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I was over collecting 3 weaners from our pig friends this morning. D&E are off to Oz on Sunday for 3 weeks and one of their daughters is farm sitting for them whilst they have a break before lambing starts.

I returned with my 3 weaners plus:



He's only a week old and way behind it's siblings. D&E convinced me I was doing them a favour taking it off their hands....... Then E handed me a baby's bottle and a tin of powdered milk.

I am for the high jump when OH gets home! My excuse is I need practice cos I am promised some orphan lambs to keep my grass down....

Might even give the lad a name seeing he's going to be in the kitchen for a while... suggestions on a postcard!

You're in for a hard time! We had one like that and, while he overcame many hurdles, we eventually had to put him down.

If he survives, it will be worth it, but be prepared for the worst, too.

Make sure you keep him warm. He's both small and alone so he will lose temperature fast.

Yep - he was fairly shivering by the time I got him home (20 mins) but hes out for the count with a fat belly under the heat lamp now.

He was destined to take his chances after D&E went away, so he has a better chance here, albeit his chances are not great which we realise.

nah. well maybe a bit. but sounds like you would be doing your friends a favour.. and although his chances are slim, at least you are giving him some.

as for the name.. decide now if he is destined to be food.... don't get too attached!!

my vote for a name is Chancer....

How about 'Biro' TG? I once raised 13 lambs on the bottle it was a bdooly nightmare and I would NEVER do it again, they were a menace, always under the feet, too lazy to forage, died like flies and never came to anything apart from one or two that hung around the croft for years trying to get into the garden at the first opertunity.

Cheers, Paul

I like Biro, too!

Hope it doesn't end in tears - will you post progress reports?

Well he sure likes sooking on his bottle! It's amusing really, but I am fairly certain the novelty will wear off by the weekend....

He is most definitely for eating. He will have to go early/underweight tho as the trio which are 10 weeks now will be ready to go in June. I won't keep him on his own for another 2 months just to let him get bigger - better I think to put him away early - the extra pork will be a bonus anyhow. Assuming he makes it that is, but he does seem in perfect health at the moment - just seemed to be so far behind his siblings.

And OH just smiled when he came home! I was waiting for him to come home so I could head out - quick instructions on mixing the milk up and left him to it!

I think Biro is perfect - after all he'll need a pig pen!

Milims wrote:I think Biro is perfect - after all he'll need a pig pen!

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhh!!!!!!!

I actually think its going to be best if this wee fella does not get a name. After all we are going to eat him in June.....

No question, names cause a bond to be stronger, but you are going to be strongly bonded to this little guy anyway as he's in your house and you'll be bottle feeding him frequently. We just have a few pigs but name them names of food, like oreo or chocolate, "because we're going to eat them" (sounds awful eh?Ah well.) It's just easier to refer to a name than "the black and white one,"or "the one with the spot on his left hind leg," know what I mean? Your little one looks a lots like a kidney bean with ears:).....mmmmm chilie...Biro sounds like a good name but I'm from Canada and not familiar with it's meaning? Just a thought, I don't know what kind of milk you're feeding him, but I fed my piglets goat milk daily and they grew unbelievably fast and healthy (and sooo tasty). You would have to phase him over to it gradually so there is no digestive upset as it is a lot richer than cow's milk. The goat milk took almost two months off their expected finishing time (we got them at weaning - 21days&8kg) and they were still way over the average for dressed weight, and very lean too. So Biro could almost catch up to the others at that rate...Good luck with the little guy, good for you for taking a chance on him!

Sorry but I had to post more pictures





There's one thing certain...the house reeks of pig!

oh that second picture made me chuckle.!

Me too Red - that's why I posted it In fact the wee beast makes me chuckle - period.

That second pic is fantastic - made me chuckle too!

Love the name biro.