Preparing for the worse

Lpigs · Post by **Lpigs** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:43 pm

Have a sow that will farrow soon. Her last litter(which was her first) she killed them. I am hoping she will not do that this time. What are some tips if she does this again?

mtpiggirl1980 · Post by **mtpiggirl1980** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:49 pm

Good Luck!
I had a gilt that did this the 1st 2 times ended up breeding her again and when I saw she was starting I gave her some ace and she was fine. Raised 8 really nice pigs.
Breed her again for this year and she farrowed last sunday morning and was a grouchy ****. Kept biting at me and the babies so I took them away and then I ended up giving her more ace and then put some everclear in her ear and we tied her down most of the day so the babies could drink and by the 2nd day she's nursing them and fine with the few that are left.

So I would make sure you have some ace on hand and maybe some hard liquor!

bryansmith · Post by **bryansmith** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:42 am

keep lots of beer and wine around. if she will drink it during farrowing give it to her. helps at my barn

doublee · Post by **doublee** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:11 am

I'd be hauling her butt off if she did it again

buckibri · Post by **buckibri** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:13 am

Lpigs wrote:Have a sow that will farrow soon. Her last litter(which was her first) she killed them. I am hoping she will not do that this time. What are some tips if she does this again?

Attempt to be there when she farrows and be prepared to remove the pigs during farrowing. Some times the gilt will savage her pigs during farrowing when they get around her head and will them treat them well after she has finished.

Had a sow in the late 1970's - she would savage the first pig she could reach in every litter. After that she would be a perfect mother. Consistently weaning 10-12 pigs.

Her instincts are flawed; those genetics should be turned into pizza toppings.

Lpigs · Post by **Lpigs** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:41 pm

I have been told that gilts will do this sometimes and then they will be fine after that. That is what I am hoping for. If she does it again or trys to, she will be sold.

Piggy · Post by **Piggy** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:03 am

Keep some beer, wine whiskey, Ace and duct tape handy. Be there when she farrows. When she starts to farrow and is going to act up again, put some whiskey in her ear, drink one beer, put some wine or beer in her water, duct tape her mouth shut and give her some ace. If this does not work, drink the rest of the wine,beer and whiskey and call it a nite and put a bullet in her head in the morning after you have transferred your babies or put them on milk replacer. Piggy

buckibri · Post by **buckibri** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:14 pm

Lpigs wrote:I have been told that gilts will do this sometimes and then they will be fine after that. That is what I am hoping for. If she does it again or trys to, she will be sold.

THat is a possibility but in my experience - just one time - she will do the same.

mtbkmom · Post by **mtbkmom** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:23 pm

Hog Doc recommended a "calming agent" that was made because of aggressive sows that is no longer labeld for pigs, but is used by zoos to calm down elephants. I forget the name (again), but showed it to our vet, he called the company and order a bottle for us and the correct doseage already precalculated if ever needed again (we had a bad sow onetime--she just blew off the ace and nearly bit/broke my husbands forearm when he grabbed a baby she was going after and when he "attempted" to wrap her up with duct tape--never happened). So I guess we scared away the bad times last year just by having the stuff on board...go figure. We did give some whisky into my dark cross ears because she was "restless" with her labor and babies getting stuck going down the shoot and it worked really well for that. If she even starts--hit her with the ace and whiskey and say a prayer.

Lpigs · Post by **Lpigs** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:26 pm

how much whiskey in the ear?

crazypiglady · Post by **crazypiglady** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:30 pm

Piggy wrote:Keep some beer, wine whiskey, Ace and duct tape handy. Be there when she farrows. When she starts to farrow and is going to act up again, put some whiskey in her ear, drink one beer, put some wine or beer in her water, duct tape her mouth shut and give her some ace. If this does not work, drink the rest of the wine,beer and whiskey and call it a nite and put a bullet in her head in the morning after you have transferred your babies or put them on milk replacer. Piggy

We need a "like" button!!!

crazypiglady · Post by **crazypiglady** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:31 pm

By the way.... We can't get Everclear, it's illegal in Michigan. What's the next best thing?

mtbkmom · Post by **mtbkmom** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:18 pm

We just got some Jack Daniels--a package of the little tiney sampler bottles. Put 3-5ccs in each ear....3 for gilts and 5 for our huge 600 pound spot gilt when she got scared with the rain hitting the roof and starting to farrow.

littlerickey · Post by **littlerickey** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:41 pm

We have put plywood in the front half of the pen, fasten with zippties, that helps . also a towel over her eyes,will calm her after 5-10 mins, then Black tape her mouth,if need be

dirthog · Post by **dirthog** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:49 pm

if shes in a crate , tie her legs to the bars, duct tape her mouth and let the babes suck. sows will normally settle down after a few hours of this and if they dont at least the pigs get their colostrum.