Pet Pigs

[ChinwagCharlieBear]

Hi,

Does anyone here have pet pigs?

We have tentatively started looking for two small pigs from well regarded breeders. (I don't want to use the term micro pig as this is a somewhat abstract concept - and I have read plenty of horror stories where so called micro pigs grow into large pot bellied pigs!) They will be kept outside. We already keep chickens outside so the garden is well fenced and pig proof. They will have a large wooden outdoor kennel/bed full of straw to sleep in and they will have free access to the back garden, which will have a large section of woodchip for them to root around in. They will be given hay, a treat ball with a third of their daily pellets in to play with as well as a few other toys to combat boredom. I would also be working with them daily to teach them tricks (for a small treat), to build trust and they will be very much 'outside pets' who will be getting a lot of mental stimulation.

I know they are stubborn animals and I have researched their diets, the CPH number we'd need and I know that we'd need to register them with DEFRA etc.

We have the time to provide them with everything they need (we have no children) and should we go on holiday we have provisions in place to ensure they would be looked after.

Would love to hear from people who keep pigs to see whether this is something we could do. Any advice surrounding all aspects of pig keeping, any dos/don'ts are appreciated. My DP is very for this but I am being cautious.

Thank you!

Start the paperwork now. Defra/Land Registry/Mapping etc are shit and slow. As you get frustrated with the ridiculous amount of paperwork needed, you can think about whether you do indeed want to keep them, as records and regulations will only get greater once the animals arrive.

I'm assuming you're a long way from neighbours as they stink, attract flies and rats, and can be quite loud. Also assuming that you have more than a garden, as you need to store and dispose of manure which is a whole lot more regulations - are you in a NVZ?

They will completely bulldoze the area that they are in, I don't know what the Livestock units are for pigs, but they'll trash any plants/trees/fences that they come into contact with unless they are very robust/electrified.

But I think they'd be ace pets - my DH is a pig farmer, and we joined with neighbours to raise old breeds for the butcher (can't keep them on the home farm for disease risks) - and they were quite fun to watch/feed. Another thing to bear in mind though, although they'd be pets to you, they have to be treated better than pets - you need to keep more than one, you need to get prompt vet treatment, and you can't keep them until they slowly die and then bury them in the garden.

Hi, thanks for your response!

To be honest, after having another talk about this I think we've decided not to get pigs, for now anyway! Our walls are stone but we do have neighbours (we live in a quiet little conservation area so our chickens fit in fine and quite a few of our neighbours have chickens) so it probably wouldn't work. And you make a very good point about the waste, I have had horses all of my life so have a small idea about the mucking out required but it would probably be difficult to dispose of here.

We are only very early 20s so we still have time to find a property with a larger garden in a more secluded area in the future as I would love pigs!

Thank you.

I think it's probably a wise decision and your neighbours will probably thank you for it. It's good that you're putting thought and time into it. I've got chickens and goats from people that moved to a property, went crazy buying stuff and then found that it was too difficult/time consuming. I've also been offered pigs and geese that were 'pets that need a forever home' when the novelty had worn off and their (overstocked) land was thoroughly wrecked, so I probably am a little harsh when people suggest keeping farm animals as pets.

Been offered a few ponies as well, and some ducks and other hens too. My DH always says when you have livestock you have deadstock, so you do need to go into it with a whole life plan.

Good luck, and have you ever considered goats? Bloody love ours - almost as much as dh hates them!

Hi Kate,

How awful, I hate to see animals bought just for Christmas etc that are eventually forgotten about and sold for peanuts when they start being well... animals. It is very prevalent in the horse world unfortunately. We have talked about two little goats but I just don't think our garden is big enough, I bet they are fab though, the lady we got the chickens off had a couple of goats. Cheeky beggars!

It's the neighbours that made me decide against them really, I know we'd have enough time and energy etc, I just don't think it would be fair as they are in quite close proximity.

Maybe one day when we move house!

Thanks for your advice.