Any last minute advice?

LittleRedHen · #1 03/31/08, 04:58 PM

I am down to my last week befor my pig is due to farrow. She will be my first to farrow. Any advice? Any thing I should keep in mind for the big day? I suddenly feel unready. She has a brand new shelter. Straw.. I haven't made a creep area yet though. ANd its supposed to be nasty storms (rain with some possible snow) on her likely farrowing days..

Up North · #2 03/31/08, 10:52 PM

Your post reminds me of an old farmer who won the local liar's contest. His entry was :"I have 3 sons and 3 flashlights, and they all work"

Does your flashlight work?

LittleRedHen · #3 04/01/08, 12:25 PM

I have one of those things that go around my head and has the light on front. Do you think I could convince her to farrow in the day, preferrably on a sunny 50 degrees and blue skies?

This morning she was real lazy and didn't want to come out of her shelter even when food was dumped in her dish. Maybe its just that she likes her new shelter but I still had to jump in there and check around in the straw. I also checked nipples and while she acted like they were more tender, she had no milk coming out. Is there a special way to tweak or should milk come out even when one is ignorant on how to do it? her back end is getting more swollen..

The time is coming... but could be a week yet

Up North · #4 04/01/08, 04:38 PM

Milk just like you would a cow - only with two fingers to strip a few squirts out to see if milk has come in.
Nesting Behavior has a more direct correlation to the onset of farrowing.

LittleRedHen · #5 04/01/08, 06:21 PM

I will keep that in mind. I think I have a bit more time yet. We brought in the boar on December 12th. But it wasn't til the 16th til they really did a lot of mating. So I am expecting April 9th to be the magical day. Though I suppose it could be a bit early but the 9th is a good day. Better weather. Monday and tuesday next week is nasty weather but the 9th will be good...

myheaven · #6 04/01/08, 10:38 PM

lots of bedding and let her do her job.

LittleRedHen · #7 04/02/08, 08:51 AM

how much straw should i give her?1 bale or two?

myheaven · #8 04/02/08, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRedHen

how much straw should i give her?1 bale or two?

AS much as she wants 3-4 bales to start. She knows just offer it. My girl had 4 bales in a 5x5 house. it was -50 and 4 out of 7 survived with no heat lamp.

LittleRedHen · #9 04/03/08, 08:19 AM

I gave her my last bale so now she has 1 1/2 in there. She just tore into it. I think she thought she had a mansion last night. Now I need a trip back to the co op for more. 4 bucks per bale is better than losing any piglets

Up North · #10 04/03/08, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRedHen

I gave her my last bale so now she has 1 1/2 in there. She just tore into it. I think she thought she had a mansion last night. Now I need a trip back to the co op for more. 4 bucks per bale is better than losing any piglets

throw 3 or 4 more small square bales in there. The sow is just renting the hay/straw temporarily. She will improve it by shredding it and adding, er, ahem, value added components. Later remove and mulch/till into your garden, orchards or cropland. Builds tilth and organic matter of the soil which helps retain rainwater and sustain all things living.
Bedding cheap at twice the price- If it stays on the farm.

LittleRedHen · #11 04/03/08, 10:53 AM

that is an excellent idea. I cleaned out her old shelter from the winter and I noticed the soil was black. The soil is normally orange LOL So shes worth the fertilizer aspect to help me get a good garden. I might rebreed her one moretime nefore freezer. I dont really want to butcher in the summer but if i do one moreround then she'll be in the freezer in the winter and thus lotsa time to chew straw