Dead piglet, maybe not.

A first for me. Tonight I was checking on the animals and putting up the heifer so I can milk in the morning. I saw several piglets laying under the cover so I moved in close to give them a scratch. As I got close all but two moved away.  One of the remaining piglets rolled over when I touched it the other just laid there not moving. I shook it gently but no response. I picked it up still no response. I started walking toward the water tank patting it on first one side then the other with little to no response. A slight twitch was all. I scooped a hand full of water and poured it over its hip. Still nothing. I turned it over and poured some water over its other hip being careful to not get it too wet for the moment. Finally it opened its eyes and started to move. Then she started to squirm but not really trying to get away.

When I put her on the ground she ran to the sow.

I have never seen an animal sleep that hard. She is fine but she sure gave me a scare.

Sad day

Sadly Calliope didn’t make it. She was doing so well and then Friday she started going downhill and we were not able to get her to bounce back. She died sometime early Monday morning. I think it was probably inevitable but everyone gets a fighting chance on this farm. We were hoping her condition was one she would outgrow but it wasn’t to be. She really made an impression on everyone who met her. She would stay at the feed store while we were at work and Jim said she had taken the place over. I’m just glad that she didn’t go while one of the kids were watching her.

20150624_185503_resized RIP little fighter.
As sad as Monday was Tuesday brought new life on the farm. We had two hens show up with 10 baby chicks each. I know one was on a nest but I don’t know where the other one was nesting.

brown hen black hen