The Next Big Adventure at Admiral Acres!

At the time I draft this post, Sowsy is one week into her motherhood journey. Boaris finished the deed last Wednesday and it was very interesting to observe up close and in person.

I knew Sowsy was in heat by the way they were both acting. I should have allowed her to cycle one more time, but what is done is done. She will more and likely have smaller litters, and she won’t grow much more, but it shouldn’t be a huge issue. Possibly even advantageous for my first time farrowing. Boaris is only six months old, so he is new to the dating scene also, but I am confident he got the job done.

Heat detection

As I mentioned, Sowsy was acting weird and at one point visibly in heat. What I observed was the following:

• Her vulva was swollen and reddish in color.
• She was walking around more and making a lot of noise.
• She had some clear vaginal discharge.
• I knew she was deep in heat when she started to “stand”. Gilts and sows will stand stock when pressed down on their backs.
• Sowsy and Boaris kept mounting one another. Once Sowsy was in “standing heat”, she held super still, allowing Boaris to do his thing.

It is recommended that sows should be bred twice during a heat about 12 hours apart. The second breeding increases the chances of impregnation and the number of piglets.

Gestation

A pigs gestation period averages 114 days, with 110 to 120 days being the acceptable window for birthing.

Wednesday, February 26th is the date of impregnation, which means we should have little piggies come Friday, June 20th, 2025.

You may have heard:

Three months, three weeks, and three days.

I haven’t met a pig farmer yet that hasn’t quoted this to me and most swear by it.

Now, what is next?

Spring is on its way, so I need to clean the pen thoroughly before June. I am excavating an area for my greenhouse, and the dirt that is removed for that will be transferred to the pig pen to raise it up some and give fresh dirt for that area.

Install pig shelves

Pigs are known to accidently kill their young by stepping or laying on them. To help combat that, I will install some pig shelves around the bottom of her farrowing house to give the piglets room to get away and hide.

Farrowing

According to my research, there will be noticeable signs leading up to the big day.

• She will begin to fill out.
• Her udder will begin to fill. This signifies 7 to 10 days are left before she pigs.
• Within a day of birthing, milk should be expressed easily from the teats.
• She will begin to make a nest.
• As the moment gets closer, she will become nervous.

Birthing will more and likely take place at night

With that being said, I will plan to work the night shift on that evening. It is said having the farmer on hand helps increase your piglet count. Try to keep strangers away unless she remains an easy-going hog.

As the time draws near…

Sowsy will begin to grunt and occasionally let out a squeal. She will get up and lay down constantly.

The moment we were all waiting for!

Birthing should start about an hour after she begins to labor.

Each piglet has its own sack of fluids, so as soon as you see liquid start to flow, get ready: one will be here any minute!

The piglets should take turns exiting, coming every 10 minutes or so. They will come either headfirst or breech, but it makes no difference.

Sowsy may be in any number of positions to deliver including standing.

Once the first piglet arrives, expect that it will take about three hours to finish delivering. When you see the after birth, it is over.

A round of applause!

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

Things can go amiss, and it is best practice to be prepared.

If birthing is going right along and then stops but Sowsy is still pushing, there may be a sideways piglet or one just too large. If this happens, wash your hand and arm good, and while it is still wet and lathered, reach in to investigate. Be sure your nails are trimmed.

For a large piglet, grab a hold and pull gently but firmly with Sowsy’s pushes.

For a sideways piggy, carefully push it back in and straighten it out.

I do not know a veterinary for swine in my area. Do you have one to suggest?

The first few hours

As they are born, I will:

• Remove them from their mother. (She could turn on them in her state)
• Give them a good drying with a rag.
• Clear their mouths and noses.
• Iodine dip their navels. I will need to order this.
• Place them in a crate with a heat lamp to hang out until ma is done.

Hopefully Sowsy takes all this well. Some sows will not settle down and require covering their heads in order to let the baby’s nurse. I read Atravet is a tranquilizer that may help her.

Higher protein intake leading up

Protein will be important the last two weeks of her journey. Some say that may be why some sows kill and eat their young, is for a lack of protein.

Caring for the piglets

If Sowsy has more piglet’s than she has teats, I will need to more and likely remove those piglets and feed them cow milk replacer. They must get her colostrum from the first feeding.

Weaning

The piglets will nurse for 10 to 12 weeks but can be weaned as early as 3 to 5 weeks if they have taken to other foods well. I will definitely want them moved to the front pen area when the weaning begins to minimize Sowsy hearing them cry. The one book I read made it sound like I should move her and leave them to help reduce shock to the piglets.

Teeth trimming and iron supplementation

Piglets have 8 “needle teeth” that need to be trimmed. This can be achieved using a wire nippers or toenail clipper. This is necessary if Sowsy teats are getting tore up and should be done within 24 to 48 hours along with an iron shot to combat anemia. I may be ok to not shoot them with iron as they will have access to the minerals in the fresh dirt.

Castration

I will want to castrate the piglets four or five days before weaning but no sooner than 3 weeks as there is not much to work with on the little guy. Once you can see what they are working with, plan to castrate. The earlier the better when castrating to help minimize trauma and chance of infection.

The actual process of castration will be covered in a separate post.

Drying up Sowsy

Once she is separated from her young, I will withhold water and cut her feed for a day to cut her milk production.

At this point in time, it will be decided if she is going to market or if we are going to give it another go. If she goes to market, Boaris more and likely will also.

The piglets that are born this summer will be ready for market in January, give or take.

The best is yet to come

I am looking forward to seeing how this all pans out!

What advice do you have?

Until next time, my friend.