Yesterday I mentioned that I was concerned that the piglets were not showing the usual amount of vigor. These ones were spending way too much time sleeping. They were way too quiet.
valbjerke said to me had I given the piglets iron. I sat back in my chair. No. I hadn’t. The only time I gave piglets iron was when I had all that trouble with Tahitis piglets. I don’t inject iron as a matter of course. But I never have had piglets this lethargic either.
I sat and watched the blinking curser beside the message and remembered that Molly was eating everything before she gave birth- her behaviour was not normal – she devoured everything – she must have been short of iron and her body was sending her looking. Her diet of deep greens, eggs and alfalfa and grains should have met this. It was the best I could do. She had a yard of soil. I was positive I had covered all the dietary bases – I am so careful of that. But there you are. Maybe the babies were born anaemic. 
I pushed the chair back from the table and went to work.
I got out the bottle of iron from my farm cupboard of all things and got out the needles, collected Alex, went to the barn, the piglets were sleeping as usual, I locked Molly out in the field and we loaded all the piglets into a tote and gave each one a shot before returning them to bed. They screamed and squawked and bit but they are so small they are really easy to manage.
After the procedure was over, I settled them all back in their sleeping creep and let their entirely unconcerned mother back in.
The change was dramatic. By lunchtime they were up and running around the pen. (check the insty below) Literally bouncing about. Drinking voraciously. All over the place. Noisy. These piglets had been anaemic. Poor wee things. Let’s hope this was enough to get them going. Lets hope they can catch up and start putting on some weight.
This is quite possibly why the one died on his first night – he was too tired to move.
Once again – The Fellowship to the rescue. And valbjerke: thank you for the reminder about iron. I am grateful. I will do that with them all from now on. Just in case.
And thank you to the Fellowship of the Farmy for being such clever and open hearted, that people who know stuff feel safe and comfortable in sharing it.
And we all get to learn. Lesson learned.
Now fingers crossed.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
59 responses to “The learning Curve”
Sounds like me when I feel ‘punk’ – not that I am a pig, ahem – just quite lethargic, even with vitamin pills. Sometimes a day of sun and an iron injection clears it right up. Piggies, I KNOW that ‘tired’ feeling only too well! Glad you got ’em up and running, Ceci! And a huge thank you to Valbjerke!
Valbjerke is the hero for sure. And you Cecilia for accepting the suggestion! It takes humility to offer and accept advice. I haven’t seen the videos yet but will later today. Can’t wait! Well done all!
What a relief that all worked well, thanks to your good souls, Valbjerke and Celi.
I cannot watch pics or videos on Insta anymore: They threw me out – wanted a telephone number. Is that normal? – The other day I gave in just some random figures, which I now do not remember anymore… So they do not let me in again. What a pity…. what a pity.
GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did you find my info about zinc useful???????????????????
The learning experience never ends. I’ve had horses 40 some years and the more I learn the more I know I don’t know, if that makes sense! BTW farmer Bob lost his barn to fire last night, I don’t believe he has kune kunes any more but all his zebus are safe. He may have lost a couple of ducks that were sitting on eggs.
Oh no! And that was a new little barn too – well designed. The threat of fire is awful. c
Great news 🙂
This is a good thing to know. When I lived in CO and raised a few weaner pigs, the breeders routinely gave iron shots to piglets but I didn’t know it could be a life-or-death thing. Thanks very much for sharing your experience.
SO good to hear about the dramatic improvement!! Would supplementing the sow’s diet beforehand be of any use, I wonder?
Sorry, didn’t read through all of the comments until now… So much rain everywhere this year, you certainly won’t be the only one. And might it affect all the other (types of) mothers as well, d’you think? ):
Everything happens for a reason… and there is much to learn in this life. And nothing dies in vain. There is always a gift (message or lesson) to be had.
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Nice outcome and the promise of spring. Hope for the best with Molly’s piglets.
I enjoy these photos from this post.
That’s great!