More Piglets

Darla - Photo Copyright 2013 Tee Marie Photography. All rights reserved.

Just after Darla had her previous litter of piglets (like the next day) we saw our boar on her making more.  Doing the maths meant our next litter of piglets was due mid-August.  We were going to try to make sure that this lot wouldn't be abandoned by their mother so we decided to build a farrowing shed and as is typical for us, we only really started work on it about two weeks before we thought she was due.

Some of the stuff we pulled out of the truck canopy.

Our first big issue was a shed.  We had an old garden shed, kindly donated by Hubby's parents when they left their red-zoned house in Christchurch.  It was in a paddock but didn't cope with the winds there and tried to fly more than once.  It's now in pieces behind the big shed and Hubby didn't think it would be worth trying to use it.

Floor in and pen started.

We decided on an old truck canopy that was being used for storing all kinds of crap - actually, we've been through it, but haven't added anything to it, this was all left behind by the previous owners!  This is just one of three sheds that were chock-filled with might-be-kinda-useful-one-day type of stuff.  It didn't take long to empty it and sort out the contents.  Finding a new home for them is going to be interesting though.

Patched holes in the roof.

Pallets make useful pens.

Add a creeper rail to give piglets a safe space.

So our first job was that it needed a floor.  As it sat on a slope between two trees this was a bit of a challenge, but propped up to roughly level pallets on the downhill part and plywood over top fixed that.

So next the walls.  I found two pallets that were in pretty good condition and roughly the right size to be walls for the pen.  At my direction, Hubby made a creeper rail and the gate.

I got the wiring all ready to go, just needed the last few fittings and to be connected up to the power.  We were also worried about the potential for leaks dripping on heatlamps and wiring (and piglets).

It was nearly there, but I was sure she was due to drop them any day now.  I spent several hours most nights figuring out what I'd do if she delivered them before we were ready - as a result, I spent a week exhausted and running on about two hours sleep each night.  It was not the safest time for me to be up a ladder riveting the roof patches on, or cutting the last piece of plywood for the floor, or really doing anything much.

Mid August came and went.  No sign of piglets.  Darla's udder swelled up and her nipples were pointing out sideways, but semi-regular checks showed no piglets yet.  The urgency to finish the shed waned.  Then we had the big storm which put many things on hold while we cleaned up that mess.

We dithered and added a little bit here and there, it was nearly but not quite finished for the next six weeks.  I kept looking at my sow and asking her when those babies were coming.  She'd just grunt sweetly at me and flop down on her side for a belly scratch.

In the little hut all three big pigs normally share - about an hour after the last one was born.

Just over a week ago, we had visitors.  Our friend came to visit with his lovely Philipino fiancee.  She adores the pigs and came out to help Miss Seven feed them.  I noticed a smear of blood and mucous around Darla's nether regions.  Right, we have piglets on the way.  None yet that we could see - I'd interrupted her with food.

Hubby and I rushed to finish the shed, while she dropped a piglet in the paddock and then took herself off to the little house that all the pigs share.  I picked up the little white piglet and followed her.  My friend (who'd ended up nursing the previous litter) stayed and kept an eye on things while we worked on getting the farrowing shed finished.

In the new farrowing shed.

We ended up with just five piglets, but this time, Darla was a very good, patient and attentive Mum.  I watched piglets climb all over her, bite her face, and wander all around her.  She'd lift a leg and let them past or just tolerate being a jungle gym.  She lies down slowly, giving them plenty of time to get out from under her, and checks on them constantly if she's outside and feeding.

Under the heatlamp

We've got them moved to the new farrowing shed and the piglets are growing well.  She even took them outside and had them out in the sun over the weekend. :)

For those who are interested in such things they were born in this order:
White, female - named Wilbur (Miss Seven is Charlotte's Web obsessed).
Black, female - named Lims-Kragma (Master Fifteen is a fan of Raymond Feist).
Spotted, female - named Perdita (would have been Pongo if male).
Black, male - named Stefano (actually seems to be stripes - not sure on the source of this name, Miss Seventeen chose it).

Out in the sun.

White, female - named Ghost (she went missing the morning after they were born, she disappeared in daylight but turned up in the paddock - no idea how she got out of the hut - 3 hours later perfectly fine and warm).

Five one week old piglets, sleeping in the sun.

Yes, that's right, four girls and one boy.  Order of birth: White, black, spotted, black, white.

We thought that was pretty cool.