[Button End Beasts]

We've weaned our piglets now but would like to put a couple of the piglets that we are keeping back in with mum. When would we be able to do that? They have been separated a week now and her boobs are shrinking nicely.

[HappyHippy]

I'd leave them another week and (as long as mum has completely dried up) then try them back with her. We usually give it a fortnight and they've always been fine.
HTH
Karen

[MKay]

My sow weaned her own at 17wks, no need to remove/force wean females unless you are not feeding enough, sow will wean at optimal time.

[Button End Beasts]

17 weeks! Wow, I can't imagine Flo putting up with the piglets for that long. They were constantly hassling her and ripping her nipples to shreds. There was no force weaning, she was happy to get away from them and they were happily eating creep. All have since been quite happy with the arrangement.


Karen, the boars piglets are going to new homes next week so I will probably try and reunite Flo with the gilts then as it will be 2 weeks of weaning. They can see each other through the fence now so they won't be totally foreign to her!

[Fowgill Farm]

My sow weaned her own at 17wks, no need to remove/force wean females unless you are not feeding enough, sow will wean at optimal time.

personally i would have found that this length of time dragged the sow too far down conditionwise but each to his own. My sows are usually glad to see the back of their piglets at 7wks, Clover peeed her last lot off at 6wks but she only had 5 and they were bigger than baby hippos so she'd had enuff.
mandy

[MKay]

Sow didn't loose more that a 10th of her mass and at weaning she was back to her fat condition. I'm sure each sow is different but feeding well will no doubt help. I do firmly believe home blend has much more to offer than people realize.