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Still Born Babies & Foster Sow

21 14:13:28

Question
QUESTION: Both myself and my sister have a sow each, both from the same litter. They are 4 months old. My sister's sow delivered a litter of 4 pups yesterday but unfortunately they were all still born. My little girl has just today delivered a litter of 5, mum and babies all doing well. We would like to know if we could give one of the healthy pups to my sister sows to raise. Do you think she would take it and would it be too stressful for my Piggy? Also if you think it would be ok, what would be the best time to do it? I'm assuming it would be in the 1st 24 to 48 hours?

ANSWER: Hello Phillippa,
I don't think it is a great idea to take a healthy baby from its original mom unless it is having problems. But if there are one or two pups that aren't eating or getting as much milk as the others you could try to put the pups with the Foster Sow. But you have to do it quick and watch to make sure that the Foster sow will feed the pups!
It might be a little stressful for the original mom but she will be fine!
Good Luck and if you have any other questions feel free to ask!
Holly
http://freewebs.com/potentialpigs

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for that advice, they all seem to be feeding well off the mother so I will just leave them all with her for now. Would one of the pups be ok to go with the sow at around 3 weeks, when it has stopped suckling? Sorry, one last question. How long do I have to wait until I can take them out the back and let them run around in their pen out my lawn, Or in their pen in the lounge room?

Answer
Hello Phillippa!
Yes if you want to take out a female pup and put it with the Foster sow at 3 weeks when it is weaned that will be fine, but it has to be a sow not a boar! :)
I would wait until they are around 1 week old before you take them out and put them in another pen somewhere new!
Good Luck and Feel free to ask another questions!
Holly