So, what exactly do we need to do? I thought it best to prepare a timeline leading up to and after the piglets arriving. I read Tony York's 'Get Started in Pig Keeping' book some time ago. As Tony has set matters out in a straightforward fashion I decided to dig his work out and review it.
One essential point that Tony and our two of our neighbours have stressed is that we leave each pig to farrow, 'it'll know what to do'. There is a risk that piglets could be squashed by their mother however so we need to prepare for that.
Preparation Jobs:
- Separate the gilts two weeks before (so they can come outside and see each other)
- Two weeks before the stomach and mammary glands will increase in size
- Buy a wormer from vet
- Buy iron sulphate paste from vet
- Create farrowing areas (refuges for the piglets to stay clear of their mum)
- Source a creep feed for piglets
- Rig up infra red heat lamps in each sty
- Clean the farrowing areas
- One week before apply a worming treatment
- Just before farrowing disinfectant the udders
- Look out for restlessness, even escape attempts - is the area secure?
- The day before, provide straw for each gilt to build a nest
- Be prepared to shut the gilts inside
- Three days before (or closer) the gilts release milk. Gently squeeze their teats to check
- Check the shape/redness of the vulva; the larger and redder the closer the piglets are
- Rub iron sulphate on the gilts teats every other day for the piglets to ingest.
Outstanding tasks:
- Need to identify the best creep feed
- Find water troughs for piglets
- Inform vet that the pigs are in pig!
