Weaning Piglets

Master of the concept I am not.  I actually despise the whole situation.  You see, if we farrowed in the barn in crates this would be easy.  But we don't.  Our piglets are born outside.  Well, at about 3 weeks they get pretty mobile.  At 5 weeks they get brave.  At 6 weeks, they are everywhere.  It is time to wean and it is not easy to get them contained.  Last year was our first at farrowing and weaning was interesting to say the least.  It ended with me running the length of the fence with a piglet and momma chasing.  Needless to say, we did not wean one of the little ones.  This year plan B was concocted, but I have not had time to implement it.  So, luck intervened.  However, stupid human error prevented the easiest weaning ever.  These piglets have taken to sleeping in the barn.  Away from momma.  This morning I went out to find them sleeping feet from the weaning pen.  I slipped in, moved a couple of other feeder pigs, and opened the gate.  All I had to do was go back around, open the door and they would run away from me into the pen. So far, so good.  This is the error part:  remember how the plan is to open the door and scare them.  Well, if you do not close the door, it doesn't need to be opened.  In my shock of finding them near the pen, I forgot to close the door and by the time I realized it, 2 had awaken and left.  3 more were on the way when I got around the barn and scared them back in.  And just as planned, I had 5 of 7 caught.  Now for the other 2.  Well, they ran back to momma who was asleep.  I walked in the field and grabbed one and got out before momma woke.  I only got one, though.  The other is still with her.  For how long?  Most likely until plan B is built....... 

**Note: For all of you who are new...click on the September 2011 archive button on the right side and the first post titled, "Run, Dave, Run" will give you quite an amusing account of last year's weaning attempt.**