Hilda is a mammy!

[Orlaith]

I'm so excited!!! Hilda had her babies this morning. I went downstairs at 7am and she was walking around not a bother on her. I came back up at about quarter to eight and it was all over!

So, we have three beautiful little dutches, who are quite a dark brown, I'm surprised, and one gorgeous himi who, sadly, was stillborn. The himi baby was about twice the size of the other little bubs so she (I haven't checked, I just don't like saying 'it') must have taken longer to deliver. Such a shame since she looks like she would have been an absolute stunner.

But, I'm am just delighted that Hilda seems to be in good health so far (it's only been an hour after all!). She's been working hard at cleaning them and cleaning herself and now they're all having their breakfast

There was a lot more blood than I thought there would be, but since it's our first litter that could be normal, but I'm going to check on Hilda every half hour to make sure she's okay.

Also, I took Xander out and I'm going to keep him in the run for a few hours. He was brrring and waggling his hips and Hilda was getting a bit anxious so I thought it best to give her a rest (it's been five weeks since his neutering, but he'll still try to get up on her, obviously). I hope I did the right thing. Xander is a bit annoyed but the piggy-mommy and minipigs are the priority at the minute.

[abby]

Oh Orlaith i'm thrilled, i have been eagerly awaiting news of Hilda's babies :-) I am so sorry she lost one, what a shame but as you say thank god she's ok and they now have a little family. I cannot wait to see photos and hear what names you pick! Def did the right thing removing Xander, i can't imagine anything worse than my husband wanting to get it on the moment i'd given birth!!! Perhaps she should have a couple of days rest, with him living alongside before you put him back but others could advise you better. Congrats! x

[Orlaith]

Yeah, that might be a good idea actually. The poor girl has had a tough time this last two weeks, trying to carry those babies around!

Does anyone know how soon I can clean the cage out without upsetting Hilda? There's a bit of blood on the fleece (not too much, she got most of it on the loose fleece we throw in for them to burrow in) and I'd like the new babies to have a clean house

Oh, and thanks!!! ;D

[Dawn - Admin]

Oh that's brilliant Orlaith, sorry about the one that you lost. Hope to see some pics of the new little ones very soon

[Orlaith]

I'll be in with the camera as soon as Hildie has a nice rest. She's out munching on her hay now, she must be hungry after her busy morning!




Oh, also, what should I be looking out for now so make sure that mum and babies are okay? So far they seem happy enough, they're all snuggled up together at the mo.

[xxlunaxx]

Yay...congrats to Hilda, you must be so proud of her and Xander creating such a beautiful little family. I cant wait to see them!

[Orlaith]

Here they are, just three hours old! I am completely in love with them!

[Dawn - Admin]

Awww.. WOW they are absolutely gorgeous well done Hilda

[Orlaith]

God, I'm just so proud of her, I can't even tell you how much. I've taken the day off work to keep an eye on them (plus I obviously can't leave Xander in the run all day on his own!) and they're starting to totter about and explore. They have totally stolen my heart! And I love the little brown faces of the two on the outsides. And I love the middle one too. I love them all!

[xxlunaxx]

Aw .... cuteness overload !!!! what great pics, they are stunning Is Hilda being really protective of them?

[Orlaith]

She's not too bad, actually! She's going off for little wanders to have hay and dry food and veggies and then comes back to the babies. She watched me pick them up and photograph them but she didn't seem too worried - in fact, she turned around and went back to eating halfway through! She doesn't like me peeking in on them every half hour, though. But I just want to be sure she's okay!

[krissy]

congrats!!!! there all lovely well done hilda xx

[catalady]

awwwww...they are so sweet. Enjoy seeing them so tiny, they grow so quick!

[Niki]

Congratulations Orlaith, mummy Hilda & daddy Xander, the babies are beautiful
Sorry to hear one was born sleeping

[Orlaith]

Thank you! And Xander and Hilda are very proud

Poor Hildie, she tried so hard to wake up the himi baby - all the other babies were still gooey and bloody when I saw them but the little himi was all pristine and white, so Hilda had obviously spent a lot of time on her. Poor thing. We buried her in the backyard that night. I felt so silly, crying over a piggy I didn't properly know, but I feel that I've known them and they've known us for a while since we've spent so long talking to them and they've been kicking our hands through Hildie's belly and all. So I was really sad to have to let her go. When I found her I tried everything I could to try to help her but she was already gone. But I guess that's part of the process and this little one just couldn't wait to get to the rainbow bridge.

Hilda is in great form now, she's eating away and bouncing around and she LOVES the babies, she's taking such good care of them. She's always cleaning them and snuffling them.

Oh, and we've named them! We think they're all boys but there's one we're not 100% sure of, so they all got asexual names.

If you look at the last photo I posted, the one on the left with the tiny bit of white around his mouth, that's Skylar.
The one in the middle with the white stripe down his nose is Acheron.
And the one on the right with the all brown face is Styx.

Acheron is like a little duck, following Hilda everywhere she goes. But because of that, he seems to be learning a bit quicker than the other two as well. He's the only one who's managed to climb into the litter tray for hay (they have other hay they can all reach) and he's eating a good bit of dry food too, but he only does it when Hilda does - he copies her

Xander is still in a separate cage. We've tried to put them back together a few times but he's making Hilda too agitated - he keeps backing her into corners and trying to hump her and then she starts squealing really loudly and trying to get away - so he's still in his bachelor pad. Hopefully in a few days Hilda won't be so anxious and Xander will have calmed down a bit.

[cavymaniac]

I've only just seen this thread! CONGRATULATIONS to you and Hilda! The babies are absolutely gorgeous!

And I'm really sorry for the little one that didn't make it. (((((hugs)))))

[celia]

aww congrats

[Orlaith]

Thanks guys! Here are some more of the little guys

Acheron (who somehow has poop on his paw and his ear!!!)






Styx






Skylar

[Dawn - Admin]

Awww.. they are ever so cute and growing fast by the looks of it

[xxlunaxx]

Wow... they have grown lots since i saw them on Sunday. They dont stay small for long!!!!

[cavymaniac]

Awww......they are sooooo sweet! It must be lovely to have a litter of babies!

[Orlaith]

It's great! They really warm my heart. They run really fast all around the cage and they make little squeak noises at Hilda the whole time. And their tiny popcorns are so cute! And Hilda is such a good mammy. She just stands there and lets them feed no matter how much they're pushing and trying to get in on their turn. She looks so contented, it's unreal

[abby]

They are gorgeous and yes, they don't last long that size. Take loads of piccies cos tehy grow up far too quick. I keep asking my 2 how they got so big all of a sudden!

[Orlaith]

I know! I went away to France for the weekend and when I came back the babies were massive! I plan on taking lots of pictures during the week so I can remember them being so tiny.