[Tamsaddle]

Our Saddleback gilt Daisy looked like she was about to explode a couple of days ago and has now produced a huge first litter of 13.   Everything is going fine, but she is quite a small, neat pig anyway, and I wondering how on earth she is going to cope when all 13 are over 4 weeks old,  individually enormous, and all squabbling for their own space to feed.    Is it physically possible for that many to fit in together without trampling their mum to bits?    Would love to hear from others who had large litters - is it advisable to wean them a bit earlier than normal, or do they just muddle through whatever?   Meanwhile, all 7 of the Tamworth piglets born last week are growing well, including the one who couldn't walk on his back legs for 2 days and is now completely OK - it really is amazing how they pick up once they start feeding.   Here are a few photos - Tamsaddle

[JulieS]

Gorgeous pictures   




I've had litters of 13 and 15 from gilts before and wondered the same as you.  They all get on very well and I didn't wean any earlier than usual.


Just keep an eye on them and make sure they are all feeding.


Let us know how you get on.

[Bionic]

Lovely pictures. Congratulations to the proud mums 

[Mammyshaz]

Well done mums     and congratulations tamsaddle, lovely piccs too.

[arl]

Hi i had a saddleback that had 17 two were bit weedy but i supplemented those two with a bottle three times a day and she reared all of them it was incredible there seemed to be piglets everywhere. I did have to up her feed enormously though to keep her condition on
Good luck with them
Arl

[Eastling]

Lovely pics well done

[Bangbang]

Well done, great piccies!

[Beewyched]

Hiya Tam
First of all congrats to you & the new mum  that's a good size litter for a gilt, a reflection on your good husbandary.
Don't worry about the size of the litter - it will all come naturally to her. As long as she has 13 good teats, a supply of fresh drinking water & adequate feed, she'll do fine.  Trust me - I've had a Kune Kune gilt with a litter of 9, then 11 & another with 10, she'll sort them out!
You may need to start creep feeding from 10-14 days if you think they need it.  I'm not sure on the feed ration for her breed ie so much for her + x amount per piglet, but there are a fair few folks on here who keep Saddlebacks that will be able to advise you.
 

[Tamsaddle]

Thanks for your replies - it is a relief to hear they manage the feeds OK with so many, somehow.  I am upping her nuts as per Oaklands Perfect Pigs book, ie. 6 lbs + 1 lb extra each day up to number of piglets, which means she should eventually be on 19 lbs !!!! (8.6 kgs) a day, which is such a vast amount I shall expect her to explode all over again - perhaps I should divide this into 4 feeds a day instead of 3 (and 2 feeds a day in normal life).    Anyway I shall see how it goes, and adjust her meals according to what she gets through.   
Today it is sunny and the gales have subsided, all 20 are outside in the grass for feeds, exploring and getting muddy - life is very sweet at the moment and I am wasting far too much time just looking and taking loads of pics - Tamsaddle

[Beewyched]

Oh piccys please Tam 

[jellybean]

I have a sow right now that has had 17, but two she manage to roll on and 3 were still borne......but the 12 surviving are doing really well.  A little disappointing, but cannot complain too much.

[Beewyched]

It's aways sad when some don't survive    I hope mum & the dozen thrive for you JB.
 

[SallyintNorth]

life is very sweet at the moment and I am wasting far too much time just looking and taking loads of pics - Tamsaddle

There's a better way to spend time?        

Fab pics, great pigs - thanks for posting.

[Fowgill Farm]

Thanks for your replies - it is a relief to hear they manage the feeds OK with so many, somehow.  I am upping her nuts as per Oaklands Perfect Pigs book, ie. 6 lbs + 1 lb extra each day up to number of piglets, which means she should eventually be on 19 lbs !!!! (8.6 kgs) a day, which is such a vast amount I shall expect her to explode all over again - perhaps I should divide this into 4 feeds a day instead of 3 (and 2 feeds a day in normal life).    Anyway I shall see how it goes, and adjust her meals according to what she gets through.   
Today it is sunny and the gales have subsided, all 20 are outside in the grass for feeds, exploring and getting muddy - life is very sweet at the moment and I am wasting far too much time just looking and taking loads of pics - Tamsaddle

Good advice as ever thro Oaklands, i would divide her feed into four lots if you have the time to fit it in, our Twinkle had 13 and she's only a little sow she reared 12 and i fed her 7am, 3pm and 9pm which seemed to suit her it also meant i kept a close eye on her undercarriage for any probs (heat, deep cuts from sharp teeth etc) and made sure she got time out from her brood!
HTH
mandy 

[Polished Arrow]

That's SO much food.  Happy to supply it to ours (both of them) when they pod, but carrying it up the hill will be a big task!  I like the idea of little and often 


Lovely pics