Lacking in sleep...

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sophiew (EAGPR)

sophiew (EAGPR)

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Well my fur-babies are keeping me up all hours, as they're tiny and need supplementary feeding every 4 hours..... I was up and about at 4 a.m today (barely human!) with my goat's milk and teaspoon. Can almost do it in my sleep now!

They were so hungry tonight they literally attacked the spoon rolleyes

Keep trying not to get too attached as they're so tiny, but it's hard not to when you're hand feeding them :(

Cute little guys though, more pics soon!

Sophie
x
 
You are doing a grand job Sophie ...... keep it up. Anyone who doesn't get attached is not human!! they are so cute xoxo
 
You will get attached, Sophie ... believe me! xx>>>

Well done you though. It is great to do that, you will be tired but when you see a result in the end it will be worth it! Big, healthy piggies!
 
Big piggie cuddle for you - and a big squeak to keep you from nodding away!

All the best to you and the two N's! The not-getting-attached is probably impossible, but I fervently hope that it is an unnecessary attempt. :)
 
Here they are this morning -with a milk bottle top for size comparison!

Napoleon:
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Nelson (he's got a patch over the other eye!)
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So far so good, a little less shakey than they were and not losing weight... desperate for food though and really attacked the spoon today! Will be glad when they can eat for themselves!

Sophie
x
 
They are so gorgeous and you are a star! fingers crossed they keep gaining weight x)
 
They are cuties, but mad! I can fit them both in one of my hands (and I've got quite small hands!) They must be feeling perkier as one of them tried to escape from my lap today after feeding :)
 
They are totally lovely x Well done to you for doing such a fab job with them x)
 
gosh Sophie you mus be tiredzzz,but what a joy to wake up to those gorgeous babies,I'm sticking with calling you nurse Sophie now:)),the babies are very cute and I'm sure your doing a wonderful job xxxxx
 
Your doing a great job! I know how your feeling sleep wise, Ive done it when I'd try and "cat nap" from 11pm to 2 am with feeds inbetween and then up at 5:30-6am again and I was doing this when I was still at school and sitting my GCSEs, I had to do the night feeds as my mum works nights, so she was doing her best in the day, its hard but really worth it if you get a result at the end, everything is crossed for these little guys!
 
oh oh oh oh OMG.......Sophie they're just so ickle and gorgeous x)x)x)x)
What little precious bundles ahhhhhhh give them all our love and some hearty wheeeeeeeks from the girlies and me too xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Hey love if you ever want to chat or grunt :(|) at 4am your time let me know i'm usually logged in :)
You're doing a brill job WELL DONE xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
what a testimont!!
 
Do the babies have a surrogate sow-mum you could put in with them to teach them what they can eat in the cage?

The babies look absolutely adorable :)
 
They have an actual mum but there are two mums together - the other has 6 large babies, and both are feeding both litters so I'm supplementing the littluns as they're only half the size of the rest.

I've thought about splitting them up but I think it would be too distressing for the sows as they are so very bonded and it's also good that they take it in turns to look after the babies, so for now and as long as the tinies are still gaining weight, I'm taking it a day at a time!

Sophie
x
 
sophiew said:
They have an actual mum but there are two mums together - the other has 6 large babies, and both are feeding both litters so I'm supplementing the littluns as they're only half the size of the rest.

I've thought about splitting them up but I think it would be too distressing for the sows as they are so very bonded and it's also good that they take it in turns to look after the babies, so for now and as long as the tinies are still gaining weight, I'm taking it a day at a time!

Sophie
x
Click to expand...

I think it's great that you're giving the sows a helping hand when they seem to have so many babies between them. I also think it's great that the babies are still with the rest and that two sows are caring for them. Perhaps you could give the smaller babies "Mum time" alone with the sows to see if perhaps they're losing a fight for milk at feeding time while you take the bigger ones on an adventure to The Bed or something with another sow?

... and I insist on moar pigtures :D!!! (if you have time between trying to catch sleep :))
 
All going ok (so far so good!), putting on weight. Their mum only has milk in one teat so I've now split her from the others so she's just nursing these 2, seems to have worked as they were less hungry for the goat's milk this morning.

Here's Loopy waiting for breakfast:
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And washing her baby after I'd fed him:

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Captain Jack wondering why he doesn't get his pic taken any more:
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Sophie
x
 
AWWWW - they are all so sweet! x)

I'm crossing my fingers that they'll make it!

Though I have my grave doubts as to whether you can bear it and let them EVER leave you! rolleyesrolleyes

Big hug - seeing them put on weight gives you the strength to struggle through!

Wiebke
 
They're nutters, the little ones - really quite odd! rolleyes

I'm keeping one boar to befriend Zippy, as Sirius Black his pal died - but I haven't decided which boar to keep (probably the cream and agouti one). I'll keep the two little guys together as a pair though as they're quite attached, if they both make it!

Sophie
x
 
Just a thought have you tried putting Milky bread in the cage, so they can help themselves to that inbetween spoon feeds?

If they dont chew the bread, they can always suck up the milk from it.

I have found this really helpful whenever I have had to hand rear bubs.
 
Missbonbon said:
Just a thought have you tried putting Milky bread in the cage, so they can help themselves to that inbetween spoon feeds?

If they dont chew the bread, they can always suck up the milk from it.

I have found this really helpful whenever I have had to hand rear bubs.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I've been doing that... trouble is I work full-time and it's been so hot I haven't liked to leave it there, but they get it in the morning, when I get home and again before bed - they love it! The sow has been munching on it too! rolleyes

Sophie
x
 
Yep I understand as I work full time aswell.:)

I don't think leaving the milky bread out all day will cause any problems in this current cooler weather (I assume babies are inside).
If they love it that much, there will not be any left to go horrid!

Hope they pull through for you x
 
Thanks, it is cooler now so I will leave it down :)

Just fed the bubs again, they were 40g and 47g at birth (Saturday), they're now 50g and 56g, so I'm really pleased at they've done well today just being with mum and not the others :)

Hopefully no more night feeds for me!

Sophie
x
 
That's great news - good weight gains :)

I'm sure they'll end up lovely big chunky boys x)

Well done you - all your lack of sleep is certainly paying off !

Teresa x
 
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