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 am not a pig lover at all – I don’t eat any pork and would never keep pigs – but I can empathise with the loss of an animal that has been looked after and cared for, so I am very sorry to hear about the piglet. Your concern for the welfare of all the animals is abundantly evident in every post you write. On the subject of VermX, if it is the same product recommended by some for worming chickens, I would recommend checking the research that has been done on the effectiveness of this product. I try to rear my lovely hens as healthily and organically as possible but when it comes to worming, I use a prescription treatment. (By the way, I now don’t eat chicken either!)
I second Maeve on the subject of VermeX – I had a problem with my laying flock which included parasite overload, and yet I had been using VermeX faithfully as instructed. Then I did more searches on the product… now my hens are treated with Flubenvet.
I have only every used vermX for pigs (for two years actually with no trouble at all) , my chickens have vinegar in their water and DE in their feed and are big and fat and fluffy. But I do hear what you are saying and have decided to go to conventional worming for the pigs and sheep. Now that a soil born parasite has been identified as residing on my farm, i cannot fight it with herbs.. bit of a shame really but there you are… c
Awe C. I can’t really add anything more than most all of the others have said, you do your very, very best by your animals to make sure they are happy and healthy and learn as you go…as we all do! This kind of thing happens on the best of farms…(which yours is)…and sometimes, no matter how great the care, there are losses!
Just this week my dairy goat friend came over, took one look at my goats and said…you need to worm your goats and use a different one as they had become immune to the one I was using…I felt terrible, because my goats were not up to par but I did what she told me to do and now I will know!
Keep your (pecker) up…chin, I mean…sorry Lyn, no more confusion! :)) Not one person here or anywhere can judge, we are all learning, all of the time!!
Big hugs from across the pond. You work such long hours and so hard, it is only natural to feel tired and a little down when you lose an animal. Take care of your self, Celi!
Through your eyes I am having a farm.
Breathe. Perhaps the little one’s job on this earth was to help you learn what to watch for… hard to tell, I know.
Let’s see: you take care of, extraordinary care of, 2 massive cows and 1 Bobby; 4 lambs and 1 very large ram; 2 500 pound pigs that fight, plus the piglets; 3 frisky dogs; 1 strutting peacock plus peahens; numerous guinea fowl; 47 new chicks; I don’t know HOW many cats. All of whom have to be fed, watered, pilled, vetted and jockeyed about several times a day. Did I miss anyone? Plus the COOKING and I mean COOKING–not “making reservations” or ordering pizza delivered,, plus the haying, the planting, the harvesting. And you are ONE person. All day long, six days a week.
Or Indian delivered i would especially like someone to deliver a wonderful indian meal.. but tomorrow is the seventh day and John will cook! That is something to look forward to.. Actually that was pretty good, i don’t think you missed anyone out.. oh maybe the 30 something chooks.. not bad!! c
Ooooh! And did I mention the myriad bees?
Ooooooooooooh!And did I mention a husband?
Ooooooooooooh! And did I mention a husband?
So sorry to hear about little #7. Unfortunately, most of us farmers learn things like this the hard way. I learned about pneumonia in sheep the same way, although I lost a beautiful Border Leicester ram and ewe before we even realized anyone was ill. And so it goes. :*(
Although that was sad for you it was good for me to hear. Good to know i am not aalone in not identifying it early enough.. c
I bet there was always a learning curve and lots of loss due to unforeseen
circumstances…although, as you mentioned, there were homes full of women who you
could go to and hop in their laundry basket and share the moment.
You know an amazing amount of information and the fellowship is right there
with you, sharing and learning as we go !! Hang in there…cyber hugs !
Sorry to hear about #7 piglet, but all you can do from that experience is watch and learn. I know you will, because that’s you – always striving forward, always learning from both the good and the bad things that happen on the Farmy.
Hope tomorrow is a better day for you – at least you can enjoy John doing cooking!
Hugs. I am sorry about little 7. The phrase you thought of is from a hymn and part of it is:
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
The Lord God made them all ..
I’m a spiritual rather than a religious person but many things about that verse remind me of you, miss c. Thank you for sharing the joys and heartaches of the farmy with us.
How sad.
Poor piglet :*(