One of the piglets has died. The little one. He had pneumonia. Pigs show no signs of pneumonia until they are far advanced. No coughing or runny nose. Not even a hot nose actually. Just a creeping lethargy I suppose. Lack of appetite and then eventually no appetite at all.
I noticed the night before yesterday that he was not eating, this triggered a memory of thinking he was often coming out late to eat. Sleeping more than the others. He was standing alone with his head and ears down. I took him aside and his coat was dull, his head heavy. I offered him water and he would not even duck his head in so I started feeding him water and molasses with a stock syringe every half hour until we could get in to see the vet, which unfortunately was not until the late afternoon.
Pneumonia takes them very fast. The vet gave him antibiotics and wormed him but it was too late. He died quietly late last night. I hope you are not beginning to hate being in the Fellowship – we are having a hard year.
The pneumonia was exacerbated by a parasite that we have not seen before here and that cannot be handled by organic wormers like VermX which is the one I use. This parasite is collected from the soil and should not be here, we are a closed shop and this land has not had pigs on it since the 20’s. But moving them onto the pasture actually caused the problem. Like almost all parasites it is species specific and does not affect other animals, only pigs. All the other piglets have been wormed against it now so they can stay outside. So much learning to do as we feel our way through this mire of threats.
But now I know the signs of swine pneumonia. This particular problem will not get the better of me next time. I wish I had known these signs before. But frankly I am not feeling like much of a farmer at the moment. At the moment I want to be Our John and just grow the tomatoes.
But there you are. I am at a loss. Poor wee fella. There is a biblical quote about all Gods creatures, I can’t remember it at the moment. I have to admit I am not part of any organised or disorganised religion but each little creature has his place. Some lives are short and some long. Number Seven’s life was short and taught me an important lesson. But once again the cost is too high.
I have increased the amount of apple cider vinegar that goes in everyone’s water. And the pigs will be shifted to a new hopefully clean pasture. And I will clean and lime their quarters again, though they are already clean and dry. We have to go up a gear on the parasite watch. I probably need to increase the barn flock too, they spread the manure and peck and scratch through the pens, keeping things clean, maybe some of those older chickens who have stopped laying can join the barn flock.
I am determined to learn or teach myself all the things that a regular farm wife knew in the 20’s. But they knew so much instinctively. She learned all these things as a child and young woman from her own people. I have to find other ways to learn all this. Plus I guess she worked as part of a team, and I am working alone. I need to sharpen my eyes.
On another subject I have worked out a deal with the local feed mill and have ordered half a ton of feed mixed just how I want it, without any pig by-product additives. It is shockingly cheaper than buying it a bag at a time, but I need to pick up today. I was hoping that Our John would not have to work today (Saturday) though he has worked 6 days a week all summer so why I thought that he could help me I do not know. I was hoping he could drag the trailer over to this town, an hour away, and help me pick this feed up. But he is working.
But that is OK. ( Although I want to spit and stamp my feet and chomp down on my teeth.) I am going to call the guy at the feed store this morning and ask if they can break the pallet and I can pick it up in two trips with the little white truck. One day I promise I will learn how to drive pulling a trailer and reversing it and all those things. But not today. Today I am tired. This is such a tiny problem, but I had so much else to do today..
Good morning, the sun is almost up. Time to climb onto the tractor and drive out into the sweetcorn and collect the animals breakfast. I always feel better after feeding out in the morning.
Oh and the little chicks are growing fast, they are doing very well. Soon I will shift them into bigger quarters.
Now you all have a lovely day. For me. I promise I will look for loveliness today too – after all I am surrounded in it.
your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
89 responses to “Pneumonia takes Piglet.”
I felt your sadness and weariness in this post. I’m so sorry – you are doing such wonderful things there on the Farmy and I’m so happy that I can share in it all in some small way – the highs and the lows too…because life is like that.
I am up at 4 with insomnia, and after reading a bit, chugged over to the computer. I felt the loss – all creatures great and small. Life is a mosaic isn’t it; here you are thinking you should have learned more, and I admire you for all your abilities. I hope the day was gentle for you; I assume you read these at night or maybe even tomorrow morning. The photos of the piglets have been darling, and no. 7 did his best by being in them!
So sorry to hear of the loss of little piglet.
Not alone. We are all here. To teach and share. Heavy lifting we cannot do, but perhaps an occaisional hired hand could.
So sorry to hear about the little piggy. But, you have others that seem healthy, so that’s always a good sign.
Oh my dear friend I feel your sadness, but also your determination. Yes it is hard when we have to learn lessons at the expense of others, but those are the ones we will NEVER forget. Celi keep your chin up (better not say pecker as it confuses people) and know we are all behind you every step of the way, even if only in spirit.
Parasites are a bitch to identify and protect for, and seems just like our western diseases, they are becoming immune to our remedies. My last little kitten died of one, and as you say, it all happened very fast (2 days and he was gone). Saying that I am now off to clean out the chicken hut, being so hot and humid here right now, I don’t want any mold etc. growing in there.
Hugs and thinking of you
Hmm I would rather them build their own defences, or at least breed from the ones who do not succumb to parasites, but some of these are very nasty and i am not sure i can take the risk anymore.. c
Simply leaving you with gentle thoughts for the day.
Maybe littlest piglet was put of the farmy for the purpose of teaching you how to protect the rest of the swine group; he taught you valuable lessons that you didn’t know before he succumbed to pneumonia. So be stronger for his short visit.
At times the ebb and flow of life can make our hearts heavy. Because you have feelings and care about your animals tells me lots about you. Chin up, there is a reason/ lesson for everything under the sun. Here is something you might find interesting. I do not know how to “link” as I am not a blogger so bear with me. New York Times, an article in Home and Garden titled “Life on the farm-E-I-E-I-Oh??” It is about “Tara Firma Farms.( you can google that) They practice biodynamic farming. You and her would be friends I feel. Any hoo just something I thought I would share. Have a Peaceful day Ms.Celi…..
Thank you, no worries about not linking, i will find the site with this info. I would love to read what they are up to. I had a friend once who made biodynamic wine in NZ. A gorgeous full red. Thank you again. c
Good morning Celi; I am sorry for your loss of life . We must remember that this is are food. It is some times hard to keep your heart out of the way which sounds hard , but we must keep a fence around our heart. animal husbandry is not for the faint of heart as you well know. be a blessing mike
I do know what you mean, and this piglet was being grown to feed a family with tiny children and aging parents and they really could have done with the good meat. Disappointing all round really. My heart is not faint. My head feels a little faint sometimes though!! c
I hear you my heart does faint for the loss of animals my family depend on me to be mr tough guy but inside i’m a softy . they think me heart of stone but the truth is that when I take a life it hurts my heart. I know bout you feedin familys thats great newer ment that you was a girlie farmer. 🙂
You are a good man to have a softy heart.. your family is lucky to have you.. c
Sorry to hear about #7 they certainly all looked very robust in your recent photos so it must have come on at break neck speed, hard for anyone skilled or not to foresee such things. Don’t be too hard on yourself, you cannot know everything and even if/when you do I there will still be stock losses and sad days along the way, it is the way of farming.
Re the trailer, driving with it on is not much different to driving with it off, backing it up is a different story, real skill involved there! Does the feedstore have a drive through or turning circle? If not I bet there is someone who works there who is crash hot (ok perhaps not the best choice of words) at backing up a trailer and will do it for you. Glad you got a good deal on the bulk feed.
Baby broke out today, when I came back from walking the dog she was out on the road, she spotted us and ran towards us at breakneck speed udder shooting out in all directions. She and the new big dog (they are about the same size) were doing their how do you do’s I’ve seen you around stuff. I meanwhile, am walking fast and talking sterrnly about how now is not the time for socialising out here on the road at dusk. Anyway when I got to our driveway i let the dog off the lead and they trotted down the drive together in front of me, the dog going down to the house, Baby heading off to her pen to see if her dinner had miraculously appeared whilst she was out!
That Baby! What a treat she is. It terrifies me when their udder swings to back and forth like that! What a cartoon! There are a few other reasons why i hate this trailer, it has a tire that has a slow leak, John just pumps it up before he goes out, has not got around to changing it, the trailer is usually just for hay on country roads. It is Big and I cannot drive the red truck that drags it. That being said i AM being a big woos. Though John grew up around trucks and trailers and farm equipment.. i grew up around surfboards! Right. Breakfast break is over so back to work for me! Love that Baby.. c
I am a big woose when it comes to backing up a trailer, at the abattoir I just let the man who works there do it, he does it in a flash. If I try it takes me about 5 goes and still I cant get it right, somtimes people are queing behind me watching, tres intimidating.
But what you say is true we all have our own set of skills, mine is definately not getting up in the night. I think Baby will farrow sometime in the next week, on the advice of a friend who knows these things I have just started a before bed and middle of the night check just in case, but boy it was hard to do the middle of the night one, definately not my skill set!
There is another scripture ” blessed is the man (woman) who carets for his animals , and you certainly do. These wee things have been well cared for since before they arrived ; ) Carry on, and you will soon be reaping your rewards.
‘Cares’ for his animals
The scripture is full of wise words.. thank you carla.. c
A time to reap, a time to sow, A time to live, and a time to let go. We share all the highs and joys and divide the lows and sorrows. Celi, I doubt anybody is in a position to judge and besides we all learn so much. Hope the weekend is gentler. Laura
Sorry to hear about #7.
I guess his time was up on this earth.
Some of us are here for a long time. Some a short time. But ultimately, we are all born and we all die.
That’s life and sad as it seems at the time, I’m sure you will have learned a little more about pig husbandry so that sickness and premature death can be avoided in the future.
You are learning everything as you go, and you are doing a wonderful job of it. Your heart and soul are in the farmy, and the fellowship stands with you. We have lost a family member this morning. Such is life. We do the best we can. Hugs.