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Pregnant pbp

22 9:18:26

Question
We recently got 2 pot-bellied pigs, sort of a rescue operation, as they were kept in a tiny part of a barn.  The female is VERY pregnant.  I don't want to put her on a diet now as she is close to delivery date, but if she is still overweight when babies are weaned will work on that.  I am wanting info on birthing, as we never planned to be on the breeding end of this, we wanted pigs neutered for housepigs, but these 2 needed us.  Now we need to know exactly what to look for and what to do when the time comes for the babies to be born.  They are both current on vacs and worming, we are feeding commercial swine food until Purina contacts me to tell me where they have a distributor for the specialty feed.  I have never seen a pig give birth and have had no luck finding a website with pics to help me determine if things are progressing normally.  If you can help with info or tell me where to find pics or a video of a normal birthing, and things to look for to be ready for, please let me know.  I am hoping she will be able to do this on her own and everything will be fine.  i guess I am just paranoid.  I don't want anything to happen to Tilly before we can get her spayed.  we will also be putting the piglets up for adoption if they are all ok.

Answer
If the male is not neutered you need to do this within a week of farrowing or you will have MORE babies.
Most piglets die because of fat moms that lie on them.
Ideally, an 8 ft by 8 farrowing pen WITH BUMPERS is ideal. Bumpers are pieces of wood on the sides of the pen about 6 inches from the floor that will keep mom from lying against the wall.
You will know when mom is ready when she starts FRANTICALLY "nesting". Provide lots of straw but REMOVE MOST OF IT when the labor comes, or they will be buried. Babies need to be kept at 90 degrees first week, subtract 5 degrees per week.
Keep the area clean where they will be born, cords break on their own.
Babies can breed together at 3 months....separate before then.
Sorry there isn't space for more,do Google "farrowing".
Good luck,
Priscilla Valentine  valentinesperformingpigs.com