Lulu and Bertha

[dudley]

This is Lulu, saddleback not Berkshire as I said last night, oops. She was due yesterday but as you can see is about to burst, she must farrow tonight. View attachment 6499

And this is Bertha, she is 1/2 Berkshire, also due yesterday. Again ready to burst do expect it must happen soon. View attachment 6500

 

[VEG]

ohhh lovely please post pics when the piglets come

 

[Erichalfbee]

yes please.....we like piglets

 

[Luminos]

If Bertha is 1/2 Berkshire, what's the other 1/2?
Ham-pshire?

 

[Drew]

yes please.....we like piglets

Mmmmmmmmm with apple sauce?

 

[dudley]

If Bertha is 1/2 Berkshire, what's the other 1/2?
Ham-pshire?

She is offspring from our large white landrace hybrid range, her dad was Berkshire. We only have Bertha and Lulu left now. We did have 50 sows.
Update from 6am this morning, lulu just moaning but Berth is in 1st stage, biting anything she can get in her mouth, carrying straw about, not wanting to eat, so wife keeping close eye on her today. I am out working.

 

[dudley]

She is well in labour but no babies yet.
I have never attached a youtube video, so hope this works.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9slW1L89M8&feature=g-upl[/ame]

 

[dudley]

Yeah brilliant. As you can see she is in nest building mode and has plenty of milk.

 

[VEG]

please keep us updated on how they are doing

 

[dudley]

please keep us updated on how they are doing

I am sure I will have an update by early morning. Both girls are well in labour now. Lulu is panting like mad, Bertha is just taking it in her stride. At least it's nice and warm. But I will turn on infra red heat lamps so I can dry off the babies quickly. I am about to go out and set up a comfy chair in Bertha's sty for my all night vigil. Yep, it may take all night. They can get on and do it on their own, but mum can overlay or tread on the newborns, and if I am there I can whisk them up out the way.

 

[dudley]

They have started

Bertha first with Lulu close behind.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftaopi7TVAM&list=FLtNxA1xYXUYeWp3qaqID5gA&index=1&feature=plpp_video[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8CXG6FwWLs[/ame]

 

[BeeJayBee]

Aww, lovely videos. Thanks

 

[hedgerow pete]

one day i would love to own pigs and my own pigletts

 

[dudley]

one day i would love to own pigs and my own pigletts

This farm set up a pig unit sometime between WW1 around WW2. The unit was set up to fatten pigs from 50 sows. We bought it in 1987 and there were still 50 sows here until the last foot and mouth disaster, it didn't effect us at all, but I had enough of keeping injecting money into the farm account from my building work to subsidise peoples Sunday roast. So we have slowly reduced numbers as the sows have come to the end of their breeding cycle. Just Lulu and Bertha here now. I cant imagine no pigs here.

We also have 5 Dairy Goats with 8 kids and Billy. 8 Angora Goats with 4 kids and Buck. 2 collie dogs. 4 cats. Geese. Hens for eggs. And this week S&T poultry are delivering a couple of dozen Farm Ranger meat chickens. AND MY BEES.

 

[dudley]

I am off to work now, but to update. Lulu 10, Bertha 10.5
Sam checking Lulu
View attachment 6531

Sam checking Bertha
View attachment 6532

 

[The Cumbrian]

Thanks for the thread. It is many years since I had anything to do with pigs. So nice to be reminded of the sights and sounds of farrowing.

 

[Luminos]

Great videos, especially as you must've had your hands full with the farrowing!

 

[hedgerow pete]

i used to go to a proper old fashioned pig farm as a nipper and still it follows me around, when i win the lottery at the weekend its pigs, goats, rabbits, a pair of jerseys and no shep, cant stand them far to much hard work for such a small carcase

 

[VEG]

Many thanks for taking the time to post the vids, they are lovely