EMERGENCY...Orphaned Baby Piglets!!!

[ChickenCanoe]

I haven't read all the threads
Not familiar with that breed but some look a little premie to me, some ok but I never had premie piglets in years of raising pigs. Whatever is going on I'm sure it has to do with the stress of the move. I'd get her isolated, comfy and calm. Close quarters so she can't run around a lot. Maybe she'll settle down and mother the rest.
We had a sow get agitated a day after farrowing and ate all of her piglets.

They really only have a few hours after birth before eating or start going downhill.

Good luck.

 

[drdoolittle]

Poor little babies. I think they look premature, but don't have a lot of experience with pigs. Probably after everything the momma went through, she just couldn't handle having babies too. Hope they do o.k.----good luck.

 

[SamuelMcF]

premature pigs are much smaller and skinnier than that. All piglets when they are born look a little "fragile" The bruising and scratching though is not normal. It looks like the mom was a little rough with them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Pigs are unlike most other farm animals. They have the ability to resorb embryos during gestation if given improper nutrition. They can have up to 15 or more piglets twice a year so can repopulate in a hurry. Therefore in the grand scheme of things losing a litter isn't as devastating in the pig world as it would be to horses, cattle, etc..
Even with the best circumstances, piglets are lost, often crushed by the mother or pushed out by littermates.
A lot are lost, that's why they have so many.

 

[SamuelMcF]

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yes a lot CAN be lost. But not if we can help it

But you're right about them being able to resorb embryos. I've had pigs have 16 piglets before. But most breeds only have 14 teets. So you end up bottle feeding a lot of babies haha

 

[EmAbTo48]

Ahhh poor piglets! Don't feel bad I am sure the mother has had a stressful pregnancies from not being cared for right away, this will cause a mother to abandon from the stress.

Okay here's some help:

First they need to stay warm! Piglets can not regulate body temp till 2 weeks. Use a heat lamp or heating pad. Temp should be around 90 degrees.

Second I would NOT recomend a bottle unless you are certain you can take the time and slowness so the milk does not get into the lungs. I recomend a syringe/eye dropper. You also can take a small dish and take and dip the piglets noise/mouth into it and keep doing this (this teaches the piglets to begin eating from a dish! If you have the time to syringe all day long go ahead. But keep it to one thing, either a syringe or teaching to eat from a dish. At a week they should eat from the dish wihtout a problem if you go this way.

Third: goats milk is great! Remember formula can go bad so read the label, feed your piglets every few hours now, at a week you can feed every 3-4 hours and if they are thriving you can stop night feedings (but if they aren't gaining keep feeding nights). I have also heard of people giving gerber cereal to fatten the piglets up more! (I would read more about that)

Piglets should not have diarhea and if one does, its vet time or you will lose it

just like a human baby you will have black poop first then should be a yellowish: you will know they are fine if they have this!

The cuts and brusing look like they are from the mom not being careful, watch them and make sure it all heals. There eyes should start opening I am thinking they aren't because of being tired, hungry, weak!

If you can get them past 2 weeks your in the clear. I won't lie its a lot of work, and you have to stay very routine with feedings! Good luck!

Keep us posted!!!

 

[sonew123]

only 3 made it? how many did she have? Im so glad folks are chiming in!!!!

 

[MuckBucket]

Ok I got a little bit of milk replacer into them, they are so weak. They have had about two ounces each so far. After getting them warm and comfty they seemed a little better, one of the males is pretty bruised up and is missing half of his tail Poor little fellow, he is the weakest but he still loved the milk. We were feeding them and noticed that the skin material was probably the sack that just crustified onto them, therfore their eyes were being sealed shut by this thin solid layer. i took warm water and baby cloths and slowy wiped them down, it not only celared their eyes up enough to see it stimulated them to want more milk, so now they've had two meals! They are sleeping happy in their warm box right now, they are so precious! luckly I can take them to work and feed them throughout the day for the next week until they are strong enough to learn to drink out of a pan. Keep them in your thoughts, my kids named them Bruiser (the one that is hurt), Biscuit (the girl) and Strudel the black and white one

 

[RHRanch]

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[SamuelMcF]

Congratulations! Sounds like you are doing an awesome job! I'm so happy! Keep doing everything you're doing!