Piglets at last

Right on her due date after 114 days of pregnancy Rosie the sow had her piglets.......

She had spent the last few days making her nest in the ark and her 14 enormous nipples were swollen with milk and hot (she still liked her belly scratched).

She had enjoyed the muddy wallow we kept waterlogged....

When she didn't amble over to the fence at breakfast time this morning and we heard rustling and grunting from the ark we knew something was up...

The first brave piglet emerges from the ark as Rosie comes out to feed.

Then another...

Then as the third piglet emerges they are hustled back inside by Mum.

Two sneaked out again but were soon called in for their curfew - and milk. Four happy piglets. We found a stillborn and another piglet that had died during the day but for a first litter, 4 healthy piglets is fine. 

The photos are from a distance as pigs need peace and tranquillity when farrowing so we stayed as far away as our will-power would allow but we look forward to getting up close in the next few days!

Well done Rosie!