Ahhhh.... busted! And so quickly I might add.
This is our very first litter. We always bought feeders before. For the delicate ones here, I omitted that she actually had 10, that I know of.
A couple of technical points. I don't raise the way most do. I should have had all the pigs separated by now, and a creep installed for the newborns. It gets uglier. When I saw that she was having them and I was unprepared, I called Carla, who also gave me double type instructions.... and the upshot is, mama got nervous, got up, and stepped on one, that we had to put down.
Another point is that a good sow should have a minimum of 10. I hand picked this one because she has 14 nipples and is long. Technically, if her next litter does not produce 12 or more piglets, she should be destined for sausage. We will see about that.
I am rolling my eyes, laughing and maybe somewhat jealous of the boob biting pig....
I am not sure that I understand starting with smaller pigs. Realize that this mama is only 9 months 3 weeks and 3... ok 5 days old.... They go from zero to 225 in about 6 months, like a Ferrari!
I will say, if you work with, talk to and pet every day like some of you do your chickens... pigs are extremely friendly. I won't tell you how I know that. I lost that when I got the automatic feeder this winter and didn't see them for a week at a time except to walk by and collect eggs.
Believe me, I can hand feed these pigs. I can't pet them anymore, but will work on that this summer, or.... put them to sausage and work with these youngsters. Be sweet or be meat!