Hi Chuck.. I am saying this to you as a friend & a fellow farmer who really wants to see you guys be successful. Not to be critical, mean or ornery. Maybe consider getting some of the metal quanset huts for the sows to nest & farrow in in the field. There are all different sizes made for animal shelters, they are easily moveable and provide shelter from the wind, cold and rain/ snow. You could put a bunch of hay inside for the sow to nest & farrow in. It would save litters from getting cold and wet and minimize losses of so many piglets due to hypothermia. Otherwise consider moving sows to the building that you used this winter to farrow the 1 sow for protection from the weather. If you don’t reassess and change what you are doing you will continue loosing a lot of piglets with late fall, winter & early spring farrowing without shelter and that will continue effecting your bottom line of available pork inventory for sale & income. Just some food for thought. Farming is like medicine/ nursing.. we have to constantly observe, reassess, plan & change the plan if it isn’t working as it was intended to do to achieve measurable improved positive outcomes for the patient. Patient = farm & animal management plan.

My Dad use to say if your going to learn, learn from someone who knows both ends of farming. Can't learn without the hard times. I think your a teacher. He also use to say grieve the loss and rejoice the living. Thank you for sharing, praying for you all.

There is a saying in Australia "If you have live stock you'll have dead stock" we can only do our best. This week I have lost piglets to snake bite and wild dogs so keep your chin up, we all love your videos and learn lots from you 😊

Farming is one of those lifestyles that sees the extreme lows and extreme highs. Thank you for showing the realness of farming. Even when we think we are prepared there can be loss and we learn from it to try better next time knowing that next time still may have loss in a new way. Farming is rich in loss and joy. God bless ya'll.

Our first year farrowing piglets here, and it has been a struggle, beautiful and heartbreaking as you say. We had one Momma do beautiful with 10 healthy piglets delivered and are almost at 3 months. We had a second momma reject her entire litter of 8 (was determined to savage them/remained great with us). We decided to take on the challenge of rearing those on milk replacer (expensive). We have gotten 7 of the 8 through to now - 7 weeks. No way we could have done it while taking care of an operation your size, but we are trying. We have leaned heavy on your know how this year, so I just want to say thank you so much for sharing the amazing work you are doing with your piglets. We are learning from you every day.

Nice to see mama sows out in pasture. Even with the hazards of living outside, better than the ghastly 3x5' pens I have seen.

Be surprised how many you can save with a small tarp, a few t posts and some string. We farrowed 800+/Yr for a while, all on pasture.

17?? Insane, very well done Chuck- We'd like to thank you for your advice via your channel! It's been very very helpful to our little farm. Our best Sow Petunia had 13, no stillbirth, no crushing. Born late winter, in the hay, in the snow. She's a champ 🎉. Our second sow, Princess, had 10, one stillbirth, 2 crushed 😢 and one just went missing (Eagle I think...) - but she is way more protective, so there's a trade-off. Keep up the great work!

You and yours are definitely in my prayers. ❤🙏🏻🇺🇸 **video looks and sounds great. I didn't hear any wind whistling.**

I can feel for you I didn't think a sow was pregnant and AI her a week and a half later she aborted 16 fully developed piglets. She had had a foot injury so I just assumed she had not got breed. We learn hard things. We lost all but 4 out of 10 from our momma that last year didn't lose one. We have them in the barn in 8x10 pens with 2x8 space for the piglets no weather involved. This is our 4th year and by far our worst. First time needing to pull but I learned a boutique a small pelvis on a gilt from watching your video when you lost all but the 2 from your guilt and had the vet out. So even when you don't feel like you are the person to teach us you are. You care about the animals and that makes it hurt. Thank you for shared the hard things so we see the reality of the ups and downs of farming.

Crystal clear sound and video. Congrats on all the new piglets

That is amazing to have an average of 14 piglets. You should be very encouraged. So sorry that you feel down about what you did. I believe you did a great job! You are doing really well. You do not need to call this the "Bad and Ugly" you are doing a fine job.

The sound system has a problem. When you where talking you only came through on my left hearing aid and when you were close enough to the pigs they came through on my right hearing aid. I like your videos.

I second the use of a hog hut or a-frame. We sometimes farrow in winter here and couldn’t manage with our our farrowing pens. Much easier to catch and castrate when they are less than a week too. As for counting, we don’t count it, if it didn’t breath. Has to be live births! Also there could be medical reasons for all the mummified piglets. Might want to look into that.

What happened to the farrowing huts from the old farm?

Keep your head up my friend, it’s going to get better,enjoy what you and your Wife have done praying for you guys.🙏🏽

I would think that you would have more live and healthy piglets if the sows were confined in crates in a temperature controlled building shortly (a few days or a couple of weeks) before they give birth. That would be a much more controlled environment, where you could have more ideal heating/cooling conditions and heat lamps on all of the newborn piglets. Heat lamps should be turned on in the pens ideally about a day before the sow gives birth. Cold piglets do not survive well. Also, in a closely confined farrowing crate, the piglets can separate themselves from the sow so that they don't get laid on inadvertantly when the sow lays down. The crates would allow you to control the sows in case they get mean as they are givig birth. This would give you an opportunity to put a leather muzzle on the sow so that she will not bite or try to eat the piglets. Some sows are very docile during birth. Occasionally, a sow can be very mean and try to harm the piglets. We did this with about 16 sows twice per year on our family farm. Breeding was controlled so that all of the sows would give birth within about a 3 week timeframe, twice per year. Finally, be in the building (even in the middle of the night) when the sow gives birth, to take care of any complications. Occasionally, you may even have to breath into the mouth of the piglet so that it will start breathing on its own. Clean off all of the afterbirth from the piglets with wood shavings (to warm up the piglet) Also, tie off the umbilical cord with a disinfected string to prevent bleeding and/or infection. All of this helps to save piglets. Finally, keep records of any sows that get mean when they are giving birth. Send those sows off to the sale yard so you don't have to deal with them a second time. There should be no second chances with sows. Ed Schutheis Washington state, USA

I guessed way low! 😂 The thing about farming that you always have to remember is, where there's livestock, there's deadstock. And that doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.

Man we just got a handful of pregnant soldiers yesterday, this video keeps it real. We are looking forward to new life on the farm but are preparing ourselves for the loss too. We love you guys! See you soon!

I would think about using farrowing crates so you could help if a problem occurred then maybe turn them out when their a few days old or if the weather permitted. I know " farrowing crate" is a bad word to some people but as you just experienced it can be a night mare without them

The video and audio sound good, just anytime you were using the lav mic it would only play through one side. In some parts where you were just using the camera mic for background footage it was playing in stereo, so I would imagine it's something to do with the lav.

Sound in only one ear bud except at @1:50 when engine started and then stereo only briefly

In the beginning of the video it was just the left channel. Outside of that, very crisp and clear. As for the losses, live and learn I suppose. I’ve learned a ton from your videos and we also learn from you when things don’t go as planned. Thanks Chuck!

Have you tried any kinda of small huts for them to get into or small metal Quonset huts just big enough for them to get into. Those would be easy to move around with the tractor.. might save your losses.. just a thought for ya

Hey chuck, it must be something in the air this year we had a terrible farrowing of some berkshires. Lost an entire litter I was about to scream in the truck on my way to work that morning I was so disheartened.

17! Geesh. I'm new to breeding tamworths and told average is 7-8. Due in a couple weeks. So excited

No narrowing videos this year?? Those are my favorites you do the best and I love those babys so cute

Well done . Informative 👍👍👍. Thank you for sharing. Be safe🇨🇦

Back when we raised hamps, that was....us....let's say well over 40 years ago....we had a couple that typically had 15 and 16. We usually had 12 come up to age. One litter was 14 that made it. I miss my youth. I even miss some of the work.

Have you considered building several sheds for the sows to ferral in

Oh my goodness. Baby piglets are so adorable. Awww so sweet. Congratulations on all piglets. ❤

Maybe a nice hud would help for them to have babies. They are in the dry and warm with hay or straw

Those little hams are just adorable

Like others have suggested, perhaps those metal quanset(?) metal animal shelters would seriously improve the survival rate. They should be easily movable with a small tractor or 4 wheeler. Idk if it's in your finances to buy or not but perhaps a few simple homemade ones would do like the ones you've had before? What happened to the old ones? I try and watch all your videos but I must've missed a few 😅

We had one nearly freeze to death. When I pulled her out of the nest, she was barely breathing, ice cold, but alive! I put her on the dash of the truck on the heater for a bit, then tucked her into my coat for the ride home. Well, I don't throw much heat, so when we got to our house, I made my man take her under his coat. It took about two hours to get her temperature back to normal, and I really think that being held close and feeling our heartbeats made all the difference in her recovery success - we even took her into bed with us for the first night! We wound up just keeping her with us and bottle-raised her on ordinary cow's milk. She's back with the others now, but is totally a pet!

Good content. Great sound. As always thanks for your content. ❤

Hi Chuck, I hear you man. Our second year pasture raising pigs, in 2021 our guilt had her first litter in a nasty cold rain storm. I remember having to scramble around to get a covid test (on my dime) while I was forced by HR and had to miss 1 week of work (unpaid) ...still never got reimbursed by the govt or the corporation.in the the rain while she lost all 10 of her piglets. It was a lot to process our first time. By the grace of patience and me not giving up, and working with her and our young boar, we were able to get 16 healthy piglets, we only lost one (the runt) either got rolled on or something, but when I peaked in and saw her ears open looking at me nursing all 16 of her piglets it was one of the happiest times in my life. You are doing the right thing, letting them live in peaceful enviornment in their natural habitat. Maybe invest in building a few huts rainproof or mini pig houses (1 per sow/guilt), maybe you save closer to 90% of your piglets. Everything is expensive now, but maybe you could find a bunch of scrap material to build with for cheap. Good luck. I wish you all the best.

I found your video to be very helpful and insightful.

Great color and great definition.

Thank you for this video. We started farrowing on pasture last year and it can be challenging. We currently have 4 sows due all within about a week because a boar got loose. That wouldn't be so bad except that May is when our property goes through its annual flood and this year with warm weather followed by rain we are about 2 weeks farther along with flooding than the last 3 years. Things are going to get a bit cramped on the high ground areas.

God bless you and your family too. I love the way how you end every video

I did not even get close! But then, I have never raised pigs. Or should I say I haven't raised pigs yet! Truth be told, I am thinking about a couple of feeder pigs, but have to wait until I have a better set up. Congrats on all of the pigs!

Sounds and Looks Good!

Sound was mostly in left ear. Picture was great.

Going to watch you guys anyway!

Hey 👋 Chuck! On your audio you need to check if it’s working on mono…. On my end I am listening through one speaker. Keep up the great work and I hope you and your family have a blessed day!🙏

First time tune in-love it look forward to future videos♥️❣️

investing in Port a Huts out of storm lake iowa. They are light and very strong. stake down. Farrow pigs in a snow storm and save them all. they can let you know where distributors are at. At a $1000.00 value per pig - your numbers. my question how can you afford to lose any pigs let alone a litter ? Good thing that boar bred those 2 . keeps the inventory about correct after a loss of an entire litter.

Sorry for your lose my friend that is part of it we are learning also.

Wow your piglets look a lot like ours @ freedom ranch homestead dramatic piglet birth a learning experience

Hell we barn raised our pugs and got aboyt the same #s watching the whole prosses. You did well... No reson to dought yourself. Good farming

Amen. We love following your journey. I guessed 39, great number 👌🏻

Audio and video is great 👍

If the content is interesting and educational, I'll watch it. Video and sound are great for me.

They are so adorable! ❤ I am soo hoping my sow took with AI and we have piglets in July.

Awesome camera. What beautiful creatures.

Sounds great, looks great.

First time viewer sound and video is good we just had a few litters here on our farm in the Philippines

Looks and sounds great, but would have watched anyways. Thanks for the video.

RE: video production, im only getting sound out of one side of my speakers, and i know its not the speakers

Hot Chuck Dale here in Arizona don't feel bad about losing a piglet or a letter we just lost one and it was a beautiful day. We were at the 72 hours and the mother you could tell she had been nursing and then she rolled up onto all 9 in the middle of the night and in the morning they were all smother things happen. Glad to hear I was in the top 8 with a pick of 42 I always watch your videos have a great day.

Audio and video look great...but I watch it anyways lol Thanks for the hard work you do.

Last year we had accidental piggies. About 40 from 4 moms. We learned a lot from that experience. Why all 4 gave birth is a terrible storm (out of spite perhaps?) is beyond me. We only have 2 sows left and 1 boar and we are hoping for babies in about 2 months 🤞. We are better prepared this time hopefully…….

I'm using headphones, and only hearing audio through the left channel at start of the video. at 1:45 it switches to both left/right, then back to only left. Definitely some settings to play with. Looks great though!

Prayers

Video looks and sounds sharper but seems to take longer to focus when moving or zooming in and out. I don't care, im gonna watch anyway

Looks great but I would watch yall regardless 💜

You guys are doing awesome! What camera did you get??? Looks great!

Robert,,(f Ont Canada) I have a Dolby Atmos soundbar,,,sounds top notch,,,👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻.

Beautiful video quality!

God Bless. Everything has risk involved.

So on the audio... I use hearing aides, during your narrative only left ear picked it up (blue tooth) .Old footage both ears worked. Don't know if it has anything to do with your new equipment or not.Hope that helps you. rstr.

I’m only getting the left audio channel. Checked other videos, this one is missing the right channel.

Sorry about that I meant to say Hi Chuck

Looks and sounds great.

It seems to be very touch and go, wether they are giving birth and so on indoors or out. A lot of the piglets seem to get crushed by accident. Don't feel so bad. You try your best.

We always used a barrow shed. Sure you had to keep it clean.

You asked for feedback on your new camera and audio. The first thing I noticed in this video is that the audio is not balanced in my headphones. it's only on the left side.

We used to pig on pasture, could be a rough go in muddy Missouri..

I'm, going to watch anyway but the improvement on your sound quality is noticeable and welcomed 😂

When do you castrate males when they farrow on pasture and how do you manage it with sows being around.

When I first started watching the channel u rarely spoke abt piglet mortality from birth. Not sure cuz those farrowing were done the same method or not but those sals seem to have less complications.

Using ear buds I only hear this in my left ear.

G’day Chuck, nice video. What breed were the first and last mother pigs on this video? Cheers mate🇦🇺

Haha I would probably be setting up lean to tarp tents over every one!😊😮

Heya just found this video. Notice you said you have new equipment. Listening with earbuds, mich of your video only has audio in my left ear. Hope you can work that out!

Great video. That’s a lot of 🥓

Why not use hog panels U shape put trap over it ? That would keep pigs out of the rain.

Parts of the video only have sound from one speaker...

Years ago we had a pig who had several babies they all died at birth Her second time around she had 12 piglets they were so pretty and I was so happy they were doing so good three days later I went out in the morning and unfortunately a pack of coyotes killed all the piglets and injured the mama I was so upset. I know things happen but sometimes it's hard to swallow

Would the sows use a man made shelter to keep out of the bad weather with the piglets?

Love your videos! What type (Breed) are your.... Sows? Boar? Thanks

They walk freely under the fence which seems scary that predators could grab them on the other side?

Sound only comes out of the left speaker.

Cześć , robisz i pokazujesz z żoną kawał świetnej roboty naprawdę gratuluję i oby tak dalej :) Mam do was pytanie , lochy podczas wyproszeń przebywają razem na dużym obszarze żeby każda znalazła sobie swoje miejsce do wyproszenia , ale zdarzają się różne wypadki pogodowe i są straty w prosiakach , powiedz czemu nie rozstawiacie po pastwisku budek dla świń aby mogły się tam schronić ? Mieliście porobione takie jak ma Jordan G. ale ich nie używacie dlaczego ? Pozdrawiam serdecznie :)

I ran an organic outside breeding and fattening farm and did not lose piglets because of rain or bad weather as they had warm and waterproof housing with a wooden floor. They farrowed fine and lost the odd one. I don't see any housing for the pigs, are you farrowing outside with no housing?

The audio is not stereo. Only left side

The video is good but the sound is low.

I just lost 5. Still have 2 on the bottle and momma is feeding 2. Had 1 that was mummified. That was a first for us. I probably won’t breed her again.

What is the difference between mummified and stillbirth?