AndreaS
Chillin' with the herd
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2010
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- 15
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Hi All,
We have a 1 year old gloucestershire old spot sow who had piglets a week ago. This is her first litter and our second time going through the farrowing process so we're still newbies.
She had 8 piglets and they were all doing well. Last night we castrated the three boys and that went well also. When we returned them to the barn she didn't let them nurse right away. She seemed restless, walking in and out of the stall so we have her more food. She had just eaten her dinner while we took the boys away. We popped in and out several times last night and never saw any nursing.
This morning my husband went to check on them and the piglets were huddled against her back. I just went out again and they were laying against her belly. They woke up and tried to nurse but she shifted so her nipples were not exposed.
I may be overrhinking this, but last time we had a nursing sow and piglets we were able to catch them nursing very regularly. The last confirmed nursing session we witnessed was on Sunday.
The only thing I can think of is that when we castrated the boys I put a drop of lavender essential oil in my hands and rubbed it on their backs to help calm them. Now I'm feeling paranoid that the smell has messed with the sow.
I'll keep checking frequently today to see if I can catch a nursing session- the sow isn't showing any obvious signs of illness. I just don't know how long we can go before we have to start supplementing for the piglets and don't want them to go too long without nourishment.
Any ideas?
Really hope I'm being overly paranoid over here...
Thanks!
Andrea
We have a 1 year old gloucestershire old spot sow who had piglets a week ago. This is her first litter and our second time going through the farrowing process so we're still newbies.
She had 8 piglets and they were all doing well. Last night we castrated the three boys and that went well also. When we returned them to the barn she didn't let them nurse right away. She seemed restless, walking in and out of the stall so we have her more food. She had just eaten her dinner while we took the boys away. We popped in and out several times last night and never saw any nursing.
This morning my husband went to check on them and the piglets were huddled against her back. I just went out again and they were laying against her belly. They woke up and tried to nurse but she shifted so her nipples were not exposed.
I may be overrhinking this, but last time we had a nursing sow and piglets we were able to catch them nursing very regularly. The last confirmed nursing session we witnessed was on Sunday.
The only thing I can think of is that when we castrated the boys I put a drop of lavender essential oil in my hands and rubbed it on their backs to help calm them. Now I'm feeling paranoid that the smell has messed with the sow.
I'll keep checking frequently today to see if I can catch a nursing session- the sow isn't showing any obvious signs of illness. I just don't know how long we can go before we have to start supplementing for the piglets and don't want them to go too long without nourishment.
Any ideas?
Really hope I'm being overly paranoid over here...
Thanks!
Andrea