Yesterday afternoon Natasha went into labor. We had been keeping her in the barn in preparation of her farrowing, as she had started to "bag out" and show signs that the piglets would arrive soon. We thought that she was closer than she actually was and after several days of her complaining about her containment, we started letting her out in her pasture during the day and putting her back in the barn at night. We hoped she would go into labor at night and we would be able to contain the piglets with heat lamps and a creep feeder in the barn, to keep them safe and warm.
Of course Natasha had a different plan. She went into labor during the day and once she made her nest in the pig house in the pasture, she refused to budge. There is no arguing with a 350 pound pig in labor. So I sat with her for a little while in the pig house, while she labored, trying to comfort her. This was a new experience for both of us and being more than nine months pregnant myself, I was filled with a bit of jealousy and a rather frightening glimpse into my near future!
After several hours of labor, she managed to deliver a litter of eight spunky piglets, two boys and six girls. Unfortunately, she also delivered three stillborns, which Nick buried this morning. Thankfully, she has so far been a very good mother, allowing all to nurse and walking and laying down carefully so not to crush any. Now we just have to figure out a way to get the whole family relocated into the barn.
Of course Natasha had a different plan. She went into labor during the day and once she made her nest in the pig house in the pasture, she refused to budge. There is no arguing with a 350 pound pig in labor. So I sat with her for a little while in the pig house, while she labored, trying to comfort her. This was a new experience for both of us and being more than nine months pregnant myself, I was filled with a bit of jealousy and a rather frightening glimpse into my near future!
After several hours of labor, she managed to deliver a litter of eight spunky piglets, two boys and six girls. Unfortunately, she also delivered three stillborns, which Nick buried this morning. Thankfully, she has so far been a very good mother, allowing all to nurse and walking and laying down carefully so not to crush any. Now we just have to figure out a way to get the whole family relocated into the barn.
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