Got our Yorshire piglets today!

[Erins Little Farm]

Erin,

Thank you for that! I see that you have Yorkshire show hogs. Any advice or comments you have to offer would be greatly appreciated! This is a whole new world for us.

P.S. Erin; they have only little stubs for tails. Have they been docked or is that how the Yorkshire grows? Thanks!

Yes I have three yorkshire hogs. I like the breed a lot. Mine have stubs too, they have been docked. They look nice

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

aggieterpkatie and erin,

why do they dock the tails? Just curious...

 

[aggieterpkatie]

aggieterpkatie and erin,

why do they dock the tails? Just curious...

When pigs are raised in close quarters, they often chew on other pigs' tails. They dock the tails so they aren't able to bite them. Boredom plus fighting I guess. That's also why they clip needle teeth, because they can scratch each other up pretty good. And they notch ears instead of tagging so there's not something to get ripped out.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

aggieterpkatie and erin,

why do they dock the tails? Just curious...

When pigs are raised in close quarters, they often chew on other pigs' tails. They dock the tails so they aren't able to bite them. Boredom plus fighting I guess. That's also why they clip needle teeth, because they can scratch each other up pretty good. And they notch ears instead of tagging so there's not something to get ripped out.

Ah I see...kind of sad, but practical I suppose. These pigs have numbers etc on their ears. I can't tell if they are tatoo'd or permanant marker of some sort. Thanks for the education!

 

[Royd Wood]

Those guys will be nice big pigs before you know it - they look great
They have tattoos

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Those guys will be nice big pigs before you know it - they look great
They have tattoos

Thanks Royd! And thanks for the confirmation on the tattoos, I really wasn't sure. I didn't want to poke and prod them too much last night. They could have at least done some cool design or something instead of just numbers. Just kidding.

 

[Royd Wood]

Those guys will be nice big pigs before you know it - they look great
They have tattoos

Thanks Royd! And thanks for the confirmation on the tattoos, I really wasn't sure. I didn't want to poke and prod them too much last night. They could have at least done some cool design or something instead of just numbers. Just kidding.

How about a coat of arms with mum & dad in a scroll

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Those guys will be nice big pigs before you know it - they look great
They have tattoos

Thanks Royd! And thanks for the confirmation on the tattoos, I really wasn't sure. I didn't want to poke and prod them too much last night. They could have at least done some cool design or something instead of just numbers. Just kidding.

How about a coat of arms with mum & dad in a scroll

Exactly! Where were we when those tattoos were being done? We could have given some great suggestions.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

One piglet yesterday all of a sudden started walking, but then would drop down and drag his back half and then just plop down and eat some veggies. He'd get back up, walk fine and then do the same thing. He acted like he was lame, but then would get up and walk fine. We checked in on them after and they were all racing around just fine.

Has any one seen actions like this? Is this normal behaviour or something that we need to be keeping an eye on?

Thanks for all your expert help!

 

[Hillsvale]

That is not normal behaviour, is it eliminating OK... eating, making odd noises, showing any other signs of being off. Any signs of a wound or scratch?