Babies on the Homestead (Kune Kune Problems!)

In the middle of winter, all the animals come close together and huddle into and around the barn area. Since we have about 5-6 months of snow, with no grazing options, the animals have to get fed differently.
Enjoy this video on how we manage the livestock in winter, come tour the barn and let us introduce you to some of the new babies we're enjoying here at Riverbend.
Be sure to check out the blog post that accompanies this video here: homesteadingfamily.com/managi...
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WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo
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- Save the Crumbs- Several Recipes for using bread leftovers, a less committal entry to bread than the workshop. homesteadingfamily.com/STC_YT
- Fearless Fermenting- A simple guide on basic lacto-ferments. homesteadingfamily.com/FF_YT
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- Grandma Lynn's Blueberry Buckle - A delicious dessert anytime of year: homesteadingfamily.com/BB_YT

[@californiadreamer2580]

After putting a couple of sheets of plywood in the corner to keep wind and drafts off, and a 2x4 in the same corner of the sow's stall just high enough for the piglets to get under, with a heat lamp overhead, would help to keep piglets alive in the very cold weather. That can also help to prevent mother from crushing them when they're seeking warmth, since they learn quickly where the heat is. Piglets don't have fur like lambs or calves do, they have hair more like a human's and they lose body heat quickly.

[@Romans15.32]

Very nice video. This is the first I have seen your barn area on the inside. Wow! its really nice. You have a really nice set up. Im happy for you and your family.

[@marypekas2666]

Grandpa always put momma pigs in closed stall and had a roll bar in the corner with a headlamp

[@aimeec-b6253]

This video encouraged me. And it is SO true that animals are not all naturally good parents either. I saw that evidenced in our herd of pygmy goats. But this has me thinking about the idea that I could possibly improve their “skills”. I’ve assumed that they either were good or bad and that I should only rebreed the good moms… I attempted to help the struggling ones, to no avail, but maybe there are more things I can do to teach/coach… Thanks!!!

[@thegoodoldways]

Gorgeous, fragrant barn - everyone looks content. Darling baby pig....looks like a nativity/pastoral setting.

[@celianewman4809]

That’s the cutest little baby! I hope he makes it. 🙏

[@roxannecarson2814]

I have always wanted to see your animal operation. The rest of your homestead is so organized, I figured you also had a handle on your animal production. Thanks. 🙏

[@tammymarple5347]

Good morning 🙏😊 Thank you k you for sharing information about your homestead. Love your videos from your family. Have a blessed week 🙏

[@olivialindauer1817]

Great video!❤ I would love to see the kids more often in the videos and how they help around the house/farm.😊

[@Kikatebnpagan]

I love you man.. there’s so much you could teach others by the way you farm..😊

[@paavolaprincess]

Red wattle pigs 👌 Fast growing heritage breed, plenty of lard. We knew nothing about pigs (cattle background) and we’ve had *weaned* litter sizes from 6-12 piglets per sow. With No intervention needed

[@betsywebberjarman8330]

Love the how you have the barn set up. Understand your frustration with breeding pigs, I have been breeding pigs for years. I make a safety zone for the piglets and teach them to go in there when mom lays down, you can even teach the sow to put the babies in the safety zone before she lays down, pigs are smart. Also be sure to give 1cc of iron, all pigs are born low iron and no soil has enough for them when first born, learned the hard way after losing my first litter, now I just give 1cc after they are 24 hours old.

[@gingersnapcam7334]

Really cool video, I like how real you are about things but your also knowledgable about homsteading and animal keeping 😄

[@amberschneider880]

Love this content. Thank you!!

[@dianewilliamsbarbour4336]

Love your nice setup of the barn. Also love your videos and thanks for sharing your family and homesteading.

[@quentinmarshall5014]

Great video you guys have some of the nicest products in the homesteading community. Thank you for what you do.

[@jennsurbanhomestead6098]

This is a really wonderful video. Thank you for being honest and candid. ❤

[@tamichristiansen387]

It's so nice to see the animals!

[@abbycole7485]

Really thrilled to see this video into animals! Thank you for sharing and it was a great look into this aspect.

[@missykuss9975]

Doing it with your son - that’s the dream! 🥰

[@sarahreynolds1430]

Sooooo cuuuuuute!!!!

[@law81669]

Thank you, Our family also has a farm. My husband raises cattle , because he is a butcher and the older children do all the skinning, gutting, sawing, and the whole family help with the processing of the meat. I am enjoying your content 😊👌

[@HomesteadingFamily]

That is awesome!

[@HeatherNaturaly]

For the previous 2 breeding seasons, I have not had a single lamb survive to breed or butcher. I have 4 babies on the ground so far, this year. Holding my breath on if they make it. No idea what the issue has been.

[@carolynschmitt1413]

From one framer to the next. We use to calve in April . We were have hard times with it, so we started having better luck when we started in May . Because if you look at wild life animals as to when they birth its always May to June . It’s a little warmer and no insects at that time. Just a thought. Good luck .

[@marthapattee]

Thank You; I enjoyed this one today

[@cindycreve749]

Wow you guys seem to have the perfect homestead! Congrats on the great job you all do!

[@megmcginnis239]

Thank you. Great video.❤

[@kate739]

excellent video, thanks for sharing

[@arthurquintana1345]

Good video I am looking to move to a long winter area. Great ideas!

[@ka6148]

I can tell the structure hasn't been used very long for hogs.... When my hogs go to rubbing, that metal siding would never hold up

[@arcobalenonellorto8994]

It's not pig mama fault if the babies don't survive, they need a heat lamp! Traditionally the farmers used to put the pigs in a stall near the stone oven ( the one where you bake bread and pizza) because it was warmed up from the oven that was used very often in the time that the piglets where born, this was in winter.

[@hoosierpioneer]

Are you saying the oven was in the barn?

[@arcobalenonellorto8994]

@@hoosierpioneer no, two separate rooms in the same building. They have a wall in common.

[@GrammyKassie]

He didn't say anything about trying to save the babies... Heat sure would help. I know Doug of Doug and Stacey "on you tube" has had to work on their little ones to save them. They've lost some too. So many farmers and homesteaders have lost their animal babies this year. I agree it is not the mamas fault. Heat would help the babies. Look up what's coming from the sky above.. chemicals. It's called cloud seeding. It's affecting us humans as well. Enjoyed the video.

[@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178]

@@GrammyKassieBe ware of Doug n Stacey…

[@_________5818]

@@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178why?

[@nicolescott3951]

We can relate to the kunekune struggles. We had almost the exact same scenario. Happened to us this year. Trouble getting gilt's and sows bred and then losing many piglets for various reasons. I'm curious where you get your huge pile of wood shavings? We've had an extraordinarily wet winter, And buying bedding Is getting so expensive. But we haven't yet found a Source for bulk shavings.

[@codycorbett2049]

Calm down people he’s not blaming the mama pig. He’s just saying next time she will be a better mother. We’re all of y’all perfect mothers on your first kid or did you learn over time and learn to be better with number two? Animals grow and learn to. No need to bash and say it’s his fault the babies died. Like he said he’s been taking care of animals a long time I’m sure he knows what he’s doing and is doing his best. Y’all people probably ain’t even got pigs

[@jeanmarriott6313]

😊

[@dollyperry3020]

How do you make sure the hay you feed the animals doesn't have pernicious herbicides on it?

[@toddcaskey9984]

Have you tried Idaho pasture pigs ?

[@angiepeevy7680]

What are barn dimensions please

[@savioursoul]

So sad. Humans are not carnivores.

[@law81669]

???

[@Casper1907]

Humans are omnivores. They eat everything but for their body build they must have some products of animal body which human body does not produce on it's own. It does not need to be meat but must be animal origin as eggs, milk etc. Humans can not thrive as totally vegan.

[@LauraSummers-xp4ob]

You're correct. We are omnivores.

[@savioursoul]

@@LauraSummers-xp4ob Of course not. Humans are frugivores.

[@prangecrew8]

I know quite a few who are omnivores!