The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: marie on February 13, 2012, 12:50:21 pm
-
Can any one tell me how big does a micropig grow to.
-
There's no way to tell you for sure I'm afraid Marie :-\
They're not a pure breed pig, instead a result of crossing different breeds (usually something small like a pot bellied pig or Kune Kune pig with a different breed - which may be a standard sized pig) so they could stay as small as pot bellied or Kune Kune pigs OR they could get as big as a Tamworth :o
Without wanting to upset you, or meaning to offend you - if you're considering one as a house pet - PLEASE don't ! Have a look on pre-loved or RSPCA sites - there are lots looking for new homes because they've either outgrew their home or become a bit of a problem.
But, if you have adequate outside space for permanent pigs (you'll notice I say 'pigs' - one on it's own isn't good :(), you're looking at half an acre minimum - then please do go ahead and rehome some of the hundreds that have passed the 'awwww cute' stage - if not the future for them isn't looking too bright :'( :'( :'(
Oh, and don't be surprised if you start a full scale riot here on TAS :o ;D ;D ;D 'Micros' are a subject a lot of us feel quite strongly about ;)
Karen :wave:
-
Thankyou for that. They are not for me I was asking for a friend who is getting four. I had heard that they grow quite big and she thought they stayed small. But I think it might depend on the pig.
I will let her know.
-
Ditto everything HH has said.
Your friend getting 4 either has more money than sense or she is being them offered for free! Beware of people trying to off load them, they can and do grow large and four will most certainly trash any area they're put into, its natural behaviour.
Big well done to you for being sensible to ask, a good friend indeed.
Mandy :pig:
-
I had heard that they grow quite big and she thought they stayed small. But I think it might depend on the pig.
Peoples' perception of size is often misleading ;)
I keep Kune Kunes (the smallest pedigree breed in the UK) and haven't had anyone say "oh aren't they small" - even taking a couple of 6 month old ones to a show, people were saying "oh, they're quite big" :o And they weren't - really they weren't ! They are the smallest Kunes of that age I have. Although they are now a little bigger, they come to only calf height, they do weigh approximately 60Kg each - a dog of a similar size would probably be around 10Kg, so although small they do pack a bit of a punch in the strength department - DEFINATELY tell her not to have 4 in the house :o She'll have no house left in 6 months :-\ And if it's a mix of males and females - get the males castrated asap - otherwise they'll breed (can be as young as 4 months !) and she'll be over-run in no time and uncastrated males can become dominant in time. It costs less to have them done young so she should make that top priority ;) Depending on their size (assuming young pigs), it shouldn't cost much more than £50 per pig to do the castration - money well spent ;)
I've got a really good photo on my facebook just now...........hang on !
-
Okay, show her this photo - it's not a fake :o
-
cant get the photo to up size but echo everything that has been said if they are in the house goodbye radiators door frames wood/chipboard floors skirting's and plasterboard walls and outside well depends on what you have :farmer:
-
they had a "giant" micro pig on tv the other day, then the owner feed it a bowl of cheerios and milk!
-
cant get the photo to up size but echo everything that has been said if they are in the house goodbye radiators door frames wood/chipboard floors skirting's and plasterboard walls and outside well depends on what you have :farmer:
Sorted the photo Robert - it should scale up when you click it now ;) :thumbsup:
-
What is that enormous pig in the photo? Surely it can't be all Kune Kune? Tamsaddle
-
What is that enormous pig in the photo? Surely it can't be all Kune Kune? Tamsaddle
It's just a pig Tamsaddle (same as all the rest of the micro's) - no pedigree, no guarentee ;) ::)
-
depends on feeding and if they have been piglet free they can get to 500-600kilos who can tell what the breeding is behind that pig in the photo just as an aside if a kunnie has tassels they are dominant when cross bred so anything with tassels does not mean pure bred and that from the kunnie site :farmer:
-
But even a registered Kune with 2 piri piri crossed with another registered Kune Kune with 2 piri piri - can still produce piglets who have 2, 1 or none - or a mixture, all in the one litter ::) As an aside I've got a litter of KK x OSB's (from a boar with 2 piri's) some piglets have none, some one and some 2 - so it's not always dominant Robert. ;)
Boars for registration must have 2 piri piri (only changed in the last year) but it's not a requirement on the breed standard for a gilt.
D'ya really reckon there's Kune in that mix ? I was thinking more GOS and Large Black (especially looking at the length of the snout) :D :D :D
-
it is bigger now than before but i still cant make out much
only saying what is on the kunnie site
there was supposed to be an osb boar at lanark last week it must have passed one on the way to market cos it sure did not look like an osb and others scoffed when told what it was
who knows who cares but it is one big pig irrespective of the mix of breeds :farmer:
-
if all micro pigs were like the one in foto - id get one - hes gorgeous! what breed????
-
The Kune boar I borrowed last summer was a house pig----no wonder they've forgotten to collect him ;D ;D He's a dear thing and as big as my sows but if he wants to go past you, he'll go past you, or through or over you :o
-
if he wants to go past you, he'll go past you, or through or over you :o
This is why i spent some of last summer on crutches! ;) Even small pigs are powerful little monsters!
Mandy :pig: