10 Things To Consider Before Adopting a Mini Pig
“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” – Winston Churchill
Conversation with a mini pig:
Big Bad Wolf : “I will huff and puff and blow your house down!”
Teeny Tiny Piglet: “Hold my beer, Wolfie. I’ll show you how to really destroy this place”.
Here are 10 things you should consider before adopting a pig
- Zoning.
As a very first step, go to your city’s website and verify the zoning ordinance. Mini and potbelly pigs can sometimes be considered livestock or as an exotic animal. It really is your responsibility otherwise you may end up having to sell your home in order to keep your pig!
- Veterinary care
Finding a vet that treats mini/potbellies can be a challenge as there are very few practices that treat them.
We have to take our mini pig (Mick Jagger) on a 40 minute car ride. Mick remains standing and angrily glares at us for the entire duration of the car ride.
It is really important to get your pet pig spayed or neutered, as this will prevent a number of behavioural issues. Also, if ever your pig needs medical attention, even for something routine like a hoof or tusk trim, you will need to have someone who is qualified to do so.
- Pigs are smart and have complex personalities.
Consider how profoundly intelligent pigs are. They are about as smart as a three or four year old child and when they stand up on their hind legs, they are as tall, or taller than a kid. Mick is too short to reach a fruit bearing tree that hangs over his pen, so he built up a pile of dirt and rocks to get to it.
While childproofing may work on some human kids, pigs learn quickly from observation and because they are really really strong, you have to stay one step ahead of them. At 20 pounds, Mick can easily move cement cinder blocks. But! we have him stumped with a half a dozen 90 pound patio stones. We have the upper hand.. this week anyways…
Pigs personalities also change and evolve
Do you remember the 1997 Meredith Brooks song, Bitch? Well pigs are a little bit of everything all rolled into one and we need to be prepared to take them as they are:
Mick hums the song to himself sometimes:
I hate the world today | You’re so good to me | I know but I can’t change | Tried to tell you | But you look at me like maybe | I’m an angel underneath | Innocent and sweet | Yesterday I cried | You must have been relieved | To see the softer side | I can understand how you’d be so confused | I don’t envy you | I’m a little bit of everything | All rolled into one | I’m a bitch | I’m a lover | I’m a child | I’m a mother | I’m a sinner | I’m a saint | And I do not feel ashamed | I’m your hell | I’m your dream | I’m nothing in between | You know you wouldn’t want it any other way | So take me as I am |This may mean you’ll have to be a stronger man | Rest assured that when I start to make you nervous | And I’m going to extremes |Tomorrow I will change | And today won’t mean a thing…
In a day, Mick’s behaviours can range from:
- Groggy, yawning, really quiet and wanting to cuddle and nap.
- Super playful, running around, squealing and doing bronco kicks.
- Methodically digging and rotilitating every inch of earth in his pen.
- Going gangbusters around the house, bugging the dog, rummaging through cupboards and rearranging the furniture.
- Wanting to watch the world burn. A super grumpy, stubborn jerk.
Pigs are as intelligent as certain primates and have emotional and social needs that very closely resemble our own.
- Pigs root.
I think you should let your pig be a pig and let them do pig stuff. Pigs also think they should have time and space to root, and if you try to curb this natural piggy behaviour, they will root up your carpet, drywall and baseboards and basically destroy your house.
Rooting mats are available on Amazon and Etsy, though I can’t personally vouch for their effectiveness as I have yet to purchase one.
When Mick is in the house (he comes in for a few hours a day to socialize with us and play with the dog and cat) we wrap up food in his blanket, and tie it in a tight knot. Once he conquers the blanket knot, he will root, double, triple check that he didn’t miss anything. In the meantime we periodically toss a few bits of grain onto it to keep him on his toes. Once he is advised that the kitchen is closed and snacks will no longer be served, he will flop down on his blanket and take a nap.
Rooting is a natural behaviour and you need to plan for a space for your piggy to root.
- Pigs grow until they are 5 years old
Unlike puppies (you basically blink and they are full grown), pigs will continue to grow until they are 5.
Even the teeniest mini pigs, sometimes described as teacup pigs, will be 70 – 100 lbs once they are full grown, so be sure that you have adequate space. Miniature pigs are called mini pigs only because they do appear quite petite when standing next to your average 600 lbs farm pig.
Sanctuaries, shelters and rescues are overwhelmed with mini pigs because people bought the whole teacup myth hook, line and ‘stinker’.
- Pigs live as long as a cat
The average life expectancy of a mini pig is 15 years, you’re looking at a long term commitment! If you are considering moving, keep in mind that not many landlords will allow pigs, and zoning ordinances vary by town/city.
Pigs can be very hard to rehome, and given that many sanctuaries have reached capacity, you may be left facing the heartbreaking option of euthanasia by a vet.
You are your pigs’ whole world, they get very attached to their owners. Don’t be fooled by their occasional too cool for school, couldn’t care less, aloof attitude. A rehomed pig will grieve the loss of his family and some never bounce back, remaining depressed for the rest of their lives.
Do your research before adopting a pig and commit to keeping them for their lifetime.
Please, please think long and hard before getting a pig
- Tusks
Some pigs will ‘head swipe’ or side swipe their head, quickly flinging their head from front to side when they are scared or if they are being aggressive. This can be very dangerous as a tusk can pierce your skin.
All pigs grow tusks; males, females, even neutered pigs. Keep this in mind if your pig will be around kids or other pets.
Mick did this alot when he was very young, as he hadn’t been handled at all before we brought him home. We taught him that it was unacceptable to head swipe us, and he stopped after a few weeks. At the time of this writing, he is only 1 years old, and hasn’t grown tusks yet (tusks usually begin to grow at age 2 or 3)
- Dogs and Pigs
Pigs are not like dogs. At all. Dogs are predatory and pigs are prey animals, making the 2 species an unpredictable combination.
In the wild, as prey-herd animals, pigs will regularly challenge their herd mates to make sure the strongest pig is keeping them safe and leading the charge. This means your pet pig could challenge your dog, and the dog may respond aggressively. This has been known to happen with even the gentlest dogs. Alternatively, if the dog walks away, and doesn’t engage with the pig, the pig will continue to challenge the dog, in an attempt to elicit a pig response. A pig cannot win a fight with a dog, and I’ve read stories of dogs ripping off pigs ears, and sometimes killing the pig. The pig will start the fight, but the dog will finish it.
In my case, when both the pig and dog are indoors, they are always closely supervised. Mick likes Teaa, it’s kind of a big sister / annoying little brother type relationship. He pulled her fur one time, and she barked, one single bark, scaring the absolute shit out of him. He is now extra careful not to hurt her.
The cat doesn’t like him (she doesn’t like me either, by the way) but nobody cares what the cat thinks, including Mick The Mini Pig.
- Fencing
Pigs are not always respectful of fencing. They can dig, chew, and even just barge straight through fences. If this is the case, an electric fence will be required.
Mick lives in a converted chicken coop. Given the healthy bear and coyote population around our farm, we appreciate the tall, 5 foot fencing.
- Pigs are about as expensive to feed as a cat
Mini pig feed is not that expensive, and the bags available at feed stores are quite large. One bag lasts 2-3 months!
Mick gets grain twice a day, plus a variety of fruits and veggies (hold the red peppers, sweet peas and mushrooms, he won’t eat them)