If we’re not deliberate about it, left to our own devices, we won’t have much if any blank space in the schedule. This isn’t what the cool kids call a “humble brag.”
This sticky habit of ours can be destructive and I mention it now because it was on full display when we shared about our strategy for the Piglet Explosion a few weeks ago.
It didn’t matter to us that pigs often take half a day (or more) to deliver. Or that our sows generally prefer to give birth at night.
Our plan was to power through and make sure that no matter what, Greg and/or I were present for all 6 of the sows delivering this month.
But, after Greg spent the better part of a night keeping tabs on Angelica, the first sow to give birth this week, everything shifted.
I woke up when he got back inside around 4am. With hesitation in my throat, I sprung up in bed and asked how it all went. Calmly, he said “ It was the strangest thing, Jenney. They didn’t even need me.”
This was a stark departure from some other cold winter farrowing we’ve had in the past, where each piglet needed to be dried and warmed to survive.
A short time later, we saw from the new trail-cam that Peggy’s labor started. Greg, exhausted, started to get bundled up again so he could be on site to help the new piglets.
Right before he put on his boots, it hit us both. Maybe the new system we designed this year – with the trail cams, solar heat, propane heater and the more spacious stalls – was the solution we were looking for.
Maybe we didn’t need to spend the next month over-exerting and powering through, after all? We made up our minds and agreed on a new strategy.
Let’s keep the entire house warm and cozy (cue the propane heater) for the first few days so that wherever those piglets land, they have the best chance for survival. And let’s not disturb them unless absolutely necessary (cue the web cam). This logic almost never steers us wrong in the warmer months.
Incredibly, the plan worked. We ended up with 3 sows delivering in 24 hours, 26 new piglets, and a near 100% survival rate (we lost just 1 due to structural issues). And we were on site for just the 1 delivery, which meant that we didn’t sacrifice our well-being for the sake of the farm.
I think we’re prepared for the next 3 sows due to deliver this month and for years of winter time farrowing to come. This makes me sigh in relief, not just for the animals sake. But because we’ve been working on taking better care of ourselves. And this week, we did just that.
Your Farmers,
Jenney & Greg
PS – It’s another FRESH PORK week and we have more 100% grass-fed beef up for grabs, including the most gorgeous rib-eyes we’ve ever seen! If you would like to place an order, download the 5 Easy Steps to ordering HERE.