[Mrs Snoodles]

hi there,
We are nearly a week on and the piglets are thriving. Rooting around nicely, getting inti mischief etc. They are looking at Mums food. Do you think I am ok to add a bowl of replacement milk plus pig meal to the creep area, just as an extra or do I need to just stop fussing?! 

The litter size is 13 and this is her first. Although she is providing good milk (the piglets are in that nice sleep, eat, play routine) and seems perfectly fine, I wouldn't mind helping her if I can.

Thanks all

[Fowgill Farm]

if they're getting enuff milk off her theres no need to put extra down but if they're starting to nose her food you could put some creep pellets down for them out of her reach(creep round here is known as grower ) we tend to put creep down at around ten days, they nose it about a bit and you could dampen it with milk to encourage them to slurp it up.
Sounds like you and your girl are doing a great job, enjoy.
mandy

[HappyHippy]

Ditto Mandy 

Just make sure she's getting plenty of food  6lbs for her and 1lb for each piglet (approx) by the time they're a fortnight old - 19lbs a day  You might have to split it into 3, or even 4 feeds.
But it sounds like all's going well  Any chance of photo's ? 
Karen 

[Mrs Snoodles]

Cool - thanks guys. That's alot of feed!!!  I'll make sure I do my costings very carefully!

Yep, everyone is feeding her little and often - she doesn't want big hefty meals. Having gone through this process as well and remembering myself how I felt I can kind of understand

As for the photos...I have some fab ones of the little sausages line up on her belly and some of the more adventurous ones playing in the straw but.....sorry I need to work out how to get them from a to b and I'm kind of a zzz z kind of person.  Will try my hardest 

[Fowgill Farm]

once you know they're taking a good amount of creep you can knock the feed for the sow back usually after 5wks, you'll be able to see by her condition whether its a good idea or not, you can also take upto 3wks to get to the 19lb as at 3wks is when they're at the peak of taking milk from her and she needs the max.
Sounds like they're a great litter and she 's a good mum.
all the best mandy

[oaklandspigs]

It is highly unlikely that the piglets would drink replacement milk
 
1. they're getting all they need from mum
2. There stomachs are tiny at this stage, they take only a few ml each time they feed from mum, which is why they feed so often.
3. If they did drink, they would be getting second best, and take less from mum - remember "breast is best"
4. they only drink when the "milks coming" grunt comes from mum, and they need to suckle not drink, so will ignore it
5. You more likely to introduce infection in milk if you leave it lying around.
 
So yes stop fussing
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Mrs Snoodles]

Will do!  just about stopped worrying, will now train myself to stop fussing!