Our pot bellied pig, Big Mama, had her babies five days early at Winterpast Farm…she’d been hanging out in the garage under a table on a pile of feed bags for a few days. Meanwhile, Farmer Mary made plans for a lovely birthing place, first in the barn, then closer to the house…then, suprise! Yesterday late afternoon Farmer Mary and her daughter, Elizabeth, were putting wood in the outdoor woodstove (we always need more wood by the way!) and heard loud squeals. Mother pigs are known for stepping on and laying on newborns while they labor to produce more…we ran to the garage and found piglets…the count was unclear and we had some runts and the usual sadness amongst the joy, but most are doing well this morning. The garage was not the plan, so Farmer Mary is hurrying to fix the space for temporarily housing the new family. Big Mama had a big breakfast with extra liquids and most of the piglets look great. Here’s a newborn photo from last night.
A HUGE thanks to Elaina Fouts and her Mom who helped with warming and then latching on the babies, Josh who happened by when Farmer Mary was in the midst of everything, daughter Elizabeth who helped with runts and one hurt baby, and dear friend Michelle Tilley and her sons who left the line to see Santa Claus at the mall to rush to my aid. Michelle has one piglet at her house who needed surgery after, we think, being stepped on soon after birth.
Piglets won’t be available to hold for a few days but quick visits, and food offerings (Big Mama loves anything including canned dog food) are welcome.