New to piggies and I am wondering what I got myself into :)
Jan 12, 2014 12:27:26 GMT -5
sallymcd, grammagrace, and 1 more like this
Post by moharefarms on Jan 12, 2014 12:27:26 GMT -5
Before Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to do a suckling pig for the family which would be up here the week after Thanksgiving. We always celebrate Thanksgiving, my daughters birthday and Christmas at that time so the kids and grandkids don't have to get involved with holiday traffic and local inlaws complaining they won't see the kids.. etc. Anyways.. when I brought up the subject of suckling pig instead of having Turkey or some other traditional dinner I got the stinkeye from most saying it would be tough on the grandkids having to look at the piglets head on the table.. blah blah blah. So I did the traditional turkey.
The thought of trying out the pig still bugged me and I wanted to try it, so I went over to my neighbors place.. he was still holding a piglet for me, I decided on a little one and then a older one from a different litter, both females. And then he showed me a gilt that had mistakenly gotten bred, she was too young and I felt sorry for her so I bought her too. Oh gosh what had I gotten myself into..
I never intended to raise pigs so I came in the house and started reading as much as I could, before they were brought over.. I even said to my husband "No, we shouldn’t do this." I thought he would back me up.. and he said "sure try it, I like bacon" Oh gawd!
So they are delivered and there are four, the fourth was a castrated male as a present to my husband. :rollseyes:
My son and his girlfriend came to visit, Simone loves the pigs.
The gilt's boobies were protruding some and the tip in the back was pointing up.. so yeah she was pregnant.. she seemed thin to me. Well anyways, they got here December 17th, I cannot say I was really prepared for pigs, my cow is pissed off they are near her, but we fixed things up and it seemed okay until "Petunia" started digging like crazy last week and becoming very mean to the other three little ones. We moved her to a barn stall, because I had a feeling she might be preparing for babies. She still never looked like she was ready, but being first timers for both of us.. I wasn't sure. We set up the heat lamp and bedded the stall down on Thursday, she pushed all the bedding in a corner, made a huge nest and seemed very content. Friday afternoon I went out to the barn to check on things and I peer over the stall and she is actively pushing. I run in the house, change boots and clothes, get the camera, towels, etc. and get back ready to assist. She was/is such a good momma, she didn't care if I helped her and she is so careful not to lay on them.
These aren't pedigreed pigs, but judging from the looks of things they are Yorkshire and Hamp crosses. The guy I bought them from works part time for me and he says he has never had the Hamp marked pigs born on his place. He said he bought Petunia's mom pregnant and she is a HUGE white sow, and his boar is white.. I was expecting all whites, but I am happy to see the variety of colors, she had 4 whites, 3 black and whites and one almost all white except his head is red/gold color and a red spot on the butt. 4 females and 4 males.
So from four to twelve in less than a month.. wow.
The thought of trying out the pig still bugged me and I wanted to try it, so I went over to my neighbors place.. he was still holding a piglet for me, I decided on a little one and then a older one from a different litter, both females. And then he showed me a gilt that had mistakenly gotten bred, she was too young and I felt sorry for her so I bought her too. Oh gosh what had I gotten myself into..
I never intended to raise pigs so I came in the house and started reading as much as I could, before they were brought over.. I even said to my husband "No, we shouldn’t do this." I thought he would back me up.. and he said "sure try it, I like bacon" Oh gawd!
So they are delivered and there are four, the fourth was a castrated male as a present to my husband. :rollseyes:
My son and his girlfriend came to visit, Simone loves the pigs.
The gilt's boobies were protruding some and the tip in the back was pointing up.. so yeah she was pregnant.. she seemed thin to me. Well anyways, they got here December 17th, I cannot say I was really prepared for pigs, my cow is pissed off they are near her, but we fixed things up and it seemed okay until "Petunia" started digging like crazy last week and becoming very mean to the other three little ones. We moved her to a barn stall, because I had a feeling she might be preparing for babies. She still never looked like she was ready, but being first timers for both of us.. I wasn't sure. We set up the heat lamp and bedded the stall down on Thursday, she pushed all the bedding in a corner, made a huge nest and seemed very content. Friday afternoon I went out to the barn to check on things and I peer over the stall and she is actively pushing. I run in the house, change boots and clothes, get the camera, towels, etc. and get back ready to assist. She was/is such a good momma, she didn't care if I helped her and she is so careful not to lay on them.
These aren't pedigreed pigs, but judging from the looks of things they are Yorkshire and Hamp crosses. The guy I bought them from works part time for me and he says he has never had the Hamp marked pigs born on his place. He said he bought Petunia's mom pregnant and she is a HUGE white sow, and his boar is white.. I was expecting all whites, but I am happy to see the variety of colors, she had 4 whites, 3 black and whites and one almost all white except his head is red/gold color and a red spot on the butt. 4 females and 4 males.
So from four to twelve in less than a month.. wow.
