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Elite Veteran
Posts: 786
  
Location: Ky | A co-worker of mine bought a micro pig for his girls and now has decided the pig is a problem. I told him I would take the pig, but I am not sure what I am getting into. She is 4 months old and he has kept her in his appartment. I don't believe she has had the proper training and has been somewhat destructive and not fully literbox trained. I may try her in the house and if it doesn't work out make a pen for her outside(we have 28 acres). I just don't know what i am getting into. I do have an indoor dog, so dog food would be a problem for the pig. Having second thoughts...anyone have a pig? opinions? |
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 Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| Yep I have two and my best friend has three lol they are GREAT pets but most don't work out as inside pets. Both of ours are outside and LOVE it ! They hang out around the barn. They are much like a dog love to be loved on, come when called, love treats etc. You won't regret taking her they are awesome pets ! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 786
Location: Ky | Do you let them run free or keep them in a pen? Will my pig need a companion? What do you do n the cold weather?
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Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| They run free they don't go far but since you are on smaller acreage I would probably put it in a pen when your not out there just to make sure a stray dog or something doesn't get it. No mine was alone for awhile and I think she liked being a single friend. Mine befriends our dogs and thinks she is one of them lol |
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Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| For cold weather give them lots of hay and they are fine if it is really cold we sometimes hang them a heat lamp up higher but the cold doesn't really bother them |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 786
Location: Ky | Tn_Barrelracer - 2015-01-10 9:02 AM They run free they don't go far but since you are on smaller acreage I would probably put it in a pen when your not out there just to make sure a stray dog or something doesn't get it. No mine was alone for awhile and I think she liked being a single friend. Mine befriends our dogs and thinks she is one of them lol
Just sent you an inbox. Thank U TN!!  |
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Member
Posts: 12
| I've never had a micro pig, but I have raised show hogs for a long time and they lived in my barn. Just gave them hay and shavings to sleep on and we would hang a heat lamp when it was cold outside. They seemed to be just fine :) |
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 Oh excuse me!
Posts: 2473
Location: S. California Beach | Pig in an apartment...and he wonders why its destructive
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 786
Location: Ky | margoannrodeo - 2015-01-10 11:34 PM
Pig in an apartment...and he wonders why its destructive
IKR!! He was so grateful I agreed to take her.   |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 786
Location: Ky | Thank everyone! I put her in a corraled area in my tack room with plenty of shavings, hay and a heatlamp. She is doing great and will be an outdoor pet! I am sure she will be much happier here! |
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 Goat Giver
Posts: 23166
 
| Thank you for rescuing her. The whole mini/micro thing is such a myth........people do not properly research this pet before getting one. |
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| Would love to see some pictures |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 786
Location: Ky | kmcsunshine - 2015-01-11 8:55 AM Thank you for rescuing her. The whole mini/micro thing is such a myth........people do not properly research this pet before getting one. I know. I think she is a potbelly and will get pretty big.
Edited by kelfish 2015-01-11 9:08 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 786
Location: Ky | heidiinaz - 2015-01-11 8:56 AM Would love to see some pictures
I will get some today! |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | kmcsunshine - 2015-01-11 6:55 AM
Thank you for rescuing her. The whole mini/micro thing is such a myth........people do not properly research this pet before getting one.
I have tried to explain this to my non-animal-savvy friends a million times...and their response is always "but I've seen pictures of them on the internet!"
Yeah, because the internet is so reliable like that |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | We have 2 potbellies and they live outside, they live in a 30 x 30 pen with a insulated dog house...we do leave them run loose only if supervised. Pigs root and can be very destructive in just their natural way to looking for food, so keep that in mind if you have a garden or flower bed. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 786
Location: Ky | Pics...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153127350633319&set=pcb.10153127350688319&type=1&theater
Edited by kelfish 2015-01-11 2:11 PM
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-11 9:42 AM
kmcsunshine - 2015-01-11 6:55 AM
Thank you for rescuing her. The whole mini/micro thing is such a myth........people do not properly research this pet before getting one.
I have tried to explain this to my non-animal-savvy friends a million times...and their response is always "but I've seen pictures of them on the internet!"
Yeah, because the internet is so reliable like that
This pig thing is very frustrating! People don't realize that pot belly pigs in general still get pretty large, despite their "micro-mini" name. They are "miniature" when compared to farm hogs that get to several hundred pounds. There is a breed called juliana pigs that do stay VERY small, but they are expensive and not as easy to find as pot bellies.
Here's one of my sister's pigs that some would consider "micro-mini" as a baby, but you see how he looks now :)
(She knew he would get this big, she raises them)
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 PB1.jpg (32KB - 139 downloads)
PB9.jpg (41KB - 141 downloads)
PB3.jpg (24KB - 147 downloads)
PB4.jpg (33KB - 136 downloads)
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Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| Gunner11 - 2015-01-12 10:35 AM
livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-11 9:42 AM
kmcsunshine - 2015-01-11 6:55 AM
Thank you for rescuing her. The whole mini/micro thing is such a myth........people do not properly research this pet before getting one.
I have tried to explain this to my non-animal-savvy friends a million times...and their response is always "but I've seen pictures of them on the internet!"
Yeah, because the internet is so reliable like that
This pig thing is very frustrating! People don't realize that pot belly pigs in general still get pretty large, despite their "micro-mini" name. They are "miniature" when compared to farm hogs that get to several hundred pounds. There is a breed called juliana pigs that do stay VERY small, but they are expensive and not as easy to find as pot bellies.
Here's one of my sister's pigs that some would consider "micro-mini" as a baby, but you see how he looks now : )
(She knew he would get this big, she raises them )
Mine are Julianas and they still get pretty good sized. The males are smaller but still the size of a medium sized dog they don't stay 20lbs like most think lol |
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| Exactly. I have had so many people make comments that they want a pot pig thinking they will stay small. They get big! I wish people would do their research beforehand |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Tn_Barrelracer - 2015-01-12 10:45 AM
Gunner11 - 2015-01-12 10:35 AM
livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-11 9:42 AM
kmcsunshine - 2015-01-11 6:55 AM
Thank you for rescuing her. The whole mini/micro thing is such a myth........people do not properly research this pet before getting one.
I have tried to explain this to my non-animal-savvy friends a million times...and their response is always "but I've seen pictures of them on the internet!"
Yeah, because the internet is so reliable like that
This pig thing is very frustrating! People don't realize that pot belly pigs in general still get pretty large, despite their "micro-mini" name. They are "miniature" when compared to farm hogs that get to several hundred pounds. There is a breed called juliana pigs that do stay VERY small, but they are expensive and not as easy to find as pot bellies.
Here's one of my sister's pigs that some would consider "micro-mini" as a baby, but you see how he looks now : )
(She knew he would get this big, she raises them )
Mine are Julianas and they still get pretty good sized. The males are smaller but still the size of a medium sized dog they don't stay 20lbs like most think lol
I hate seeing the phrase "they'll be the size of a cocker spaniel". Yeah, maybe the HEIGHT of a cocker spaniel, but not the density of one. People don't know how much weight they pack into such a small size. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Gunner11 - 2015-01-12 11:35 AM
livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-11 9:42 AM
kmcsunshine - 2015-01-11 6:55 AM
Thank you for rescuing her. The whole mini/micro thing is such a myth........people do not properly research this pet before getting one.
I have tried to explain this to my non-animal-savvy friends a million times...and their response is always "but I've seen pictures of them on the internet!"
Yeah, because the internet is so reliable like that
This pig thing is very frustrating! People don't realize that pot belly pigs in general still get pretty large, despite their "micro-mini" name. They are "miniature" when compared to farm hogs that get to several hundred pounds. There is a breed called juliana pigs that do stay VERY small, but they are expensive and not as easy to find as pot bellies.
Here's one of my sister's pigs that some would consider "micro-mini" as a baby, but you see how he looks now : )
(She knew he would get this big, she raises them )
A friend got one and swears that it will stay little you must make sure that you properly feed it tho. They basically like starve the poor thing to death so that it won't grow. |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | astreakinchic - 2015-01-12 11:16 AM
Gunner11 - 2015-01-12 11:35 AM
livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-11 9:42 AM
kmcsunshine - 2015-01-11 6:55 AM
Thank you for rescuing her. The whole mini/micro thing is such a myth........people do not properly research this pet before getting one.
I have tried to explain this to my non-animal-savvy friends a million times...and their response is always "but I've seen pictures of them on the internet!"
Yeah, because the internet is so reliable like that
This pig thing is very frustrating! People don't realize that pot belly pigs in general still get pretty large, despite their "micro-mini" name. They are "miniature" when compared to farm hogs that get to several hundred pounds. There is a breed called juliana pigs that do stay VERY small, but they are expensive and not as easy to find as pot bellies.
Here's one of my sister's pigs that some would consider "micro-mini" as a baby, but you see how he looks now : )
(She knew he would get this big, she raises them )
A friend got one and swears that it will stay little you must make sure that you properly feed it tho. They basically like starve the poor thing to death so that it won't grow.
I know! If it's properly fed, it won't stay tiny. They also wean them at a few days old and bottle feed them so the new owners can "bond" with them. Um no, it's so they can sell piglets when they're still tiny and cute. If they wait until the proper weaning age, the pigs aren't as desirable.
Sorry to get off topic of the OP!!
As far as proper care, other posters have pretty much covered it. You don't want to over feed it, but you don't want to starve it either. You can buy pig food, but we feed ours the same as the other livestock--a mix of oats, corn and I think barley. Some of them also like fruits and veggies.
If it's a male pig, it MUST be fixed or it will start to stink, and they will try to hump anything they can mount. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I house sit for a lady with one. She thinks she is a dog and runs around the yard with the 5 dogs that are on her fenced property. She plays fetch, rolls over, sits, and even raises up on her front end to "beg" for a treat LOL
They are fun. They named her Lulu and it's fitting. She sometimes takes her to cuttings with her and she loves to walk around on her leash and see all the horses.
Good luck with your new adventure! |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i would have one in a heart beat........lol....and im a sucker so it would be in the house......
m |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| My daughter wanted one for Christmas. When I found out their life expectancy is 22 years, I said no. They are so cute, even after they are full grown. I can't imagine 22 years though. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | A friend of mine has one in the house. That's probably the pig's preference. I guess it's a pot belly, she's a couple hundred pounds. She is acutally a very clean pet, goes outside to use the bathroom. If she liked it outside more, they would let her live out there. They have neat personalities.
That makes me so sad that people starve the poor things to stunt their growth. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I will have one, one day! I have a friend that has one and he is definitely not "little" but i think she said about 35 pounds. He acts like a dog. Comes in the house at night and is potty trained but spends most of the time outside hanging out. |
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I've seen people put the Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animal shoes on the pigs so they don't scratch their hardwood floors when they walk LOL they fit perfect haha |
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