Mini potbellied pigs - tell me what you know!

[JB]

I wanna hear it all - the good, the bad, farm life with them, etc. I understand they are really, really intelligent creatures. Is there special pasture fencing needed to keep them home? Do they need an inside place for any reason? As a piglet I can keep him/her/them inside until they are big enough to be out unsupervised, so that's not an issue. They can even stay inside at night forever, if that's required - as long as they sleep LOL

So tell me all. I can research feeding them, but if you have any thing to offer there, share away :) I know I don't want to just feed "pbp food" ;)

[Everythingbutwings]

They are supposedly very smart (ie: good at learning people tricks) and are fastidious, easy to litter box train.

I've also heard that they are only "mini" in comparison with a fully grown normal sized swine that can reach over 800 pounds. Don't be thinking they stay piglet sized, more like a very stout large dog.

[equinelaw]

There are several yahoo groups and some very good websites and books on mini pigs. They are not very mini. They are not like dogs at all, nor horses, nor cats. They are like people and you need really good fencing.

They are like horses in that if you have 3 pig people you will get 10 different opinions:) And if you think horse folk are crazy, wait until you start posting with the pig people!

Check out the blog by a small rescue in Canada called heartsandnoses.

[RacetrackReject]

We had one at my horse's old barn. The BO and I picked him up when he teeny tiny and oh so cute. They had already de-tusked him for us, so if you get a boy, make sure that it has been done or that you get it done. Anyway, his name was Hamlet and he was white with black spots. We were told to feed him oatmeal and applesauce (if i remember correctly) his first few weeks as ours had problems going to the potty and we had to give him a few enemas. Then he went on a pig pellet. I never knew pigs could jump, but Hamlet could jump over you if you were laying on the floor and he was only like 4-5 inches tall at the time. Our dwarf potbelly did not grow very big, under 2' tall at adulthood. He ate and slept with the horses as an adult. During the day time, he preferred to stay in a stall and sleep, but was very active at night, so if you have wild critters around, you may want to pen yours up at night.

He was quite alot of fun and no bother at all really.

[RedTahoe]

Frankly, there's no such thing as a "Miniature Potbellied Pig."

Potbellied pigs are smaller than your average pig; therefore, they're "miniature" (as compared to the other pigs).

I have THREE "miniature" Potbellied pigs at our farm and one "Micro" Potbellied pig. Care to guess why WE have them now?

You got it. Someone told them that these pigs would mature out to 30-40 lbs. Well, our smallest one is 60 lbs, and our largest one is 110 lbs. They APPEAR "miniature" because of their structure, but they are not miniature weight-wise.

Apparently there's a breeder out there offering "miniature" potbellied pigs called "Royal Dandies" ("Trademarked"). I know nothing about them so can't comment on them.

I love our four little piggies :) They're great. They all love being groomed with a stiff brush. They all play with our four German Shepherds. They love attention, and three of them use the doggie door to come in.......BUT.......will ring the bell outside the back door first letting us know they're coming in. They usually wait outside until we come to the door though (we taught them that in case their feet were muddy).

They are VERY intelligent. It's scary sometimes. I think I'm living in Animal Farm.

They can have some health issues, but nothing too severe. You have to keep them on a GOOD diet as they will eat ANYTHING ("Hambone" had an affinity for Twinkies!).

[spookhorse]

Most horses are scared to death of them at first is what I understand.

In my own experience, last month my mare Belle got to go to a friend's farm for a trail ride and to meet the "zoo" which included two mules, two mini donkeys, a mini horse, two llamas, a cow wearing a bell, two pot belly pigs, chickens, a Great Dane, a noxiously barking English Cocker, and a multitude of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Guess what the only creatures to scare my normally bomb-proof mare were?

THE PIGS! :lol:

And this was a week after the Mounted Police Clinic we attended, BTW...

[2ndyrgal]

Here's what you really need to know about any breed of piggy. No matter how cute they start out. They grow. And grow, and grow. Here's the other thing, they are really really smart. Is it cute when the corgi looks at you with begging eyes and whines? Yep. Is it cute when little Mr. Piggy looks at you and screams bloody murder til you feed him (and you will feed him to shut him up) over and over and over??? I worked in a vet clinic in Virginia Beach right after they became popular in this country, you wouldn't believe a) how big they get and b) how many are abandoned. Hell, their meet is so fatty and grisly that even the vietnamese won't eat them, so none of sending piggy off to market. Just don't.

[EponaRoan]

They are VERY intelligent. It's scary sometimes. I think I'm living in Animal Farm.

Some animals are more equal than others ...

They don't stay mini. And they can scream like nothing I've ever heard when you try to make/do something to them that they don't like.

OTOH, they're hilarious looking when they submerge themselves in a wading pool. Like mini hippos.

A friend had one. When I introduced my youngish pup to him, my dog had the most incredible, "WTF IS THAT??!!!" look on his face. They got along fine, but it cracked me up.

Same friend had one that was very tiny, but unfortunately died due to a heart defect at a young age. So I'd be careful if I picked one that was specifically bred for small size and be sure that the parents, etc were healthy and not just stunted.

[equinelaw]

My friend has about 350 of them that people dumped because they got too big. Its a constant battle to keep her and the pigs safe. A few weeks ago stupid people started a panic thinking the pigs would give them swine flu and broke lock on the gate and started killing pigs. I really wish people would stop breeding them and even more that people would refuse to buy them:no:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD03051209.htm

[RedTahoe]

I really wish people would stop breeding them and even more that people would refuse to buy them:no:

I second that statement. That's why we have four at our place right now: people abandoned them because they got "too big" and "too loud."

[smilton]

I've had 3 (Bacon Bits AKA Bitsy, Oscar Myer, Piggy Sue). They do not stay small. They are unique pets but can do alot of damage to a property. We had to put rings in Piggy Sue's nose as she would travel to the neighbors and eat flower bulbs and till up their yard. Bitsy had to be contained as she figured out a neighbor had a fish pond (a mile away) and she liked to swim. Two started out as indoor pets but outgrew their litter boxes. They made nests in the hay in the barn. I don't think even as cute as the were that I will ever get another one.

[Halcyon Days]

we have 2, they're a lot of fun, come running when they're called, sit, spin circles, and flop over on their sides when you tickle their tummies. :) They do require stout fencing, cause if they want to go somewhere, they're going..... We use hog panels--very strong, thick panels about 16 feet long attached to t posts. They love their beds and will spend 30 minutes arranging it just right--they adore piles of blankets, or if outside, lots of branches, straw, shavings, and anything laying around all ends up in their bed. Baby pigs are very active, they run, jump, skip up and down stairs and get into everything--but they are soooo cute! Older pigs are up for a few hours at a time, rooting around for nummy things, then take long naps in the sun/shade depending on temperature. I've seen lots of barns put them in a stall overnight to keep them safe, I have pens with dog igloos that work well. They do require maintenance care--deworming, annual shots, feet trimming and the boys need their tusks cut back every few years. VERY important that they are spayed and neutered at weaning time. Lots of good info online

[Puddin Pie]

All I know about pot bellied pigs comes from a book we checked out from the library to read with my daughter, the phrase "No one likes a pushy pot-bellied pig" has stuck with us and it used at least once a week-either with the child, dog, horse etc.

[KnKShowmom]

Most horses are scared to death of them at first is what I understand.

In my own experience, last month my mare Belle got to go to a friend's farm for a trail ride and to meet the "zoo" which included two mules, two mini donkeys, a mini horse, two llamas, a cow wearing a bell, two pot belly pigs, chickens, a Great Dane, a noxiously barking English Cocker, and a multitude of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Guess what the only creatures to scare my normally bomb-proof mare were?

THE PIGS! :lol:

And this was a week after the Mounted Police Clinic we attended, BTW...

Randolph College had one in their barn for almost a year (long story) - he would come down to the barn in the evening and go stall to stall cleaning up any grain that had been dropped and when he was finished he would waddle back up to the barn manager's house where he lived.

Don't remember any of the horses having an issue with him, including ours, who used to let the pig come into his stall while he was in it! Now if one of the dogs were to try that it would never have made it past the stall door, but for some reason HRH liked the pig!

Kind of a live and let live creature, just don't try to pick him up unless you had in ear plugs because he would scream bloody murder!

[goodhors]

One of the 4-H kids has one, but they treat it like a dog. Gets rides in the truck, walks on a leash, sometimes comes when called. She keeps him on special feed, to prevent him being overweight, so stays more active. They have had him a LONG TIME and are willing to put up with his special needs.

Sorry, I would NOT have a pig of any size in the house, let alone having furniture for him to lay on. Even a house broke pig. Just creeps me out thinking of it.

I do remember her saying he needs his teeth clipped about twice a year. They get sharp just by pig chewing, self-sharpening. And they can get VERY sharp, make big holes if he bites.

Hooves should be looked at regularly to prevent overgrowth or foot rot from muddy locations. Probably will need trims like a pony if you don't have hard surfaces to wear it off.

Pigs are ruled by state laws. They need shots, care in hauling them around. As mentioned before these 4-H folks take him for rides in the truck. Well they brought him to Fair last year to go walking around, but with all our new health rules in place, it was ALMOST a disaster. Someone saw her as she pulled in, told her if she unloaded the pig, he would HAVE to be killed. He was not rabies vaccinated WITH papers, had not had the shots all the Ag project pigs had. So he would be killed to prevent endangering all the pigs at the Fair. This IS THE LAW, when dealing with Swine in public settings.

Of course She was horrified, did not unload him, so nothing happened. But one hoof on the ground, he would have been a goner. Pigs are big business, they don't mess around if they could get harmed. We had a quarantine of swine two years ago at another local Fair. They got sick at Fair, spead thru the barn, were forced to stay at the grounds for 30 days, with special handlers only, allowed in to feed and clean them. Wore the suits and boot covers, washing everything. Pigs were NOT allowed to go home after, possibley spreading disease. I think they all went to slaughter. No market sales, no profit for the kids saving for school. Cost the Fair MUCH money in expenses.

You might want to read more on Swine, from the Ag side, because even tiny, the rules apply to pets as well as commercial hogs.

[Huntertwo]

Here is a good website with lots of info.
http://www.pigplacementnetwork.com/

[kookicat]

My horses are scared of them. ;)

[Maybeapril]

Mine lives with the horses most of the time. He is as sweet as he can be! He steals their hay and makes his bed which he usually has to re-make daily because it is usually eaten. He grunts and squeals and loves to have his tummy scratched. He is neutered which was a very unpleasant experience, but I think he is a better pet because of it. We bought him at an action for five dollars, he was just so cute I couldn't resist. The horse tolorates him most of the time and loves to chase him. They are a cute group. He eats the same thing they eat...beet pulp and oats and he looks great. The pig pellets made him stink and made him too fat. He looks really shiny and healthy on his diet.

[Bluey]

I know they are awesome as piglets, but once grown and mature, unless socialized and trained very well, some may become grumpy and dangerous and destructive.
Those are the ones that are given up to animal control and no one hears much about.
We tend to only hear about those that are doing well.

We are having a problem with wild pigs here, that the state, TX, is about to declare a predator species, which they are and start control programs.

100 miles South of here, a friend and several neighbors went one evening to do some pig control and in a 100 acre peanut patch, they ran into over 400 wild pigs, that had rooted all the plants off, there was not hardly one to be found, looked like someone had already plowed the field clean.:eek:
They are also bad for the native wildlife and livestock, eating quail, turkeys, fawns, lambs, calves and most anything they can catch, plus pets.

Mature pigs of any size can be very destructive, so if you get one, knowing this, train it and socialize it so it will know the difference between doing what it wants and what you don't want it to do.:)

[JB]

This was exactly the kind of info I was looking for, thanks :)

Sadly, I think I have decided I/we just don't have time right now for one :no: I'd still LOVE one, but I don't think we have the time to make sure we make him a Good Pig Citizen.

[Guin]

"Good Pig Citizen" :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: Would be a good name for a rock band!

[horsecrazy100]

We have a mini pot bellied sow. She is 3.5 yrs old, and weighs approx 35 lbs. She is medium dog sized, just closer to the ground.

Yes, they are loud if they want to be. Ours is pretty well behaved and knows that her screaming will not be tolerated(in other words, she will not get what she wants from it), but she will have a temper tantrum to let you know that she is unhappy if it's something she really hates/really wanted and can't have etc.

They have the mentality of a 5 yr old. So she will pout if we tell her off etc. She is completely housetrained and goes outside just like the dogs. She will oink at the back door if she needs out. She is best buds with one of our dogs, and they will spend hours "rubbing" each others bellies. She loves to spend time outside when it's nice. She comes when she is called and runs loose at my parents farm when we go to visit. They also pig and dog sit when we are away. Mind you, they do put her in a fenced in area if they cannot be outside to keep an eye on her.

We love her to pieces. But they need an owner that can raise them with rules, just as any 5 yr old child might have. They are often respectful of rules and listen reasonably well when they have been taught something.