newly weaned piglets not eating

[foodthatpoops]

I have 3 potbellied piglets that we pulled last night, they are 4 1/2 weeks old. Boys go tomorrow to be neutered. So far Ive not seen them eat or drink. They were rooting for food with mom but are pretty freaked out when I come near them. You can hold them and they will cuddle up but coming near them they are pretty freaked and want to panic and run. Ive offered them the same mini pellets they ate with mom and they refuse. They are all fat and healthy, 2 bigger and one a little smaller. What do I do? I dont want to bottle feed them and get them hooked on that. Any tricks to getting them to eat out of a bowl?

 

[Kiki]

I don't know a thing about feeding pigs but I wonder if you mixed their pellets with what ever liquid they drink and made it into a mash if that would help them to want to eat it?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I’ve had issues when I got my rescue pig. If you leave the feed out long enough they will eat. They are just like regular pigs in that manner. Making a mash slop using the feed and some milk should get them to start eating.

 

[foodthatpoops]

ok, I'll try this. Thank you!

 

[Gray Farms]

4.5 weeks is way to young to wean them off their mother. They'll need to be on the bottle for another 3-4 weeks at least. Then start mixing some pellets with their milk to make a "slop" in a pan for a week or so. Then they should start eating pellets on their own.

 

[chickens really]

I thought piglets stay with Momma just like puppies. 8 weeks and then wean..
@MillersFarm

 

[MillersFarm]

4 weeks is really young to wean piglets, Put them back with mama.. 7-8 weeks is usually when you're suppose to wean them.

I like what @Gray Farms suggested with the feed, It's a good way to get them used to eating pellet feed.

 

[cassie]

4 weeks is really young to wean piglets, Put them back with mama.. 7-8 weeks is usually when you're suppose to wean them.

I like what @Gray Farms suggested with the feed, It's a good way to get them used to eating pellet feed.

Four weeks is really young to wean piglets. Putting them back with mama may or may not be an option. She has probably started the drying off process. I have raised orphan pigs on dry feed. I mixed it with milk to make a slurry and they inhaled it. One time I ran out of milk and had to use warm water instead. My baby pig was not happy. He wouldn't eat it and he screamed all night. Since he was in the house, none of us got any sleep.