pot belly pigs anyone?

[fleur de duc]

So I have found myself with a pot belly pig. Long story short, my friends rescued him, but he is currently residing at my farm. He is only 6 weeks old (or so we are told) and I haven't the slightest slue what to do with him!

Anyone have any experience with pigs?
I starting researching but am still at a loss on what to feed the little guy. He doesn't seem too keen on hard food. I need to track down some pig chow for him as neither of my local feed stores have it. Right now he is getting oatmeal, fruits & veggies, and yogurt. He has hay but just lays in it.

What else should I provide for him? Would you recommend free feeding him so he can eat as he is hungry, or have separate meal times? How much would I leave out for free feedings and of what?

I wasn't planning on coming home with a pig, so I am VERY unprepared for this. thankfully my horses are not too bothered by him. It took my TB some time to get acquainted with his oinking :lol: but then again, that gelding things everything is out to eat him so it was no surprise.

He is just so little and terrified. What else can I do? It breaks my heart to see him tremble like he does when I come into the isle with him. Today we had a little moment of a breakthrough. He let me pet him while he was laying down and eventually even rolled over and let me scratch his belly:D then when I went to feed dinner to the boys he oinked at me:lol: and then slowly came to me as I Was holding his dinner plate in a sort of "2 steps forward, 1 step back" fashion. I am determined to make him love me! lol


and how could I forgot ... PHOTOS!
this is little Steven James McOinkleton:lol:
http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/44384/2711188830104615740S500x500Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/42685/2615234440104615740S500x500Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/10251/2231836740104615740S500x500Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/44708/2426301110104615740S500x500Q85.jpg

[jetsmom]

Maybe this might help...

http://www.petshub.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=29



But we need pictures!!!!

[fleur de duc]

thank you!

and how could I forgot! I will ad them to the original post asap!

[Go Fish]

My neighbor's PBP showed up in my field one day and never went home,,:uhoh: I knew nothing about them but I've done okay with the guy over the past two years.

They get FAT, FAST. Regular pigs have nothing on these guys. They demand food all the time and are quite vocal when they don't get it. Be prepared! :eek:

Generally, they can eat pig food. I throw mine a scoop in the morning. I also feed just about everything from the table that wasn't alive at some point. Even egg shells...Mine gets pretty much free range of the property and gets into all sorts of trouble. Will eat the horse, goat, chicken food if my Corgis don't chase the little bugger out of the barn. I've seen Porker eat grass, weeds, bark, flowers, blackberry bushes, pine cones, bugs, worms...need I go on?

Mine comes in the house occasionally...perfectly house broke. Goes to the door and whacks it with his head to go out.

When they are unhappy, they scream bloody murder. Get a good set of ear plugs.

A PBP will drive you nuts, and entertain you to no end.

Hubby hates him with a passion...:lol:

[Go Fish]

You'll probably also want to have "brain surgery."

[jetsmom]

My Gosh is he cute!!!! I can see why you brought him home!

[amdfarm]

What Go Fish said. Years ago my roommate had one. They don't stay cute and little for long that's for sure. Gus was HUGE. He was a house pig (city living), had his own bed (dog bed) and was paper trained. He went out into the fenced in backyard w/ the dogs so he could root and get some exercise. The dogs pretty much ignored him. They were a Doberman, American Bull Terrier, Siberian Husky and a GSD.

He would eat anything. Was taught to sit on command for a treat and would scream if he didn't get it. He ate the dog and cat food, fruits, veggies and any table scraps.

Gus stayed for about 2 years until he was rehomed to someone w/ a farm. He could jump up on the couch and would root the cushions and pillows onto the floor, tear up clothing, etc. If he wanted a new bed, he made one. He was much happier on the farm w/ more things to get into and more room to roam.

[pinkdiamondracing]

My pot-bellied pig came to me through my friend who has had him since he was a baby. They sold their farm and Buddy had nowhere to live, so he came here. I love him dearly.

He free-roams on my farm--he eats a small scoop ( a supplement cup size) of the grain I feed my horses twice daily, roots around for grubs by the barn, goes out to the horses' feed tubs and cleans up what they spill. He has a stall in the barn which was bedded in shavings, he since has added plastic from the bagged shavings a blanket I no longer use, and has rooted it into the shape he preferrs. He roots his bed around every day to clean it, and he is perfectly happy, even though he is pretty much blind. He is so fat that the fat rolls over his eyes and he cannot see. He bumps his way around the farm and is able to find things by smell.

[appaloosalady]

You absolutely should not feed him free choice! :eek: Also do not feed food made for regular pigs, it is supposed to make them grow big and fast - which you do not want your new boy to do. Potbellied pigs have food made just for them - Mazuri makes one, as does TSC. They should only eat about 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup at night. PBP get extremely obese very easily and it is not at all healthy.

No people food except as an occassional bribe - fruit loops worked great to tame down my little boar when I got him. He was the same age as your little guy and very wild and scared. I used to go into his pen and sit on the ground with fruit loops and a good book to read. Within a couple of days he was a completely changed pig :winkgrin:.

PBPs make wonderful pets - I have a boar and 2 sows right now. The sows are expecting piglets any day and I can't wait - there is nothing cuter than new little piggies :D.

[equineartworks]

OMG!!! I want a PBP soooooo bad. Have for years and years and years!

Lucky duck...enjoy!

[MHM]

You absolutely should not feed him free choice! :eek: Also do not feed food made for regular pigs, it is supposed to make them grow big and fast - which you do not want your new boy to do.

ITA! My mother raised a few of these some years ago, and I seem to recall the eventual size of the pig had a lot to do with how much it was fed in the early stages. The biggest one she ever had started out as the runt of the litter. Since it was the runt, she fed it more, and it ended up being twice the size of the others!

Remember, if they're supposed to end up around 1/10th the size of a full size pig- that's still a pretty big pet!

[fleur de duc]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I was questioning his feeding the most. I have read in my searching that lots of people free feed pot bellies until around 4 months old unless they become too fat. After seeing little Steven stuff everything I give him into his belly, I thought it seemed like a bad idea.

So for those who know about feeding a youngster, what would you be feeding? How much of it? How often?

He seems to be pretty happy and becoming friendlier by the day!

[2 tbs]

There was a PBP at the one farm where I board. He's now somewhere more suited for lil piggies. Let's just say smart does not even begin to describe them! They are way too smart for their own good :yes::yes::yes: He woulda stayed with us, and we really wanted him to, but he was trouble and no one had the time to train him to keep him from being a menace. I haven't heard anything in a while - I hope his new home (which had other piggies) is satisfactory - he was just the cutest thing!:D

Meet Stuey-
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/mandylion11/Stuey/2007_1104Nov20070022.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/mandylion11/Stuey/2007_1104Nov20070012.jpg http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/mandylion11/Stuey/2007_1104Nov20070006.jpg- he started out small. But he got very big! And we fed him next to nothing/only lil piggie food. He managed to take everyone else's food though...the only place we had for him to live was with the goat and chickens. Oh, and he had a blanket that he would move around with him. Seriously, his name shoulda been Linus! Too cute :D:D:D
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/mandylion11/stuey.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/mandylion11/pigbum.jpg

I don't seem to have any pix of him when he left. He was only a year old or so but he was very big...compared to when we got him (he fit in a small dog crate then). So cute and so much fun - LOVE the noises they make!

Oh, and I don't really have any advice other than feed should be managed carefully as others have mentioned. Also, make sure you don't let him do things now you aren't going to want him to do when he's huge - they don't forget!!! Have fun - they are super cute!!

[appaloosalady]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I was questioning his feeding the most. I have read in my searching that lots of people free feed pot bellies until around 4 months old unless they become too fat. After seeing little Steven stuff everything I give him into his belly, I thought it seemed like a bad idea.

So for those who know about feeding a youngster, what would you be feeding? How much of it? How often?

He seems to be pretty happy and becoming friendlier by the day!

Mazuri makes a food specifically for adolescent PBPs and TSC has PBP food that is fine for adults and youngsters. Feeding guidlines suggest about 1 cup AM and PM, adjusting as needed to avoid a skinny or fatty :winkgrin:.

[Go Fish]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I was questioning his feeding the most. I have read in my searching that lots of people free feed pot bellies until around 4 months old unless they become too fat. After seeing little Steven stuff everything I give him into his belly, I thought it seemed like a bad idea.

So for those who know about feeding a youngster, what would you be feeding? How much of it? How often?

He seems to be pretty happy and becoming friendlier by the day!

Porker was an adult when I got him, so can't help you there...

Porker gets a candy-sized scoop of pig feed in the morning. The problem is, if they have free-range, they get into everything and eat it. I've managed to keep Porker's weight down somewhat because he follows me around everywhere. He'll follow behind the golf cart and the tractor, so gets some exercise. The dogs chase him around sometimes. Porker's fat, but not obese...he can get up a pretty good head of steam if I'm trying to round him up to lock him in the barn.

Check with your vet about tusks...I think Porker's were pulled before I got him as he doesn't have any. I've seen some PBPs with tusks.

[fleur de duc]

I cant thank you guys enough! he is becoming one happy piggy!

Today he even attempted to follow me around my barn! It is a big step for him as he normally cowers in fear if I move around, but he was cautiously following me into my stalls to clean them. He would run back to his "cave" (aka a dog crate with hay and his 2 stuffed pigs) if I moved too quickly, but he would soon return, peeking around the corner and oinking:lol: I must say he is melting my heart with his noises! they are just precious!

When he eats I set his "plate" down right in front of me and sit there with him. It took him a while but now he is pretty relaxed while eating. He even stepped one leg up onto my lap this morning! He has started to eat from my hand as well. And I found his "spot" if he lets me, I try to scratch behind his front legs. It sends him into a state of total bliss and he falls to the ground and rolls over for a big tummy scratch!!! I'd say he is feeling more comfortable! Still will not let me pick him up though! And he is so gosh darn cute I just want to snuggle with him!

He is certainly drinking A LOT of water though. Is that normal? At least it seems like a lot of water for such a small guy to me. He has also grown quite a bit since I got him Wednesday, is that normal for a almost 7week old pig?

[appaloosalady]

Pigs do drink a lot of water, especially during hot weather. You should get him a small wading pool to lay down in and/or make him a mud hole that he has access to during the day. Pigs are very susceptible to heat stroke - they have a large amount of muscle mass and only sweat on the very top of their nose. Again, I cannot stress enough that you do not want to overfeed him. He will get very big, very fast if not fed properly - it is what pigs do best ;) (even potbellies).

PBPs as a rule HATE to be picked up. You might just have to be content with letting him sit on your lap for cuddling. It sounds like you are doing great with him and that he will be a wonderful pet :yes:.

[Go Fish]

Of course they grow fast...they're pigs! PBGs are not "miniatures." They are "pot-bellied." I think people get one thinking they'll stay small...I've seen some that are the size of a regular sow.

Pigs in general drink a alot of water when it's hot.

Pigs don't like to be picked up...I chase mine around a lot with a lead rope, but I guess you're supposed to use a cane to get them to go where you want them to go. I can't keep up with mine to try that method, so I just chase behind him swinging the lead rope. The Corgis help...it's like a friggin' Keystone Cops movie if anyone's watching! :lol:

[fleur de duc]

I had no idea about that! I had a box turtle stay with me 2 years ago where I made a slide in/out of a kiddie pool. I will bring that out and fill it a bit with some water for Steven (of course not too much though as he is so little, I dont want him drowning!). I got him adolescent pig feed from Tractor Supply that I am giving him 2x a day. A man there who raises pigs recommended adding a small amount of fruits and veggies, and/or yogurt/oatmeal to it or as a 3rd meal for younger ones until they are about 3 months old. Should I do that? right now I use the fruits I have for our "bonding time" sessions., so he does get some, but not a large amount. any fruits I should avoid?

there were 3 other siblings with his momma at the auction he came from, all of which were content with being held which is the reason I asked about picking him up. I am quite happy with just him being relaxed and enjoying his belly rubs! I figured as well that is is probably best he does not get picked up as when he gets older there will be no way I could lift him! lol

*ETA* ohh I have a corgi! haha although I think poor steven would have a heart attack as Trenton (my corgi) is a little too friendly!

unfortunately I do not think I can keep him. I just placed an ad in the giveaways:cry: I am going to miss him