Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[Tomtommom]

Oh Oz, they have those snot suckers for human babies.. Maybe something to have on hand when Bernie is not around?

 

[Jucknath]

Oh Oz, they have those snot suckers for human babies.. Maybe something to have on hand when Bernie is not around?

Would Bernie feel unneeded? I am sure he got a pat on the back for his effort.

 

[ozexpat]

I requested Mrs oz to bring 2 snot suckers home at 9:26pm lol

I marked the piglet with a marker "B" for Bernie's Bonus.
that little fellow is all his.

Miss Amelia is a cutie. my, how time flies. it not feels like two months ago that you had a belly full of arms and legs. May her teething be smooth.

What pain medication did the study use?

Pig testicles are some of the easiest to remove. they are right on the surface and easy to get at with a ¾" slit. the incision closes on its own and is healed in 4 or 5 days.

Processing piglets at CocoBeach


within first few hours
1ml Iron injection (not needed if farrowed on dirt as piglet will eat dirt and dirt contains iron)
1ml of Gentamycin to prevent new born scours
nip two upper and one lower teeth on each side of mouth - these "milk teeth" are very sharp and cause havoc on mama.

within 1st day
notch ears with pigs number and batch number
weigh
castrate
doc tails (optional)
penicillin inj
CDT vaccine (tetanus) repeat after 14 days

day four
Rhini Shield and Parvo Shield vaccine repeat after 14 days

day five
introduce early wean feed

day seven
Myco Shield Vaccine repeat after 2 weeks

day 14
Strep Shield Vaccine repeat after 3 weeks on keeper piglets

day 28
wean and sell all but three heaviest gilt piglets
transition feed to on site made piglet feed over one week
give mama PG600 and AI for days later.

weigh with each treatment then every 2 weeks

keep best of three keepers at 90kg for growing to breeder. sell other two.

 

[topdycke]

Snot suckers work very well also centrifugal force by supporting the head/back and slinging the piglet in an arc downward - it works for puppies.

 

[Tomtommom]

Snot suckers work very well also centrifugal force by supporting the head/back and slinging the piglet in an arc downward - it works for puppies.

I'd be worried about hurting the little thing

One of those "in theory it works, but if you screw up the execution.. well...... "

I'm sure Bernie will be pleased as can be about his unexpected bonus. And such a large litter... you both stand a chance to make a nice sum.

I'm amazed how you seem to have been breeding pigs and goats and chickens all your life, Oz. Wouldn't believe you've only been at it for a year, if I had not read the story.

 

[drumstick diva]

topdyke you're right, I remember slinging puppies like that - each one as it was born & if they didn't let out a good screech, I would rub them back to front with my hand until they shrieked an angry protest.

 

[ocap]

I'd be worried about hurting the little thing

One of those "in theory it works, but if you screw up the execution.. well...... "

if you screw up the execution is it an execution ?????

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: Thats a very deep question in a question.
Scott

 

[ozexpat]

tomtommom: I lived and worked on a grazing property in oz with 1000 wool sheep and 100 beef cows from 15 until 23.

Add 27 years of nursing to that and I have some skills. lol

I learnt most of the practical stuff like AI processing pigs at YTU (YouTube University)

The theory comes from reading every book, article and webpage I could find.

I also have a bit of a photographic memory which helps - along with enough stupidity to give things a try.

I have made some colossal rookie mistakes along the way but I have the sense to learn from them.

I absolutely love the challenge of it all. 13 months ago I told Bernie to go off and buy three piglets. Getting them pregnant on mail order semen and then delivering their piglets is a joy I cannot describe.

the piglets had a target birth weight of 1.3kg. The average is 1.46. Two are below 1.3 at 1.0 and 1.2kg.

they have all been processed and are suckling well.

when notching the ears, Bernie designated the number 1 jersery for "bonus" he is 1.5kg.