[patmci]

I have a sow who has a belly that is gigantic. She is due in 3 days but is gigantic, did not eat all her meal today and is spending a lot of her time in her ark. Her teats are nearly touching the ground. This is her second litter and her teats were never as big as this last time. She only came out for 2 minutes and a mouthful of feed tonight. Do you think she is close to farrowing or will the waiting continue.

[doganjo]

If that was a bitch I'd be sleeping beside her tonight to make sure all the pups were OK, and her too!  

[gavo]

have you checked her teats for milk? Often if there is milk present it's only about 24hrs to go.Has she been making a nest ie collecting grass rushes or whatever is available? If she has she wont be long at all.

[patmci]

No she has not let down her milk but her sister and herself did not let down their milk until literally farrowing last year. I went out and checked teats and no milk but she was pacing. Went down half an hour later and she was farrowing. She has moved a lot of her straw into the doorway of the ark. Hope it is soon i cannot stand the waiting.

Regards Patrick

[patmci]

I have just checked the sow and she was pacing up and down in front of her ark. I checked her teats and she has milk. What do you think.

Regards Patrick

[doganjo]

I think you'll be up all night - hope you've got a warm duvet to wear out there.

[gavo]

Did she have any bother with her first farrowing? If not leave her be ;most sows know what they're doing. Check her before you go to bed to see she has gone in doors get a couple of hours sleep and check again. If she has not gone indoors hang around and try and coax her in;as sometimes even very experienced sows take notions not to use their house even in atrocious weather.

[Snoopy]

PAT

If that pig has not had those piglets by now will ye get thevet out!!!

Julie

[patmci]

Unfortunately i am still waiting for her to farrow. She is really big and has milk but just has not done anything she has been eating a lot on sunday and monday bud did not have anything tonight and she seems to have more milk. Lets home it is tonight.

Regards Patrick

[doganjo]

If she doesn't farrow tonight, Patrick, I agree with Julie, call your vet!

[gavo]

Are you certain of the farrowing date?Did you see her served? Like all females they can go a few days either way.

[patmci]

Not one hundred percent sure of farrowing date just going for the date in the middle of the 5 weeks she was in with the boar.

[doganjo]

Can you see them moving inside her?  If she was served at the beginning she is well overdue.  If she was served at the end of the 5 weeks we have to hang on till nearly Christmas

[BillyBerridge]

Hi Patrick,

When you say she has milk, how do you mean - have you checked all her teats? Does the teat take a bit of squeezing to get the milk, or does the milk squirt out from a gently tug?

They normally start to get milk in the fron nipples and slowly work back as the sow gets closer to farrowing, at first it will take a bit of a squeeze to get at the milk but up to 24hrs before the birth it can be very easy to extract - with a gentle squeeze.

[patmci]

It is just at the front few teats and it does take a good tug to draw it down.