From expected lifespan to the social nature of guinea pigs, here are some things to consider before choosing a guinea pig as a pet. I added marco and polo a couple of months later to my emu flock and they were raised by their daddy emu. The potbellied pigs body is 8 to 26 inches tall, depending on the breed. Guinea pigs are small pets, but they require plenty of space, time, effort, and human interaction. How to raise pigs naturally on a small farm timber creek. Its especially important to be realistic about the size of a miniature pig. Top swine books for this year and next the pig site.
Both pig breeds are nice, friendly, and smaller than wild and farm pigs, which make them more suitable for apartments. The skinny on keeping sheep as pets storey publishing. If you are considering raising pigs to sell, or just want to grow pork on the hoof to supplement your diet, kunekunes are a great choice. If you choose a miniature pig as a pet their mature weight range could be around 20 50 kg. Micro, nano, teacup, and other names for mini pigs are referring to a size of the animal. You can also buy pig feeds on stores that sell farm supplies. The british kunekune pig society is run on a nonprofit basis to further the interests of the pigs, the pedigree breed and of those who love to keep them.
Takes so long to get to butchering size that you can raise a regular hog to butchering size in a lot less time and have a lot more meat. Raise pigs on woodlots for tastier pork hobby farms. In other words, they are not an easy or simple pet. Your main concern is that they eat on time and remain clean. Inspired by books on pasture rotation, and sustainable agriculture by joel salatin and gaining ground by forest pritchard, we learned about how to raise pigs naturally in a pasture setting. They need outdoor space and of course lots of food. Kelly klober is the author of storeys guide to raising pigs and has raised purebred hogs on his missouri farm for almost 40 years. No matter if your goal is to raise one pig or a herd, the expert advice in this handson guidebook will tell you all you need to know. How we raise pigs although we have grown over the years, tosh farms remains a familyowned company.
Also referred to as dandie pigs, mini potbelly pigs and pocket pigs, these teacups have become increasingly fashionable over the past decade. How to raise pigs right the first time in your own home. With the growing popularity of the kunekune pigs as pets, a lot has been studied and researched about the breed. The perfect starter guide for new pig parents or pig parents to be. While the daily cost of keeping a pig is relatively low, if a pig becomes ill, vet. Pigs grow so quickly that poor nutrition can cause lasting, or even fatal problems, he says. Potbellied pigs, vietnamese potbellied pigs, and chinese potbellied pigs grow to a range from 125 pounds to over 200 pounds and 16 to 26 inches tall. When looking at piglets, avoid buying any that are scratching or coughing. The name kunekune comes from a maori word which means fat and round. Woodlot production is similar but has its own challenges, and there is far less information specific to raising hogs in this system. Rating is available when the video has been rented.
We agreed, from the start, that a certain level of cleanliness would be necessary. Raising pigs on a small plot of land is still feasible. Some breeders also use this range for miniature potbellied pigs. I come from a farming background and we did raise hundreds of pigs. Information regarding nutritional requirements and many other important topics are contained in the book. Pig book for care, training, health, grooming, costs and feeding by john jepperton 2015, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. There are few better animals for a family farm than these environmentally friendly, cheap to keep, laidback pigs.
Whether you are raising your pig as a pet or for meat, you will need to select a healthy pig from a good breeder. A lot of pasturedpork information is available online and in books. Pot bellies and other miniature pigs complete pet owners. Pig book for care, training, health, grooming, costs and feeding. So, you are thinking about getting a potbellied pig and want to know if you are doing the right thing. Pigs as pets know the truth before you start raising pigs so you want to buy pet pigs. Sensible business strategies, the incorporation of new technology, and the adaptation of modern day health and production practices has allowed. We were very thankful to stumble upon this book while researching pet pigs online, and have had a. Nowadays, having a pig as a pet is no longer as peculiar as it would have been be a few years ago. Your pet pig could end up weighing in excess of 200 kg. This is another reason why you need to make sure that those fences are strong. Guinea pigs can be lovely pets, but there are a few things you should know before making that big commitment. Potbellied pigs can make wonderful companion animals, but they arent the right pet for everyone. Everything you need to know about pet pigs and keeping.
Potbellied pig behavior and training by priscilla valentine. Some pet stores and groceries may sell feeds for pigs. How to raise pigs guides readers through swine operations from beginning to end. Potbelly pigs are another firm favorite when keeping pigs as pets. He writes, speaks, and consults on many smallfarm topics, including farmers markets, breed preservation, chicken health, and sustainable practices. They make great pets, but they are not for the faint of heart. Storeys guide to raising pigs, 4th edition storey publishing. Pigs are smart, and as a pet, a potbellied pig requires a patient owner willing to spend time on. Like i said, if theyre not fed like pigs should be, they wont taste good. There are many books, magazines and websites that are packed with information.
This is the easiest way ive found and its worked for all of my pigs. Some people adopt a pet pig without fully educating themselves about the behavior and care requirements of these intelligent animals. This is a great way to give a guinea pig a second chance at life. In addition to reading up on pet pigs, we recommend that you take the time to actually visit ross mill farm whenever possible before making your decision. Unfortunately, not every breeder is honest in what they are selling. Unless you have money to spare, you should focus your search to pig farms in your area that have piglets for sale. And as more and more people look for ways to live sustainably and grow their own food, goats are a wonderful option for raising meat and milk, and you can harvest their fleece, as well. Pet pig care vietnamese potbellied pigs as pets feed manage. This is where the idea of covering their area in straw is really useful. How to raise pigs in a residential environment is not as carefree as you would probably think it to be.
She is a member of the golden state cavy breeders association, the american cavy breeders association, and the oroville, downtown oroville, and trendsetters 4h community clubs. Fullgrown mini pigs can weigh between 150 and 180 pounds and live for more than 20 years. Miniature potbellied pigs as designated by certain breeders reach 35 to 60 pounds. Natural pig farming resources books to buy learn all about natural pig. If you are willing to give your guinea pig a good home with proper food, attention, living space, grooming, and veterinary care, you will be rewarded with a happy, healthy, cute, and fun guinea pig. Piglets are cute little butterballs for only a short time, so make sure you meet a full.
Despite popular belief, pigs are not filthy animals that love to roll in the mud. Membership of the bkkps is open to anyone wherever you are in the world. A lot of homesteaders dont have a lot of land but still want to raise pigs. With more than 200 color photographs, the book covers conventional, sustainable, and organic farming practices. Some people keep pigs as pets but most people keep pigs for meat production, either by breeding their own weaners for fattening or by fattening weaners purchased from a pig breeder.
I also find that one that is artificially hatched is much friendlier than one that is naturally hatched. Why are mini julianas different than micro or nano pigs. There are no special dates to remember such as breeding date and gestation period when you are raising pigs as pets. A pet pig diet is one of the most misunderstood parts of pig parenting, illescas says, and its the most important aspect of owning a pig or any pet to understand. Mycotoxins in swine production 2nd edition now available. A good breeder will make sure the babies are socialized well and handled from an early age. As a consequence, potbellied pigs are surrendered to shelters and sanctuaries all over the country, not only for being a teacup or mini pig who grew. The environment should also be maintained more rigorously than that of breeding pigs. It is because pigs love to be covered in something at all times. Breeders are your best option if looking for a showquality pig, a specific breed, and even pet quality pigs.
Why i cringe when people buy pet mini pigs vetstreet. An introduction to pig keeping the accidental smallholder. How to care for guinea pigs with pictures wikihow pet. Due to the recent popularity in keeping pigs as pets, many people are considering getting a pet pig. Shelters have guinea pigs more often than you might think. In fact, their intelligence is higher than that of a dog.
Never ever use dog or cat food if you plan on raising pigs. This is perfectly descriptive of the appearance of this unusual variety of pigs. We frequently revisit the book when we have questions or concerns about our pig. Pigs as pets know the truth before you start raising pigs. For the new pig keeper, the latter course is much simpler, requires less skill and stockmanship and is therefore generally recommended as a first step in pig keeping. The most soughtafter domestic pig breeds include the potbellied pig from vietnam and the miniature or teacup pig. There are a lot of things to be considered before you make that decision to buy pigs. The key to maintaining a healthy weight is to limit snacks, establish a feeding. Enter celebutante paris hilton, whose penchant for accessorizing with pets took a detour toward the porcine with her purchase of a tiny piglet in 2010. Raising farm animals, baby guinea pigs, sales letter, rabbit hutches, lovely creatures, this little piggy, good notes, animal books, cute animals.
Curran then became an adult 4h leader in guinea pigs and rabbits and was inspired to write the book your guinea pig. Written by mini pig breeders, advocates, and a well known mini pig veterinarian. Occasionally challenging and always rewarding, pigs are intelligent animals and make for a great addition to any backyard farmers livestock. When raising emus, start with a young emu, preferably a day old to a week old. Highly recommend purchasing the book potbellies and other miniature pigs complete pet owners manual by pat storer. If pigs are kept in a pen, they will root up the land. She has acclimated in to the family very well, and we learned a lot about pet pigs from reading this book. The kunekune pig is one of the smallest of all domesticated pigs.