The Little Piglet that Could

The momma pigs are restless. There are three of them, one has had her babies. There were quite a few in the beginning, but five have since passed away. I don't understand how momma pigs end up laying on their babies, one would think the little ones would scramble out of the way, or mom might be more cautious, but it does happen.

There's a little runt – gender unconfirmed, but a little boy is my personal suspicion – and he is just so darn cute, and rather sweet. He was competing with his numerous siblings for a place at momma's table, but he just couldn't cut it. After all his siblings had eaten and retired to the corner under the heat lamp, he made his tottering way up front, where the automatic waterer is. He began lapping up the liquid on the floor. I'm afraid it wasn't all water.

We tried to discourage him as much as possible, but he was thirsty! He was also shivering. Bear in mind that it is still winter and even though the barn is heated, a tiny little pig gets the chills quickly. We encouraged him to go back to his siblings under the heat lamp, but every time we stuck our hands in the pen, momma pig would see it and come running over furiously, all full of protective instinct, grunting and groaning and carrying on.

However, we are future techs, and do not easily give up. There's a tiny whole in the pen's wall, just big enough for a runt piglet. One of my classmates drew up her courage and reached through, encouraging him to come closer. He did wander toward her, lapping the liquid on the floor as he went. She reached around him and gently pulled him toward her. He was silent. We were all holding our breaths. She lifted him, and got his back legs through the hole. As she lifted him further, to pull him through, he squealed.

I have never seen an animal turn quicker than his momma. I have also never been as frightened of an animal as that. These momma's are huge! I would honestly guess in the 600-700lb range. They've been at our farm for several years. She came screaming over. My classmate let go of that baby and he went running to mom. I can't blame her, I would have too.

However, that had the desired effect. Little baby runt went back to his siblings and cuddled down in the middle and began to dream little piggy dreams.

Until next time,