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”
Congrats! They are precious. Our sows and gilts typically don’t eat for two days or so after giving birth. We make sure they have plenty of food, but they don’t touch it until the piglets are a few days old. I don’t know if that’s normal or not, but Charlotte isn’t alone!
How wonderfully perfect they are! And I love hearing that Charlotte is taking so well to motherhood.
the miracle of an animal you knoe well, and going through the birthing with her.
Baby pigs are such perfect little pigs, aren’t they?
This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed at home…..
They are wonderful, and both you and Mama must be right proud, and rightly so. I am sure it is taking you twice as long to do things round the farmy as I am sure you keep ‘popping back’ just to check all is ok. Give it a few days and you’ll breathe easier. Dying to find out how the rest of the animals react to all this new life. Suppose the peachicks will be next?
Hugs to all!
Oh, that’s SUCH great news, but…are you sure she’s done? (She might still get to the 11 I guess.. ;-)). I never knew piggy anatomy and labour was so interesting – fancy being able to wait so long between deliveries!
They are such captivating little thingies! Amazing how the mother contrives not to squish them. It seems you have done everything right to help her in that direction, too.
Celi Congratulations on a beautiful post, and a wonderful outcome to all your care of Charlotte. I can’t help but think she is such a wonderful mother because she has never been stressed or hurt, but knows with absolute confidence that Celi and the environment will support her, and she can trust her instincts. And with no stress, but that lovely naturalness, the gorgeous little piggies also know how to start coping with their lives.. It’s magic to read, and now I’m going back to the beginning to read it again.
I’ve missed a day here – SO exciting about the piglets. You are my inspiration to try this. We’ve only ever had feeder pigs and they are getting SO expensive to buy that I’d like to try a breeding sow but don’t know a thing about that part of “pigging”. My plan is to watch and learn from you! 🙂
I am so glad she is a great Momma and such cute little ones 🙂
Congrats to all!
Fascinating stuff to see how a sow makes sure her babies are out of the way before she lays down to feed them – Charlotte is showing great mothering skills, in spite of stepping on one of them, but she’s allowed a little mistake, and the piglets have to learn too!
How exciting to see these little piggies. They are so cute. And to see nature taking its course so beautifully, and Charlotte mothering with such care even though she must feel so ungainly. Congratulations to all.
Way to go Charlotte… and Celi 🙂 The piglets are just too cute. There were hints that Charlotte had her mum game on with the cats and so she’s a natural at piggie motherhood 🙂
Cutie little aliens one and all….they have such lovely long blonde eyelashes! I’m envious! 🙂
Am laughing and almost crying and in absolute awe as to Mother Nature! Thank you for taking time to share with us the whole process: my first time seeing piglets so young. And Charlotte seems to have the mother-bit instinctively so right! Was going to post some beautiful photos just in but hope you won’t mind if I tell the story to some of my lists and share . . . God bless all . . .
I don’t mind you sharing at all.. that is what the Inter- NET is all about.. these wee fellas are gong to be a joy to capture on film.. c