Molly is a nervous mother but holding her own. Very new and totally shocked at the sheer number of miniature pigs running around her feet. But if a piglet squeals she freezes and waits for the little ones to regroup before continuing. She is eating and drinking well and, as you can see, so are her eleven piglets. Number eleven is lying right on the far left – partially obscured by her mothers back leg. She is red. There are a few that are a bright red.
Molly is still on lock down in the back pen with the lights on all night so she can see where her piglets are but the big doors are shut. But she is pretty annoyed about not being able to go outside to use the toilet. I will open it up on Day Three. For the moment we are just consolidating and learning how to stay safe.
Molly’s feed bowl is permanently full now – she is on All you can Eat – firstly because this stops her jumping up hungrily when I approach but mostly because she is feeding ELEVEN very hungry babies. Her diet is very diverse now, heaps of dairy, sunflower seeds, molasses, sweetcorn, oats and greens. She gets to the best of all the table scraps now too.
The light was so low and I was giving Molly heaps of quiet to work things out – but I think this shot (above and way below ) says it all! I will get more today.
Next is Tahiti probably in another week or so.
The pigs are in the same barn as my milking room. So I am having to reroute the cows milking route so I can set up another private back pen for Tahiti.
I have to tweak my plan as I cannot have cows traipsing through next to her farrowing pen twice a day so hopefully I have time to train the cows to another door.
We did alright yesterday though Lady went and sulked in the chook house afterwards.
During milking time I turn my music up loud (I put my phone in a pot as I have not fancy speakers, it works) – Molly is used to this – this way Molly does not get frights from the milking noises.
Here is that shot again. Wonderful aren’t they. So far so good. Now I will go out and see how they fared in the night.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
47 responses to “One Day Old Piglets”
Welcome to all that cuties! And all my best wishes for you, my dear Celi! ❤
Ha! And the father is – Manu! Isn't it? Well done, good guy!
Yes the father is Manu – a good boar!
and we all hope everyone on the Farmy has a lovely day!
Don’t blame Molly for being ‘nervous’ at all: ‘Where did ALL these come from? Why are they tugging at me? Now, what on earth am I supposed to do?? Help, please let me out . . . Tahiti, sugar, I do hope this is not going to happen to you!!’ Can any of you imagine having eleven babies all at once? Hope she has not an inkling Manu is responsible – otherwise he will have no chance of getting within a country mile of her in the future . . .
On a second ‘read’ and looking at your i-Phone in flowerpot scenario – well, I always have my favourite ABC classical on [what was the equal-to BBC called in NZ?] when gardening . . . that would work wonderfully with a radio also . . . and not disturb neighbours with different ‘tastes’ . . . thanks heaps!!
Our Viv would have been so happy to see these eleven healthy piglets, don’t you think?
Oh Joss – she would have loved them – she was always so up to date on the farmy. In fact if I forgot something she would remind me!
yes! you and the farmy brought so much delight to her life.
I have a question: if Tahiti has, say 4 babies, will some of the excess pigs migrate over to a less populated milk bar, or do they stick to the familiar? Much love, Your Gayle
I don’t think so, they are well bonded to their mother now.. c
Cute photos of all those piglets! Good job, Molly! (And Miss C).
Congratulations and best of luck with your pig brooding. Ironic that Lady went to sulk with the other farm biddies. They’ll be signing petitions next.
Wonderful indeed Celi 😄