Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[frustratedearthmother]

I'll try to get some new pics - they are really growing.

Gilt is still pregnant...and thankfully...walking fine today. Must have been some internal re-adjusting yesterday that had a nerve pinched or something....

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Forgot to add that I stopped milking yesterday and tossed those gals out to pasture. They are both bred and due in March and their production started dropping this week. Seems that's their way of telling me it's time to give them a break! I've got milk in the freezer so we'll see how long that holds us. It's certainly NOT gonna last until March when kidding starts though.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Keeping an eye on the gilt...she's been pretty lethargic for a couple days now. Not sure if it was because her back end was hurting or if there's another reason....like imminent birth! Just checked on her a few minutes ago and it looks like she's done a tiny bit of nest building... not enough to make me think she's ready, but... She's laid out on her side, but not panting or pushing. I have to go out of town on Thursday, so my guess is that's when she'll decide to do this thing, lol!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Still no new piggies.... geeze. These pigs are just about as ornery as goats, lol.

My mother, my mother, my mother... She has been using me for her alarm clock for quite some time now and I usually don't mind. However, I am now OFFFFFF work until January 3rd and what does she want? She wants me to call her at 6:30 am for the rest of the week to wake her up...sigh.

She also worries that her phone isn't working - so she calls me several time a day and asks me to call her so she'll know if her phone is still working...

Bless her heart.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

No. Baby. Pigs. If she doesn't pop em out in the next 24 - 48 hours I'm guessing she'll go a few more weeks. Getting OVER this real quick, lol.

Some of the 3 week old piglets are having some really loose white-ish runny poop. My research lends me to believe that it's milk scours and the suggestion is to wean them. At three weeks? They don't seem the least bit ill...happily playing and nursing. Going to set them up a creep feeding area which will lead to weaning. I went ahead and bought ONE bag of medicated feed. I don't really like that - but they're not really drinking much water and I don't want to dose them individually so I'm taking the lazy way out. BUT - also read that if they start losing weight that it might be coccidia and at that point I would give them a dose of Toltrazuril. Pigs were supposed to be easy! Good thing I'm off for the next few weeks. Gonna get this mess cleaned up and see if I can sell a few of 'em.

Heading into town this morning to get a few things. Need to gas up the truck because I'm headed out first thing in the morning to my DD's house. Her Army husband received a promotion and his pinning ceremony is tomorrow. I'd love to stay longer, but it'll just be a quick overnight trip. I'd drive home tomorrow night if I could see in the dark - ugh.

 

[baymule]

Be safe on your trip and enjoy your DD!

 

[NH Homesteader]

3 weeks seems early... Our friend we get pigs from weans around 8, depending on weight. Pigs are easier than goats but is anything in farming ever easy? Good luck with them!

Have a good trip !

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Thanks ya'll, not really excited about the 4 hour drive up, and then back the next day - but that's the way it is. Can't be gone too long. Plus we'll stay a couple days with them Christmas day and a couple days after. THAT'S when the gilt will farrow, lol. Duh!

I'm not gonna wean the piglets as long as they're holding their own. But, I need them to start eating so they will be ready to wean when it's time.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Of course that's when she'll farrow! Why wouldn't it be?

That's a LONG drive for a one night stay! Drive safe

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm baaaaaack! And yes, it was a long drive, but it was nice to spend a couple hours with DD and the grands. Got up this morning and left there before 8. Got home and literally - first thing I did even before going in the house to pee, lol (long drive) was go check on the gilt. She was busy nest building, pawing the hay, and totally ignoring my presence. I came back to the house (peed) changed clothes, got a drink of water and went back out. She had three on the ground already! In less than 10 minutes or so. I stood around and a few minutes later # 4 is here....waited a few more minutes and #5 made her appearance. Unfortunately #5 is not gonna be ok. She's a tiny little runt and one back leg is deformed. She ended up crawling away from the mom so her instincts aren't right either. I'm hoping I don't have to do the deed. She was pretty close to being gone when I came back in the house to get something going for dinner. I'll check again in a bit.

So far, little gilt is a good mama - but I think she's still in that 'farrowing trance'. She didn't care that the dogs were walking around, that I was in there or nothing. She only responded with a soft grunt or two - to her own mother sow - walking in and laying beside her on the other side of the fence.

I have a tendency to try to "save" everything that has an issue. Sometimes that's not really the best thing to do. A couple years ago I had THE cutest buckling born with a deformed front leg. He could do pretty well if I stood him up...I was just sure that he'd learn to hop around on three legs and make somebody a pet wether or at least make it to freezer camp. After a few days his mama rejected him so I put him on a bottle... Little critter just didn't get better. He could stand, and even hop a little if someone stood him up - but he could NOT get himself up off the ground. After a month, when I was really attached to him - we had to put him down. I think that was my final lesson in trying to save the un-save-able.

Better get back outside...