Piglets, finally

This afternoon when I checked on Mickey she looked lethargic and uncomfortable.  I knew it wouldn't be long till piglets arrived.  All the other pigs were very interested in licking her backside.  At this point I wished I had separated her from the rest.  Wendell was a little too interested in her and kept wanting to make more babies with her.  The poor girl just wanted to be left alone.  I think I heard her say something very mean to him but I can't repeat it.  I mean, c'mon, give the poor girl a break, will ya.

I was probably irritating her too by standing close by but she ignored me.  Just as she was beginning to push a storm rolled in.  I ducked into her tiny shed but so did 4 other pigs who wouldn't leave me alone so I had to venture out into the wind, rain and lightning and found shelter in the horse trailer.  Roxie and one of the black hogs waited out the storm in the trailer with me.

When the storm subsided I went back to see how Mickey had progressed.  I missed the first birth.  Luckily I got there in time to video the second, which was a breech birth.

It was a long time till the third arrived.  A young family arrived to ask if I had any pigs for sale.  I invited them to come watch with me.  They also raise goats.  We enjoyed visiting and they were happy to watch with me.

She only had 4 piglets total, which was disappointing, but I'm going to chalk it up to a young boar and gilts' first time.  These 4 little guys (or girls.  I haven't checked yet) are going to be very fat because they're nursing well and she has plenty of milk.

The last one born has almost as much black as he does white.  I'll have to get a picture of him tomorrow.

Mickey seemed wiped out afterwards and was happy to be stroked and babied.  For the last hour she hadn't made a sound but when I petted her she purred.  Good job, Mickey.


I'm sure I'll have better pictures and video to post in the next few days.