Pot bellied pigs

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What can you tell me about Pot bellied pigs. How much distruction do they cause ? The one in mind is about 300#(?) and thinks she's a dog . House trained (Which wouldn't be an opption) How much room do they need ,what do they eat and do they need an insulated house Heat in the winter The owner of this one has died and butchering it is just not an opption. Thanks B

-- Becky (Becktora@webtv.net), November 02, 2000

Answers

That is alot of hog to keep as a pet. We always fed our dry, open brood sows 12% protein hog pellets, 2lb/ 100lbs body weight. How old is this hog? I saw an article in Small Farm Magazine a few months ago about a sanctuary in northern Virginia for potbellies. I will look for it when I get back from the conference this weekend. I know people here who have them outside in a one acre fenced lot with a regular old hog house, no insulation or heat. Bed it well with straw. Temps get to -20 for short periods some winters and lots of snow. Good luck.

-- Terri Perry (stuperry@stargate.net), November 02, 2000.

Becky, any pig not ringed will root, some more and some less. Depends on the individual animal. Apparently this is someone's over grown pet? There's going to be a problem there since this pig is used to being a pet with a lot of companionship, very different from the lives of most pigs. Depending on the pig, you may be able to let it run loose, and just pen it in a building or kennel-type affair at night or when you are gone. I don't know how cold a winter you have where you are, but at least the pig will need to be kept dry and out of the wind. Plenty of food and unfrozen water.

Pigs will eat just about anything, including the hand that is offering the food. You can buy complete pig feeds or bags of supplement and bags (or bulk) grains. Basically anything you can compost can be feed to a pig. But at all costs avoid raw or undercooked meat, especially pork. Around here the smaller pig raisers used to go to the dairy plants and pick up all the cottage cheese and cheese that had been pulled from the grocery stores. They'd also buy the extra day old breads from the day old bakery stores-some of which still sell giant bags stuffed with all sorts of bakery stuff as animal food.

Given the size of this pig, check the archives for general pig raising information, and your library for pig raising books. Talk to the people at your local feed store or elevator. All you need for a pig of this sort is a basic maintanence diet. Too much weight is hard on a pet and expensive in terms of the food you have to buy. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), November 02, 2000.


Becky, I just got my first "potbelly" pig a few weeks ago. I have some web sites that I visit for information, they are: www.rossmillfarm.com www.pigstuff.com and www.fred.net/brv/ These have been very useful sites to me. Also, if she's not spayed when she comes into her "cycle" if she was house broken she won't be then! That's according to all the info I have gotten. I had my pig spayed last tuesday! I hope this information helps you out!

-- Emily (bellyacresfarm@kyk.net), November 02, 2000.

We have one, female about 3 yrs. old,she started out in the house then she was put outside and there she has stayed everyone is alot happier. I would say 300# is way to big ours is about150 tops,she is on the field all summer no extras at all, in the winter i give her left over veggies from dinner and alittle grain. You must watch their hoovesand tusks.Winter is alittle tough on her.Her house is on the south/east side of the "barn"and she will stay in it almost all the time, she hates snow so i let her in w/ the chickens when we get any. I know its not good to keep her w/ chickens but i have no choice.When she is turned out she lives w/ goats and a pony and free range chickens, no problems so far.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), November 02, 2000.

I've got a bunch, but none are even close to 300# They are 'free range' and my boarhas been known to visit the neighbors a few miles away. They tend to get into things, like ripping open bags of feed and they like to push open the coop door to get to the chicken feed. I give mine cheap dog food as a supplement and they have done great for years. Mazur makes a pot belly chow that I give to my sows when they farrow, but it is pretty expensive. There are lots of folks, like me, who do rescue and I can give you some references if you tell me where she is located. They really do make wonderful pets, even in the house, even if they are not spayed.

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), November 04, 2000.


some info on Potbellied Pigs. I have one that is now a little over two years old.I have had her since she was 5 weeks. She is a really sweet girl about 75 pounds. She did weigh a little more but I put her on a diet and She is getting around a lot better now. 300 pounds is way too big for a potbelly to be healthy. A potbeelied pig should be fed WHEAT BRAN (not wheat shorts) and special mini pig pellets.My local feed store carries the pellets they cost $8.40 a 25 pond bag but that lasts a long time. My pig is fed 1 cup of wheat bran mixed with warm water to make a gruel to this i will add any leftovers of fruit or vegetebles from our meals.She also gets 1 cup of pellets .I feed this morning and night.She also gets green grass pasture and hay when there is no grass. Given as much room as possible she stays very clean . I have never had any trouble from rooting. Pigs do not take cold very well so make sure they have a dry draft free house and shade in the summer. My piglet is spoiled rotten she likes homemade yogurt on herbran and fress fruit or canned. good luck with your pig. carla

-- carla (hillside@gcecisp.com), November 04, 2000.

== You must watch their hoovesand tusks. ==

My vet makes periodic house call to his PBP clients to trim their hooves and tusks. Some only trim the tusks if they interfere with the pigs health. Others trim the tusks if it interferes with THEIR health! -LOL-

== I know its not good to keep her w/ chickens but i have no choice.When she is turned out she lives w/ goats and a pony and free range chickens, no problems so far. ==

Why isn't it good, Renee? My chickens, who free range during the day, nap on top of my hog. A donkey and steer also roam the acreage with them.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), November 05, 2000.


I live in va. and the pig is with the son in law at the momment don't know how long that will go on. I just think that if I could help I would even if it means fenceing of some land. And added chores

-- BEcky (Becktora@webtv.net), November 09, 2000.

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