Pregnant pig question

[chickened]

I have a sow ready to have babies and I am not sure exactly of the date she was bred. What are the signs of her getting close like within a week or so?. I want to move her to another pen to have her babies in and do not want to move her too soon. She is just starting to get teets.

 

[inthesticks]

Hey there.
Congrats on the upcoming litter!
Well the average piggy is pregnant for about 114 give or take a few. Do you have a rough idea when she took? If so I would take the earliest date possible & go with that, and move her a few days prior to that date.
Some signs to look for in a pig going into labor -

These signs usually happen in the 24hr prior to the birth
•pawing with it's teeth, like it's making a nest
•check her udders, they will become firmer & fuller/bigger
•will begin breathing heavier, from a normal 25-30 up to about 80
•a bloody discharge & potential fecal matter will be expelled
•may become very quite while looking for a spot to lay down to have the piglets

If you come across her laying on her side with her legs shivering, then there will be little piglets very shortly & should do whatever you can to create as clean a setting as possible for their arrival.

I hope that has helped some, my friends have pot bellied pigs that they breed.

​

 

[chickened]

Thanks for the reply. I have it narrowed down to 2 week window I think, I will watch her closely. We had pigs as a kid but I never was the one that took care of them that was my uncle's job. Thanks

 

[countrybuffs]

Is this her first litter? Is she fairly large? some sows are really good and wouldn't dream of hurting thier piglets, but some (especially first timers) get really upset and will attack the piglets. That is one reason some people use a farrowing crate, to protect the piglets. Also it is common for the sow to lay on the piglets and suffocate them, watch for this. As for signs, the other answer was all correct, she will probably chomp her teeth together a lot and try to make a nest, just be really restless, and then really quiet.

 

[chickened]

Is this her first litter? Is she fairly large? some sows are really good and wouldn't dream of hurting thier piglets, but some (especially first timers) get really upset and will attack the piglets. That is one reason some people use a farrowing crate, to protect the piglets. Also it is common for the sow to lay on the piglets and suffocate them, watch for this. As for signs, the other answer was all correct, she will probably chomp her teeth together a lot and try to make a nest, just be really restless, and then really quiet.

Yes, it is her first, I am building a farrowing pen and will section off a corner for the babies with a heat lamp. She is really gentle weighs about 400 pounds. She is 1/2 duroc 1/2 hampshire and the boar is a pure burkshire.

Would you use straw or shavings for bedding? I am leaning towards shavings.

 

[countrybuffs]

We raised Berks for a while, showed them at State Fair and did really well, but it just got to be too much work! Straw or shavings are O.K. each has pros and cons.I think shavings are cleaner and smell better, just don't get the really fine stuff,(sawdust) If you have questions when she does have them, you can PM me, and we will try to help.

 

[chickened]

We raised Berks for a while, showed them at State Fair and did really well, but it just got to be too much work! Straw or shavings are O.K. each has pros and cons.I think shavings are cleaner and smell better, just don't get the really fine stuff,(sawdust) If you have questions when she does have them, you can PM me, and we will try to help.

Thank you, I am sure I will have questions.