Not posted for a while! Update on my growing brood!

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Meadowlark

Meadowlark

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I dont think ive ever posted on this particular part of the forum as i only joined to get some advice on 3 sows i had rescued from a pet auction and who all turned out to be pregnant! Thankfully all went well with the births although sadly one of the babies died 48 hours after being born very small and floppy.
I rehomed 2 of the boys but have kept the others for the mean time until suitable homes come up.
Well i am now upto 20 piggies as i have been back to the auction and couldnt resist 2 very sad looking baby sows who were filthy dirty and had sore feet :(, thankfully with a gentle bath and some very clean bedding they are now gorgeus fluffy girls :). I went back to the auction last week and ended up coming home with 5 baby boys :{, i tried hard to resist but when they started going for owl food i just couldnt keep my hand down and paid 3 pounds for the 5! Sadly i couldnt save the other 10 that were there 8.... 2 of the babies were utterly emaciated and i worried one wouldnt pull through, but I'm pleased to say he has thrived in the last 5 days and has become really friendly! x). I'm hoping the two baby sows aren't pregnant but if they are then we will cross that bridge when it comes! Ive just got back in from cleaning all the hutches out and have spent a lovely hour pampering them all! I know i shouldnt really go back to the auction but i just cant sit at home when i have the time and space to help less fortunate piggies. Sorry to go abit but just wanted to share my story.
 
Oh those auctions must be heartbreaking. I do not think you should go to any more. How lovely you have adopted those poor piggies and given them a loving home.
 
Wow it would be great to see some pictures of your piggies. x
 
Is it not against the law in the UK to sell live piggies as food for other animals? I am horrified at these acutions. I understand why you go there as I probably couldn't resist either if I ever learned of it happening here. But if it is against the law would you not save more piggies by reporting it to the powers that be?
 
From what I'm told there are usually an inspector or 2 sat watching what goes on and the organiser are often handing out new rules and regulations. I'm not sure about any rules about selling live piggies as snake/owl foor but assume that if the are dispatched humanely then no one cares? :(, just horrid :(.
On a much brighter note the two skinny boys are going from strength to strength and for the first time today i saw the pop corning when i put the fresh hay in! :), I'm trying to post a pic of the really skinny one taken 5 days ago. His coat has gone from dull and dirty to bright white and shining! Just love him.....
 
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My dear little skinny pig! Must find him a name! Any suggestions? Not the best photo I'm afraid! x
 
It is not legal to feed a live vertebrate to anything in the UK. It is legal to live feed insects to reptiles etc. The piggies being sold for owl food etc should be humanely dispatched before use and as an apprentice falconer and guinea pig enthusiast I would be surprised if they were not for reptile us anyway. There are not many species of owl that would take on a guinea pig... On the same point if you are a reptile/bird of prey owner worth your salt you would not be feeding weak or sick animals to your bird/pet anyway as you will just create problems for yourself!

As for the piggies you have taken on, well done you and they look fantatsic.... I do think the advice to stay away from the auction might be wise though. Heartbreaking though it may feel, you can't save them all...
 
A couple of my other boys, which are the most stunning colours! I will be continuing to go to the auctions but will not take on any more pigs than i can manage. Luckily i work in a store which sells pet food/bedding etc so i get lots of discounts! I have spoken to one of the guinea pig breeders who takes her baby pigs to the auction and she was horrified when she realised where they were going and is going to try and sell them privately in the future or atleast put a reserve on them at the auction. Sadly she is going to continue to breed :(. I am a very practical person and know that some animals must go to feed other animals.
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My boy Charlie came from an animal auction originally, and the two boys I am currently fostering did too. They are very scared little boys. Heaven only knows what they've been through in the past...
 
Well today we had our first sunny day for weeks so i took the opportunity to put the pigs out on the grass! Even the new skinny boys went out and loved it! Made it so much easier to clean them out too! :), So funny watching them popcorning in the sunshine :) xx
 
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