Red’s (pig) farrowing Part 1

Red’s (pig) farrowing Part 1

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When we first got Red as a bred sow, we were told she was due to farrow in April. Turns out that was just a guess, and her actual date was closer to the beginning of March.

But we didn’t know that until the beginning of March.

“I think she’s in labor,” Dog Lovin’ Mama said on March 5th, when Red started pacing, chewing on the boards in her stall, and trying to tip her
water bowl over.

I said no she wasn’t because a) she wasn’t due until April, right? and b) although she was bagging up, she didn’t have any milk coming out yet.

Yeah, well.

March 6th we went out to do morning chores and Red was still all sorts of crazy. I checked her for milk – and milk sprayed all over my boot. Milk all over your boot means babies are coming soon. I muttered something (probably profane) under my breath because it a) wasn’t anywhere near April yet and b) we weren’t ready.

Then began the mad hunt for heat lamps and tools and extension cords and a text to my husband to ask how to safely plug everything in. A run to the feed store for woodchips. The gathering of towels. Totes to warm piglets in.

While we were fixing a couple things on the stall, Red stopped pacing and laid down. Oh gosh, we’re getting close.

 And while we were hanging that last heat lamp in the creep feeder, I looked over to see two itty bitty hooves sticking out of Red’s backside.

Oh. My. Goodness. Just like that, we had the first piglet.

Over the next almost hour, Red delivered 14 piglets. Farmboy Iggy and Dog Lovin’ Mama were in the stall with Red (no farrowing crate) catching and cleaning piglets. I was in the creep feeder putting piglets in totes under heat lamps. Farmboy Ooky was our runner. (“Oh my God! We need more towels! We need another tote, Ooky! Run!”)

An hour after she delivered the 14th piglet, Red delivered a 15th piglet who was stillborn.

Farmboy Iggy was such a good labor coach, holding Red’s hoof.

And those babies sure were good eaters.

And so stinkin’ cute I can’t even handle it.

Red, a four time mama, has been so patient with us newbies. We bought her because she’s such a docile sow and doesn’t mind people being around her or her babies. She has proven that numerous times over the past ten days. Good Mama, and we are thankful to have her as our first sow. 🙂

We did lose one of the piglets two days after he was born. He’d been weak from the beginning and we weren’t sure if he’d make it or not. Our current piglet count is 13, which is a lucky number in Japan. 🙂

My next post in Red’s Farrowing should be titled “Honey, I know you just fixed the pig stall/creep feeder because we thought this was the way it should be, but now we realize it should be this other way…honey? Honey? (Times Four)” But that’s a really long title…so instead, stay tuned for It’s a Good Thing We Have a Lot of Scrap Wood. 🙂



6 thoughts on “Red’s (pig) farrowing Part 1”

  • What an adventure! Glad you had that extra pair of hands (!) to take the pictures. Mama Red dispels all those stories you hear about angry, nasty, mean sows. You got yourselves a good mama pig there!

  • Huge congratulations! There's nothing better than a successful birthing, no matter the animal! Those are some way cute piglets. 🙂

  • Congrats on the babies and such a nice sow, as some aren't. We dont have pigs on our little farm but I use to take the runts from the pig farm we lived near when I was young and bottle raise them for the farmer. That's so great that your son got to participate and I am just so happy you have such a sweet sow. Best wishes. Loved the photos

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