Finally!! these piggies were born on Tuesday 2/8. The fact that there are 4 of them explains why mama was so HUGE. Mom is a solid red abyssinian (meaning she has cowlicks sticking up all over- crazy hair). Dad was a long haired red with some white stripes. It looks like the black baby (Jamal-according to Jared. Isn't that racial profiling?)has cowlicks too. I am amzed by how easy this birthing process seems to be for these moms (sows). I left the house Tuesday at noon- no babies. I came back 3 hours later- babies. The babies were all dry, no umbilical cords dangling, running around. Mom was skinny again and not showing any signs of wear. Even her bottom was pristine, no blood, no redness, no swelling after giving birth to twice her own weight in babies. One would almost think the stork left them! I am still puzzled how an animal who is suppossed to have litters of between 1-6 babies (kits) only has 2 teats. I guess that is why these piggies are born with teeth and able to eat solid food immediately, cause there is always a line of babies waiting their turn to nurse.
I know this picture is a bit fuzzy but it shows the relative size of one of the babies from this litter when it was 5 days old.
This picture shows the relative size of this litter and a kit from our last litter 11 days before. It is amazing how fast they grow. They are constantly eating- especially once they stop nursing, which they seem to do after about 10 days. They get very vocal right away too. Although their permanent home is outside, we brought the moms/babies inside due to cold temperatures. The babies have already figured out that the sound of crinkling plastic wrappers or produce bags mean they are going to get a treat. Even from the next room if they hear anyone rustling around in the refrigerator they start making all sorts of racket, chirps and whistles especially, hoping for a carrot, red cabbage or their favorite is parsley. But in truth they aren't picky they will eat just about any fruit or vegetable. The only things they don't seem to like is green beans (go figure) and citrus fruit which is odd because they have really high Vitamin C requirements.
I know this picture is a bit fuzzy but it shows the relative size of one of the babies from this litter when it was 5 days old.
This picture shows the relative size of this litter and a kit from our last litter 11 days before. It is amazing how fast they grow. They are constantly eating- especially once they stop nursing, which they seem to do after about 10 days. They get very vocal right away too. Although their permanent home is outside, we brought the moms/babies inside due to cold temperatures. The babies have already figured out that the sound of crinkling plastic wrappers or produce bags mean they are going to get a treat. Even from the next room if they hear anyone rustling around in the refrigerator they start making all sorts of racket, chirps and whistles especially, hoping for a carrot, red cabbage or their favorite is parsley. But in truth they aren't picky they will eat just about any fruit or vegetable. The only things they don't seem to like is green beans (go figure) and citrus fruit which is odd because they have really high Vitamin C requirements. 
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