Piglets!!!

Last night around 8:00, Sassy went into labor. I haven't mentioned her pregnancy much because (a) we didn't keep track of when she actually was bred and didn't have a confirmed due date and (b) I wanted to be sure everything went well before sharing the news. Also, (c) Sassy has grown so unbelievably fat I didn't want to embarrass her:

Everything went well. Here's the first little piggy, unsuccessfully looking for a teat:

The midwives (my husband, daughter, and brother-in-law) looking on:

We weren't sure how much to interfere, but sometimes the gilt or sow can roll on or step on (or even rip apart!) the just-born piglets while she's delivering another one. So the boys moved the piglets out of her way each time she got up and moved around. They were surprisingly lively and wandered all over the pen shortly after being born.

My husband helping Sassy with her rhythmic breathing:

Fudd, the dad, paced nervously in the waiting room:

It took quite a long time between the first two piglets and the next two, but eventually there were four, in color-matched pairs:

Our older piggies seemed a bit curious about all the barn traffic that late at night:

And Fudd got up for a snack but went back to bed:

There was almost an hour where Sassy seemed to be having contractions but no piglets. I took more pictures of the first four but then had to bring my daughter (who was falling asleep seated on an upturned bucket in the pen) up to bed.

A few minutes after I got into the house, my husband called to say two more piglets had been born and it was over. The last one, he said, couldn't get the mucous out of its mouth and throat and would have died if they hadn't been there to help.

I got this picture this morning, although you can barely tell there are 6 piglets here:

Dad is exhausted:

We were very pleased with how smoothly everything went. There is still a chance Sassy could accidentally roll on the piglets but my husband said now that labor was over she was being very careful to tiptoe around them when she got up. Cross your fingers.

There's been a lot of stuff going on, farm-wise, lately. Both of our hen turkeys have been laying eggs, although only Trixie is actually sitting  on hers. My husband took four eggs from each of them and has them in an incubator in the house. We may be lousy with turkey poults in another few weeks.

My husband and BIL devoted the weekend to setting fenceposts for the cows' pasture. You may be able to see a bluebird box on a post to the right of the fence. The boys had to move this, with a nest and four bluebird eggs inside, while putting up the new fence. Mother Bluebird flew around during the process but settled back down when it was over.

Dave the Peacock supervises:

Daisy:

An actual flower picture proving that spring is coming to Vermont:

Although things are turning green very slowly, the weather has been absolutely perfect all week: high 70s to low 80s, breezy, and sunny. We so deserve this.

Lilac buds:

Ed and Lars:

And, Milo, doing what he does while off-duty:

While I'm blogging, I'll throw in a couple pictures of my handspun April socks, made with my BL Sophie/merino yarn. I'm doing the second cuff now but here's the first:

These are the Diagonal Cross Rib socks from Interweave's Favorite Socks book.

I am doing these on 0s, thanks to my loose knitting, but they are a bit snug. I could have used 1s like the pattern calls for. However, I like a rather close fitting sock, so I'm quite happy so far.

Yesterday morning, one of the cows got out and ran laps around the barn until my husband got home and settled her down. (I now call him the Cow Whisperer.) Then once we got her in the barn, we found someone had left Sassy and Fudd's gate open. Fudd never woke up, but Sassy had waddled over to the hay and was sleeping against a round bale. Then that afternoon, all the turkeys crossed the road and in my efforts to herd them I tripped over a branch and ripped my leg all open.

And most annoying of all, I was trying on a dress I bought online. It was way too small, and the stupid spandex thing with built-in bra top was so tight I kind of got stuck in it. In my effort to get it off, I think I may have torn something important in my shoulder. Fashion can be deadly.

Today is much better.

Comments

[vanessa]

your piglets are so cute!

we have cows also, mostly crossbred brangus.

[heather]

man, and I think my life is busy. Piggies! Milo! Blue Bird Eggs! (I saw my first live Blue Bird the other day and was just enchanted.) I hope all of you various and sundry injuries heal quickly. Love the socks, too!

[Carolec]

The piglets are adorable! And it's always an adventure over at your house, isn't it? LOL

[JennJ]

Pigs are so cute when they're babies, almost as cute as cat bellies.

[Jenn]

Dammit, how did I misspell my own name?

[Kimberly]

I just love reading about your life on the farm. Someday *sigh* when this Army life is over, hubby and I want a farm.....*sigh*

[Elisabeth]

Congrats to Sassy (and the midwives) on the successful delivery! Piglets are sooo cute. At the Iowa State Fair, they always have a farrowing display and I like to go to see the piglets. Haven't been to the fair in years, though.

What kind of incubator are you using for the poults? Does it rotate the eggs or is that something you guys do? When I was in first grade, my teacher had a friend with a farm and they brought us chicken eggs and an incubator. It was fantastic! Everyone got an egg and we got to turn them everyday. It was so exciting when the chicks hatched!

[Sonya]

So much going on at the farm! The piglets are so cute. Looks like Fudd is going to be one of the "uninvolved" parents. ;o)

[Beate]

What a lovely story- congrats on the six piglets,, they sure is cute.
And I found that knitting cables , I need to go up one # on needles.. it get too snuch and tight otherwise.
good luck on your spring farm activities.. your sure is busy.

[Bea]

Awww, thy are so cute! The birth reminds me of those early days with Robby ;) So, I've been reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and now I'm all curious about the turkeys, what kind of breed are they? I'm excited to see what happens with the cows, I've heard raw milk is really good for you. Your socks are lovely, I can't wait to get my roving in the mail :D Oh, and you should check out Robby's blog if you get a chance! He's gotten so big!

[martha in mobile]

Fashion is a killer, ain't it? I had a pixel laser treatment on my neck yesterday and I was about ready to gnaw my arm off. The only thought that kept me going was that if I was so vain and so willing to spend money that way that I deserved a little (or a lot!) of pain.

There is something so endearing about the way your DH cuddles little animals--the poodle and the piglet, anyway. I think cuddling Milo could be considered an act of insanity.

[CindyCindy]

Your piglets are adorable. What a great experience for your wee one (and you, too). Milo cracks me up. And, I love your sock, but try to be careful. Farm life is tough.

[margene]

Did you ever think you'd be living on a farm, chasing pigs, turkeys and cows while knitting and spinning?

[Jenni]

OMG they are soooo cute! I've always wanted a pig! How cool that you were there to see them being born!

[sappmama]

This post really tickles me.

Man those tiny pigs are cute. I guess Fudd said he already did the hard part.

That Milo never fails to please.

[Sara]

I am so glad I found your blog (my friend, Susan (Red Dirt Knitter) posted about your store and I found the blog)!

I've never seen piglets right after they were born! They are so cute!!!!

I laughed so hard at the photo you captioned: Dad is exhausted!

Milo is an adorable looking little cat!

Sorry about the branch hurting your leg.

Dresses can be dangerous to your health...watch that stuff!

It seems that you live a great life! Thanks for sharing it.

[Laura]

OH my gosh - I'll have to save this and read it all again - the piglet excitement is almost more than I can bear! And they're walking around right away? How adorable. Do they wait a while before their eyes open like puppies and kitties and little baby birds and such?

[Rosa]

Amazing! Congrats. That is such a wonderful sight to behold.

[trek]

Wow! Take a nap and get some well-earned rest today!

[lisa]

I thought the picture of exhausted dad was pretty hilarious too... Did you see the pics floating around the email/internet of a tiger who lost her cubs and was depressed, so the zookeeper gave her piglets in the cub's skins? Happy mama and nursing piggies! You have to wonder if mama will ever realize she's been feeding what she eats.

[Agnes]

New lives! I was so happy to witness how hard-working the Dad was! No wonder he was exhausted! LOL!

[donna lee]

I love the April socks. I have been admiring that pattern but your photo shows the detail better.

[Diane]

OMFG! F meaning freakin, what action happening at your 'stead. And I've been dawdlin on adding another kitten or pup to the crew here.

[Diane]

and I love your socks!

[--Deb]

Congratulations to Sassy! What I want to know is, now that they're here, is Fudd making lots of fuss about "See what I did??"

And--ouch about your shoulder! Hope it heals quickly.