LMP's 2019 Farrowing Thread: New babies from Lucy and Prissy

[luvmypets]

The babies turned a week old yesterday! They are extremely healthy and very chunky. They are definitely the fastest growing babies we have seen yet. I think I will name the little gilt Mavis, however if she is a keeper or not is yet to be seen. Maeja’s babies are pretty shy but I have gotten both of them to roll on their side for belly rubs while half asleep under a heat lamp. I think they are starting to understand that I don’t bite. Maeja is a great momma and is very protective, and attentive. Although sometimes when I pet her babies she gets jealous so she will nudge them up and start rearranging straw to position them away from me. The other day I let Calliope out to enjoy the sun and she went around the side of the barn where Maeja has here babies. Maeja was having none of it and when she heard another pig she stood her ground and even charged a few times. Now there is a thick oak wall between the two and I doubt she could see onto the other side but Maeja was on high alert.

She constantly does this to make sure they are ok, such a sweet gal!

Always rests facing towards them.

And here she is nursing them
https://www.instagram.com/p/BteVnmMF2ak/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=n8bs4mlwc52n

 

[Baymule]

Awwwww……. she is such a good mom. And the good mom has a good mom too!

 

[Bruce]

Easy to get chunky when you don't have to share with 10 others! Cute little piggies and such a good mother.

 

[luvmypets]

Calli went out with Atlas today, and he didn’t waste any time. So if she took we will be seeing new babies early june.

Also sadly Atlas has been becoming extremely aggressive. We though he was just cranky because we took his girls, but this behavior has been going on for weeks. He started getting aggressive with me then my brother and today he pretty much sealed his fate by full on lunging at my dad. I don’t get why he has gotten so mean, he was so sweet when we first got him.

 

[Baymule]

I don’t get why he has gotten so mean, he was so sweet when we first got him.

Balls.

 

[luvmypets]

Balls.

Yep, talked to a more experienced pig farmer last night. She told me all of it is normal behavior.

 

[Baymule]

Kinda like a mean rooster, it has a thumb nail sized brain and thumb size testicles.

 

[luvmypets]

So my dad and I have been doing a lot of talking together as well as with other farmers about what happened to Calli. I have been doing my own research as well and we have come to the conclusion that her babies were stillborn. There are many medical reasons this could have happened, but at the end of the day I think it just happened. No reason, just nature. Although we are still pretty sad about this, she has another chance to be a mother. I have her marked to farrow on June 3rd.

I’m also watching Priss who should be farrowing the week of May 10. I don’t have an exact date, my dad says he has been counting for a few weeks but he doesnt know the day he started . Im not overly concerned with watching her. She is an exceptional mother and this is her third litter. We will be putting her in the barn a week prior and then letting her do her thing.

Maeja’s little angels are doing wonderfully. They are starting to get fat rolls.

We socialize our babies from an early age. I love how Maeja trusts me but still keeps a watchful eye.

Here is a vid of them playing
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt4fOQHFZST/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=13yu0khwgo36o

 

[B&B Happy goats]

Lucky little pigs to have such good mommas, nice job ...

 

[Bruce]

It isn't a happy thing that Calli's litter was stillborn but I think that is better than they died from bad mothering. Hopefully whatever caused them to be stillborn won't happen the next time.