Welcoming 9 Healthy Kunekune Piglets Overnight 🐷
Life on our little farm is full of quiet magic — the kind that happens when the world is asleep, and you find yourself wrapped in a 30 degree sleeping bag in blanket of straw and moonlight, waiting for new life to begin. These are the moments that fill my heart and remind me why I love this land, these animals, and the slow, beautiful rhythm of farm living that inspires so much of my work behind the camera.
Last night, our sweet Buttercup decided it was time to bring her babies into the world — and as always, she chose the middle of the night to do it.
When I went out for one last barn check around 10 p.m., I could tell something was different. Her breathing was heavy, and she kept getting up and down, clearly uncomfortable. I stayed with her for about 45 minutes, hoping things would progress, but finally decided to head inside and get some rest — or at least try to. I set my phone alarm for midnight, but truthfully, I don’t think I slept a wink. I didn’t want to miss it this time. For some reason, Buttercup always seems to farrow overnight, and somehow, we’ve never actually caught the moment.
At 12 a.m., bundled in my 30-degree sleeping bag, I made my way back out into the chilly 36-degree Centerburg air. I laid down on the straw floor beside her, listening to her steady breaths under the soft red glow of the heat lamp. It was peaceful — that quiet anticipation before new life begins.
Just as I was drifting off around , I heard it, I was startled to alertness by a scuffle, a loud grunt and a tiny squeal. Her first piglet had arrived at 1:15 a.m., and I jumped into action. I’d read that it helps to gently wipe away the membrane and any mucous to keep them from getting too cold, so I did that for each new arrival, one by one. Six healthy piglets came into the world, each one nestled together under the warm light, tiny noses twitching and tails wiggling.
Sadly, the seventh didn’t make it — a stillbirth — and my heart sank a little. But Buttercup was calm and strong, and by 3:30 a.m., she was resting peacefully. I didn’t see any more contractions, so I decided to finally call it a night and get a few hours of rest myself. However, I did think to myself that she had two have a few more in there as the size of her belly was quite massive.
When I went back out around 8 a.m., I couldn’t believe my eyes — two more piglets! Buttercup had quietly delivered them sometime between my last check and sunrise.
So this morning, our barn was full of life — nine healthy, wiggly Kunekune piglets, all snuggled up with their mama. Watching them nurse, stumble, and squeal their tiny greetings to the world made the sleepless night completely worth it.
Buttercup has always held a special place in my heart — not only as one of the matriarchs of our little Kunekune family, but also as one of my favorite muses. A few of my portraits of her have received international recognition, including a Top 10 placement in the Unleashed Emerge Challenge in 2024 for the category “All in the Details” and a Bronze Distinction in the 2024 International Pet Photography Awards. Her gentle spirit, curious eyes, and perfect pink and gray snout have inspired some of my most fun work — and seeing her become a mother again makes it all the more special.
Here on our farm, moments like these remind me that beauty is all around — in the first breaths of a newborn piglet, in the early morning light that spills across the land, and in the stillness between it all. These are the same quiet, soul-filling moments that guide my photography — capturing love, connection, and the fleeting chapters of life that deserve to be remembered forever.
Welcome to the world, little ones. 💕
And thank you, Buttercup, for another magical reminder of why I love this life so much.
