[Sbom]

We are currently bottle feeding two piglets, they are coming up to 3 weeks old. As we've never done this with piglets before I was wanting some advise on the best time and method of weaning.....
They are living in a big box in our utility room with a hen brooder at the moment, how much longer do they need heat for?
Thanks in advance

[shygirl]

thats quite tricky if they are on their own, with no mum to cuddle up to as its getting chilly now.
commercial pigs start weaning about 3-4 weeks but they must be eating a good amount of hard feed and usually the temperature is controlled for optimum growth.
with winter coming, id personally delay weaning until they are a good weight. are they feeding from a bowl?
how much hard feed are they eating?
they will need fresh air though to help prevent pnuemonia. i would put the lamp into a stable so they can run around but use the lamp at will.

[Sbom]

There not yet three weeks and haven't started them on hard feed yet, was going to get some weaner pellets tomorrow and see what they thought. It's a big utility room and always has either door or window open, so they do have fresh air. Have been delaying putting them out as I was worrying about rats and the fire risk of a lamp. Not tried getting them feeding milk from a bowl as I'm sure they'd just spend more time pushing the other off than drinking!
Ok another daft question do need to soak the pellets to start with?

[shygirl]

what breed are they?
i havent hand-raised any pigs but i have bred them. weaners pellets dont need soaking. we got the tiny size pellets but the sow/weaners one can be bigger but they should manage.
they must be eating a good amount of hard feed before you cut back any milk. we started hard feeding ours at 3 weeks old but weaned from the sow at 7 weeks. i would mimic that personally though commercials are weaned sooner - i would weigh the hard feed they eat to be on the safe side. feeding milk from a bowl would save you some work though.

i was concerned with fire when our heat lamps were over the straw bed, but unless the straw is pushed upto the lamp bulb then i think its ok, just check regularly. 2 littles ones shouldnt disrupt the bedding too much. our lamp was on an adjustable chain. the straw should be warm to touch though if the lamps are to of any use.

[Sbom]

Thanks, will get the pellets and root out a lamp. There mostly Pietrain with a little Duroc.

[Berkshire Boy]

I've raised piglets from 3 days old and we got them to drink from a bowl as soon as possible. It is a lot easier to have them drinking from a bowl. You can soak the pellets in some of their milk to start off with, but they should soon get the hang of the dry pellets. 3 weeks is about the right time to start them on proper food just do it gradually. Good luck.