretting. :relief:
If the weather stays mild you may not need heat lamp but useful just in case and a lamp does encourage them to snuggle under it out of mum's way. Light is good too so you can see whats going on & if you need a vet visit.
Mandy :pig: