Every two hours I make like a Pig Mama and wake up my charges (The rescue piglets) and escort them to the Darlek for a quick drink. They never drink for long. They are still very weak – too weak really – but we are pushing on, at least they are and I am pushing on. We have made it through day three without any fatalities which is positive. 
As you know the Mother pig wakes her babies up for a feed so this has become my job, I can load up the Pig Saver with enough milk for 10 hours, but with this heat they are succumbing to sleep and not getting up to drink by themselves. So I wake them with the same sounds and the same words every time and now they obediently shuffle towards the milk, though some of them still have real trouble walking and need supporting so they can have a good drink. They should be standing strong by now. And a few are, but the ones that were injured are having a hard time. They sleep all together though and are shiny so this is good. Generally piglets do not sleep close to their mothers after the first few days, they will drink then move somewhere safe for their slumbers so they have the sleeping bit down pat. 
I find that being on a two hourly schedule has actually increased my productivity. My phone alarm is set to go off every two hours so I find myself frequently looking at the count-down, thinking to myself, I have 20 minutes left, I bet I can pick all the tomatoes in 20 minutes. Or start a loaf of bread or clean out a pen in the barn. And keeping very busy helps with the tiredness. After the early morning feed I stay up and this has increased my production too. I had better get busy fixing those gates today. They are so wonky. And the cows broke another gate yesterday so I need to take to that with a hammer and get it lined back up.
Broken nights do not affect me that much. I have a gift for sleep! But I am still doing chores at 9pm, the piglets take a good part of the day.
If I can keep this up for the week and they live it will be worth it.
After the fog cleared it came out quite hot and Molly decided to take a bath.
While her babies slept close-by. 
These piglets are easy!
I hope you have a good day. Today I feel more tired than God but I am going to take advantage of the morning and get heaps done.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
32 responses to “Pig Mama”
Bless you for all you are doing! I wish I could give a hand.. but all I can do is send a warm thought and lift my cup to ya!
You are mother of all and they know it 🙂
I love the photo of Molly enjoying some blissful me-time in her bath. 11 babies at once is quite an ask; I feel she deserves it 🙂
I would be over to help if I could C, truly.
Have a beautiful day and hope you find time for a power nap.
🙂 Mandy xoxo
you are a saint and a gift to all creatures great and small. i’m so glad that all of the littles have survived another day.
I am wishing I could fold an extra four hours (just for sleep) into your day. Love the pictures of Molly and her babies. Laura
Take care of your piglets ..yes…but take care of you too?..
You are quite amazing and lucky to be able to get by on so little sleep. Hope the piggies pull through ok,
Mother Earth in incarnate
I remember those nights of broken sleep, and I only had ONE baby at a time to worry about! Hang in there!
I woke an hour ago and I’m ready for a nap now. The heat is draining. I honestly don’t know how you do it but I guess you just do what has to be done. I’m hoping for the best for the remaining piglets. Love the pictures of them all.
We’re cheering you on from the sidelines!
OH my – look at the babies under the door! That photo makes me smile!
Or wall…..
Door.. they love to lie under there , c
Baby piggie piles are the cutest! We will keep the faith for the rejected babies.
Good afternoon, c. That foggy, wonky fence photo looks so sad and desolate. Take care, my friend.