We got a piglet ramblings, *update with pic*

[flowersnmygarden]

So last Wednesday at my oldest 2 daughters' insistence that we *needed* him and they would do the work until he was ready to butcher, we drove out and picked up a piglet.  I didn't realize how tiny he was till we got there, he must have been the runt and that's why the mom couldn't feed him.  I should have turned around and came back home, but I didn't.  They said he eats really well from a bottle, an ounce at a time.  We got the stuff before we picked him up(though if I had known the survival rate of unweaned piglets prior to going I would have cancelled it altogether).  Anyway, we get him home and here he is:



He would NOT eat from the bottle.  Not a chance.  We thought maybe the car ride/changes made him feel icky, but after he was here for 8 hours he STILL woudln't take a bottle.  Certainly not an ounce worth, but he loved being held up against me tight.  Finally we tried putting some in a deep lid and he sucked it up quick and was looking for more.  He got 1.5ounces then, and 2 more times before I went to bed and then my oldest took over his feedings, every 1-2 hours during the day.  I would feed him before I went to bed at night, so he didn't go too long at night.  He was up to 2oz per feeding the next day.  We weighed him Friday to see just how little he was and 2lbs 3oz!      I was kind of shocked.   I weighed him tonight and he's up to 2lbs 11oz now, so he's gaining nicely.

He does look dry the last 2 days.  We are keeping him inside(something I never would have thought we'd be doing), with a heat lamp since it's cool in our house and he's in a large box with only one side under the lamp until we get a setup in the garage for him.  We have a pan of dirt for him to play in, but he'll do his business in it, then wants to explore the house.  We took him outside for a little today, but it's chilly and he got cold today.   What are we doing wrong for him to be dry and peeling a little around the neck?

[flowersnmygarden]

That is not the box we are keeping him in, btw, that's just the one we transported him in. He's in a much, much larger box.

[briarrose]

He might have gotten a little sunburned from the heat lamp. How badly is his skin pealing? They have soft dry skin and a little bit is normal. He may also have had some of his sack that got stuck and is just now pealing off. Otherwise is sounds like you are headed down the right track. Keep an eye on his poop. Baby pigs are one of the easiest animals to house train. I would be very careful about putting him into the garage as he is by himself and so young. If you set him up with a kennel in the house with a litter pan of dirt in it he will most likely be a great house pet until old enough to transition to your garage. They are so much fun, I love when I "Must" bring piggies in the house! It kind of sounds like he is just a new born by his size. Do you know what breed he is? My girls have really large litters so I often raise babies in the house. The one thing that would help him keep warm when wandering about would be a sock sweater. Cut the toe out of a sock and then cut front leg holes in it. Just make sure that it does not cover his little bit of business or it will be wet all the time.

[flowersnmygarden]

Oh, the sweater idea is perfect! I was having misgivings about putting him in the garage, which is attached And frequented, since our laundry is there, but he seems to enjoy te company. Whenever I walk by him he "talks" to me, so cute! He is so smart, I was surprised, already poops in one area and sleeps in the other and knows you are feeding him when you click your tongue. He was only 7 days when we got him, so 2 weeks tomorrow? He's a bluebutt/Duroc(sp?) mix. I sprayed him with a little water this evening, then rubbed him with olive oil and his skin looks much better.

[eljay]

He sounds like a lucky little guy, cute too.

[suzorse]

check the temp where he lays in the box , it should be 90 degrees in the sleeping corner
with the other 1/2 cooler , raise or lower the lamp to ajust the heat as baby pigs can not regulate their body temp , lamp should be around 18 to 24 " above his sleeping bed
he will tell you if he is to hot or cold as he will huddle under the lamp shivering if cold sprawled out under it if comfortable , or if to hot he is as far away from it as he can get Suzanne
baby pigs use a pritchers teat the yellow screw on type and with his weight gain he is doing good, pretty soon he should start gaining lbs a week

[flowersnmygarden]

We've been keeping it 90* on his sleeping side, so that's good. I had read a range, but he's cold at 85* and hot at anything over 90*.

[suzorse]

then you are doing good , it is normal for white areas on pigs to get pink or flaky
I have 2 white pigs
Suzanne

[Nonesuch Melissa]

You are doing great. I hope he turns into an obnoxious brat before it's time to eat him.

[grammagrace]

I have been around a lot of pigs. Most are a pleasure to eat by the time it is time. But so stinkin' cute as babies.

[flowersnmygarden]

Here is a pic of Porky's corner. My daughter is inside with him.

[simplynaturalfarm]

I have had foals,kittens, calves, poults etc and piglets are still the cutest - they run around like a mob ofants while they are SO tiny, and yet they talk to you, they snort, they ... are just soo cute!

[Deleted]

So glad he is doing well for you. And your story is the EXACT reason I will likely never farrow pigs...I'd be looking for any excuse to bring a teeny one in the house.

[nodakjersey]

Dec 27, 2014 13:10:04 GMT -5 simplynaturalfarm said:

I have had foals,kittens, calves, poults etc and piglets are still the cutest - they run around like a mob ofants while they are SO tiny, and yet they talk to you, they snort, they ... are just soo cute!

I also have a special place in my heart for piglets...they are warm and soft....adorable

[haecklers]

Wow, that is a *really* nice setup! Lucky piggie!

[flowersnmygarden]

Updated pic:

He's doing pretty good. Up to 5lbs and starting to eat a bit of egg each of the last 3 days along with his milk. He still mostly wants nothing to do with hog feed. Lol.

[guernseygirl]

Dec 27, 2014 13:52:21 GMT -5 @freedomorganix said:

So glad he is doing well for you. And your story is the EXACT reason I will likely never farrow pigs...I'd be looking for any excuse to bring a teeny one in the house.

Yep......now I'll have one eye open for an orphan piglet, just what I don't need, but shoot are they cute!

[zansmo]

Glad he is doing well, and yes, he looks like he has grown!

Growing up we raised pigs, there were 4 kids, and we each had pig chores to do before going school....one of my fondest memories was getting to stay home from school one day because a sow had babies in a mud puddle. My stepdad made a tent over the propane oven, and I got to stay home and turn piggies to get them warm! 

[flowersnmygarden]

Because this was too good not to share. My oldest with him . He looks like he's growing much faster now, every day he looks bigger!

[christybell]

They are both too cute for words