[HappyHippy]

Having gotten over my embarresment (more on that in a minute) I thought I'd share news of our newest arrivals 

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"  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 
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  Great news for him as he was on his 7th last chance 
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 

[little blue]

congratulations
and well  done Red - he's so gorgeous its a relief to hear he can do the business.  He'll have lovely piggylets!

[princesspiggy]

great, well done to red, lucky for him!
we ate our drake that wouldnt work...
fotos soon wud be lovely 

[robert waddell]

3rd august= 24th november

[Fleecewife]

That's lovely news Karen - looking forward to the piccies 

[doganjo]

3rd august= 24th november

So Red got in there fast as soon as tthe big boy got out of the way  Well doen, Red!

[ambriel]

That's great, Karen! Can't wait for the piccies!

[HappyHippy]

3rd august= 24th november

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  and Poppy seems to be doing okay for a first time mum  Photo's soon (I promise !)
Karen 

[Rosemary]

Congratulations! Hope mum and pigglies continue to do well.

Maybe Red was intimidated by Syd?

[Fowgill Farm]

Well done HH & Poppy 
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 

[lill]

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 .

[robert waddell]

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           

[Blinkers]

Congratulations - excellent news. Enjoy.

[HappyHippy]

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 

[thestephens]

very very cute!! keep them cosy!!