FINALLY!! The Last of the Piglets Have Arrived!!

I think I was just as impatient as she was!! This morning when I went out to check on her she had made a great big nest in the same place the other two sows had farrowed in and she did not get up when I went in the pen. Not normal for her but there were no piglets yet!! So I smiled to myself and went back a few hours later.. and there they were!! 7 cute little baby piglets with their ears all smashed back on to the tops of their heads!! 

She had actually birthed 8 but one was born dead. I have no idea why but they've all had a dead one this year. I know it is quite common for them to loose several in the litter, for example my brother recently told us his gilt had had 15 piglets and was raising 11. His other gilt had farrowed 13??, I think?, and was also raising 11. ** I guess I should clarify a little bit.. My brothers pigs are large white pigs and are bred to have larger litters then our Berkshires :) As a breed the Berkshires never have more then 12 and 8 is pretty average. We like it that way :) Actually I shouldn't say she only had 8, that's as many as she had when I last saw her. I think she was finished but what do I know! When Papa gets home we'll head out and have another look. Our pigs have gotten a bit more used to me hanging around lately but they truly LOVE Papa :) She did have a runt, a small orange one like the last one, but it's only 3/4 sized to the rest not half like the gilts runt. I think it will do quite well! You can see the runt in the pictures... it is the one on the far left. ** Update.. she did only have the 8, Papa and I had a good look just a few minutes ago and all is well. More pictures soon!! 

While I had the camera with me I snapped this one of the older piglets sun bathing by the waterer while several hens get a drink! 

Growing up!!

The 1st batch of piglets are a couple weeks old now and the second batch is a week old.  (The 3rd and final batch was born this morning.. but that is another story.) They are getting quite big and it always amazes me how very fast they grow. They are quite tame and very curious!! This morning I had one chewing on my shoe laces! Of course his mama had to see what they taste like too.. nothing like having a 300lb pig chew happily on your shoe laces!! They no longer hide away all day under the straw bales but often are seen running here and there at high speeds and play fighting. They lounge in the sunshine and root up stray eatables. The pester their mothers until she gives in and lays down for them to nurse or a few can even nurse while she's standing up!!

The little runt with a litter mate of the same color!! The 1st few days they looked PINK!! Or salmon colored!! AWWWW!!!!

Papa had just fed the mama pigs and the little piglets are just starting to get interested in 'real' food..so they all had to come running to see what it was! 

The biggest piglet is from the 1st batch.. 6 days older then the other two. The black and white one is a normal sized piglet and the orange one is the little runt who is surviving very nicely now at a week and 2 days old! These pictures where taken when the little two were about 6 days old. 

Piglets #2 :)

Two of our 3 sows have farrowed (given birth) in the last 10 days or so :) The 1st sow had 8 piglets but one was  born dead and then another one was just gone the next day, so she is raising 6. The little gilt had 6 and one has died so is raising 5.. but one of hers is TINY and we're not sure if it will live.This is the only picture of it the day I took all these pictures but I'll keep trying. She is half the size of the rest of the litter. 

It's really an unfair picture as there isn't another piglet there to see the comparison. 

This is a fun picture as the piglet in the front is 6 days younger the one behind. 

WILBUR!!! Ever time I see a little piglet running with his ears back I think of the movie Charlotte's Web and Wilbur.

Having fun chewing on each others ears.

YES!! I am CUTE!! 

There are a few that are orange, white and black :) My favorites!! 

And here is poor sow #3... still very heavy with her unborn piglets. She's made several nests large and small, and one day she'll be ready and farrow.. I think she's as impatient as I am. I've been checking her several times a day and she comes to greet me at the fence every time. When she doesn't come to the fence, I know I'll have to sneak in and see her brand new piglets :) 

Here is a little movie of the piglets play fighting. They are between less then 12 hours old!! 

Piglets :)

It's a bit blurry but you can see the colors.. I never did get a better picture of this batch in the 1st week. 

She made a little nest under some plastic and had them half under a large straw bale to keep them warm. 

Our first sow to farrow surprised us with orange, white and black piglets :) Super CUTE!! I believe she had 8, 1 was born dead and 1 died of unknown causes.. leaving her with 6. Great Job Mama Pig :)