The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: GeorgeandPepper on June 05, 2013, 12:27:44 pm
-
Hello
Just a quick question, I have two pet micro pigs and we have heard that you should not let them wallow as it breeds infection and disease...but I have read in lots of places that it is great for their skin, acts as a sunscreen (and they do love to sunbathe!) so it is a bit confusing? What do you guys think?
Sarah
(http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/sarahmaley_2007/piggies.jpg) (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/sarahmaley_2007/media/piggies.jpg.html)
-
Firstly no such thing as a micro pig.
All pigs love to wallow and all pigs should have somewhere they can wallow. As you say it protects them from the sun and they like nothing better than covering themselves in mud and then rubbing it all over you. Have fun.
-
Oooh yes I know there isn't, I am aware that they won't be little forever :)
I didn't think there was a problem, another website (and the only one I could see that said it!) said to avoid it at all costs because they will go to the toilet in the same area and roll in it, spreading infection...I thought it was a little over the top.
Thanks for your advice :)
-
A wallow also helps them to cool down, as they don't have the ability to sweat. They will also get out of the wallow to go to the loo!
-
Firstly no such thing as a micro pig...........
That was my first thought too.
My pigs enjoyed a wallow in a soggy patch. Especially when the sun was out.
:pig:
-
:D then mud my babies will have!
-
My boys love their wallow but I have seen them wee in it. :(
-
There's no such thing as ... :innocent:
Your hairy wee pigs will love a wallow this time of year - if you don't provide one for them, as soon as they are big enough, they'll continually tip their drinking water out to make one for themselves - usually where you don't want them to ;)
:love: :pig: :love:
-
My pigs pee in their wallow too ::) makes for an interesting aroma when they decide to come and give you a big muddy pig love :love: ;D
mandy :pig:
ps Pee is actually very sterile and have heard of it used as a disinfectant in extreme situations.
-
Haha I am quite embarrassed by the micro pig title now, I know I know there is no such thing!!! :) I am fully expecting two giant monsters to be taking over my life so anything else is a bonus ;)
-
Firstly no such thing as a micro pig.
I would agree that there are many pigs, sold as "micro pigs" that actually grow to be quite "macro".
But there are also many, selected for their small size through numerous generations which actually do not grow any bigger than a fat labrador. I have 7. I was given them as "micro pigs", I shall dispose of their offspring as "micro pigs". Surely if I, George and Pepper, and any one else with diminutive sized porcines wish to refer to them as "micro pigs", then why should anyone else wish to question it? :pig: :bouquet:
-
I think the problem with small breed pigs being called 'micro-pigs' is that they have become 'fashionable' with silly people thinking they will have a 'piglet sized' pet for all of it's life. Unfortunately stupid mass-media and silly gullible people in our throw-away society have caused this problem resulting in lots of pigs becoming rescue cases and now the phrase has negative connotations.
Donna
-
I think the main problem is that such pigs get treated as house pets and don't get the opportunity to actually be pigs. I treat all my livestock with the greatest respect and strive for them to have the best quality of life I can provide but I never forget they're not hamsters and budgerigars!
-
micro pigs the only bit I can see as a problem is their off spring can't be guaranteed as being micro and can and quite a few actually grow up to be normal sized pigs. so micro pig is I believe a bad phrase to be bandied around with joe public. But then I wont through my teddy out of the pram if anyone refers to their own as micro pigs after all I call mine 'you fat pig' and I work hard to make sure they aren't fat.
-
Please don't :stir: this one up again.
If anyone has a genuine interest in knowing what the problem is with "micro/mini/teacup/disney pigs" please search for & read the thread " Micro pigs again..... Xmas is coming "
:love: :pig: :love:
-
Oh dear I do seem to have stirred this up a little!
My pigs live in the garden, in a big muddy grassy patch of pig heaven and don't come in the house, don't have clothes and have NEVER been in a handbag.
I just meant they were small, they're probably not going to be the size of a house and......I'M SORRY I EVER MENTIONED THE 'M' WORD OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
-
Please don't :stir: this one up again.
If anyone has a genuine interest in knowing what the problem is with "micro/mini/teacup/disney pigs" please search for & read the thread " Micro pigs again..... Xmas is coming "
:love: :pig: :love:
lol totally agree on this one Beewyched. I just groan when I hear this debate now, I'm exhausted by the subject. :-J
-
I just meant they were small, they're probably not going to be the size of a house and......I'M SORRY I EVER MENTIONED THE 'M' WORD OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
Call them what ever you want :wave:
-
I just meant they were small, they're probably not going to be the size of a house and......I'M SORRY I EVER MENTIONED THE 'M' WORD OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
Call them what ever you want :wave:
Exactly. Thank you Hassle for that breath of fresh air called 'common sense'.
I can do nothing about the multitude of people that buy sweet little animals before Christmas and then throw them out afterwards when they turn out to be unsuitable. But because some of you have a bandwagon called 'micropigs' doesn't stop some of us keeping micropigs and enjoying them for what they are and irrespective of what size they should grow to. It is insulting that those of you with the micropig phobia should tar everyone with the same brush. Doesn't the name TAS, and the fact that we contribute to it, give you a clue that maybe we're not a bunch of complete nobheads who just abandon animals when we've tired of them?? ???
And isn't it a bit unfair to 'get at' someone who merely asked a question about sunscreen?
-
I can do nothing about the multitude of people that buy sweet little animals before Christmas and then throw them out afterwards when they turn out to be unsuitable. But because some of you have a bandwagon called 'micropigs' doesn't stop some of us keeping micropigs and enjoying them for what they are and irrespective of what size they should grow to. It is insulting that those of you with the micropig phobia should tar everyone with the same brush. Doesn't the name TAS, and the fact that we contribute to it, give you a clue that maybe we're not a bunch of complete nobheads who just abandon animals when we've tired of them?? ???
Yes, you are free to call them what you want, but not when offering them for sale on TAS.
You've exposed the very reasons in your post - not everyone who is selling so-called "micro-pigs" is honest about what they are selling, and not everyone buying them knows what they are buying.
So although you may be a responsible owner, breeder and seller of small pigs, others who might wish to take advantage of free advertising on TAS may not be quite so responsible.
This is why we insist on the breed or cross of all livestock to be stated in adverts, so that those buying will have some knowledge of the nature of the animals they are acquiring. If your pigs are of indeterminate breeding I'm afraid you can't advertise them on TAS.