Nine ! who guessed NINE!
Charlotte has had her piglets three days early. I was ready though and apparently so was she. First there was one. Then she stood up and walked about, acting confused and unsure of what to do next. The wee piglet made like a wind-up toy and huffed off into the corners wandering about.
After a bit she lay back down and heaved out four more. One was dead and unformed so he must have died some time ago. But the rest came out ready to go. No assembly needed.
Then there was a good long wait while the first ones nursed and her uterus changed tracks. A pigs uturus has two distinct sides so there are no tangles, but only one birth canal. The wait worried me but I had read that the births can take up to three hours, with quite long breaks in between sometimes. 
Then out came three more and then she stopped again. Piglets can be born headfirst or feet first. Both are normal.
I counted eight, they arrived quite clean, with their eyes wide open, shaking their heads, breathing like heavy smokers, wriggling to get moving. Their legs immediately pedal and they are looking for the teat within seconds. It was bedlam getting them all on without having them wander off. They are absolutely quiet. All you hear is this little huff, as they navigate about like tiny off-rail trains with no shut-off switch. I guess they come with their own inbuilt ever-ready battery.
Then the painter man came, right on time, to discuss the colours and schedule to paint The Tiny House. I thought she must be done, it had been an hour now since the last one, so I left them to drink for a while. Charlotte was calm and asleep.
When I returned she had stood up and rolled over to her other side so I went in to count them in case she had rolled on one. I have heard a hundred horror stories of sows rolling over and killing their babies one by one if they are not caged. I had let her even choose her own pen. Not only had she not rolled on one but now there were NINE.
I cannot even begin to figure that out.
In the night I popped in and out a few times and each time she was in a different position and had a line of perfect little babies all suckling. This morning I watched her change positions and she stands and woofs and whines at them until they are all over in one corner, they all gather and stand very still, then she moves right away from where they are and lays back down. This morning as she was herding them away from her bed she accidentally stood on one. It squealed, the first squeal I have heard, it sounded like a cat, she lifted her foot immediately and froze as it darted away. Everyone froze. Then she started to grunt at them again and the piglets slowly backed into for their corner as a group, watching her the whole time and hesitantly Charlotte returned her foot to the floor and huffing more warnings took her quite massive self across about four steps and lay down in a clear spot and they all tumbled back in.
So that solves the question of how a good sow can lie down without killing her babies. She needs room to move away from them. They are so small and so fragile I am in awe of her skills. Lets hope she can keep them from getting under her for a few more days as they learn the ropes. Not every piglet will listen to his Mama. And once she lets her body drop she cannot suddenly stop herself.
Good morning. Charlotte has not eaten anything since she went into labour. Nor has she drunk very much but she seems ok. Possibly this is normal. Maybe as she gains confidence she will. It is all close by. For now she is just focused on feeding her piglets continuously. And keeping them safe.
They are hot tiny wee silky bundles. All the shots above were taken within the first hour of their birth. Amazing really. They do look like Aliens with those big elephant ears.
Ok, I am off out to begin the work of the morning.
You all have a lovely day and I will make sure to take some more miniature pig shots for you for tomorrows post. It is raining again, but nice and warm. I am a bit tired. But the show must go on!
Your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
100 responses to “NINE little teensy weensy piglets..The Aliens Have Landed”
They are so adorable and I’m so proud of Charlotte for being such a good mama. She deserves the smiling and contentment I see in that last shot. What a lovely way to start the day. Thanks, Celi!
Way to go Charlotte! Nine little oinkers!
It’s pretty amazing to see that she’s knows just what to do — especially since the swineherd insisted she needs a farrow cage. Nature finds a way. (Sorry about the Jurassic Park reference)
This has made my day – thank you! Those piglets are too cute!
How exciting, Celi! The piglets are wonderful. So glad it went well and that Charlotte is such a good mama!
Oh, and that top photo of the storm rolling in is wonderful!
Mazel tov! Way to go Charlotte. What a good piggie mama! And thank you so much for the photos. They are priceless!
Celi, I had to laugh when you wrote “as they navigate about like tiny off-rail trains with no shut-off switch. I guess they come with their own inbuilt ever-ready battery.” I may as well tell you now that they stay like this!!! Ours are over 3 months old now and are still going strong! Don’t worry about Charlotte not eating much. Roxie lost quite a bit of weight after delivery, all of it going to feed the babies. Such a good mother, as it sounds like Charlotte really is too! So cool! Congratulations Grandma!!! xo
What a great mama! So happy for you to have gotten nine! I know in rabbits they stop eating the day they give birth… So they don’t produce too much milk the first few days while the babies are so small they can barely eat anything. I wonder if pigs are the same? I am surprised you’re not keeping one for the bacon!
there will be a few for the freezer but if I can sell them i am going to be sorely tempted. c
Wouldn’t that be something, if all the show pigs in the area came from your farm?
How wonderful! These adorable babies completely made my day. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us!
thanks in your busyness always taking photos; these are adorable, wondrous, and dear.
Adorable! Takes me back to childhood too, as I grew up on a pig farm. Sitting watching piglets being born was an amazing experience to have as part of growing up. Their ears are so silky too – adult pigs are so bristly, it’s hard to imagine that piglets could feel so divine. Sharp little teeth though, if you let them suck your fingers or chew your toes!
Thanks for sharing those wonderful pictures. 🙂
Congratulations Charlotte. Those are some fantastic photos and the little piglets are cute as can be. It is amazing that they understand Charlotte’s commands (and seem to obey for now anyway) . I wonder if that tough day she had with the smothering heat might have also been some contractions. When I was a kid visiting my grandparents farm, I was enthralled with watching the birth process. Baby animals always seem so cute and vulnerable and the mama always protective. They also seem to know when a baby isn’t going to make it in the world and push it away to save milk for the healthy ones. I remember trying to force a dog to accept a pup who was alive but ‘not quite right’ and she kept pushing him away. Nature is pretty amazing to watch.
So exciting, I was like an anxious grandmother myself. Getting up early just to check on charlottes progress. It will be interesting to watch the little bundles of mischief as the grow and leave home.
OMG they are absolutely precious! To die for, they are so cute! I want to know how much do they weigh–do they fit in the palm of your hand, Celi? And what will Sheila say? Also, I have often heard that pigs are smarter than dogs. Is that true? I’m remembering how you so easily trained the Shush Sisters when they first arrived.
I know you said you were going to sell them and I was a bit worried about that–exactly who would buy them? Then when you said the children raise them (4H Clubs??) I was happier. Congratulations to you both. : )
And will you look at those eyelashes!!