The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: arthurhamann on November 19, 2013, 01:16:46 am

Title: Pig Courses: Learning About Pigs
Post by: arthurhamann on November 19, 2013, 01:16:46 am
Keeping pigs as pets can be fun, but you also need to be careful with them when you feed them. Many a person can relate a tale of losing fingers to pigs by leaving their hands a little too long in the trough when spilling out the feed. A pig is a voracious eater and being an omnivore will eat virtually anything, including your hand if it is anywhere near his feed!

Pigs come in all shapes, colours and sizes and different breeds result in different temperaments. The first thing you should be deciding on is why you want to keep pigs for pets in the first place. After that it then gives you direction as to which pig breed would better fit your needs and the appropriate pig care your pigs would then receive.

If you are thinking of having pigs for pets you are probably wondering which sex you should buy. Male pigs that have not been castrated are best left as breeders rather than that makes them very unsuitable. If you decide on a male pig, it should be castrated. Female pigs make the best pets whether or not she has had a litter.
Title: Re: Pig Courses: Learning About Pigs
Post by: hughesy on November 19, 2013, 07:54:02 am
 ;D ;D ;D Couldn't believe that post was real until I saw it was Australian!
Title: Re: Pig Courses: Learning About Pigs
Post by: Berkshire Boy on November 19, 2013, 08:01:39 am
American, Hughesy. :roflanim:
Title: Re: Pig Courses: Learning About Pigs
Post by: hughesy on November 19, 2013, 08:07:44 am
If you click on the link at the bottom it's Australian, though the OP does say it's American.
Like this  ;D ;D ;D http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/3981/20130914/australian-wild-pig-drinks-18-beers-gets-fight-cow.htm (http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/3981/20130914/australian-wild-pig-drinks-18-beers-gets-fight-cow.htm)
Title: Re: Pig Courses: Learning About Pigs
Post by: Berkshire Boy on November 19, 2013, 09:12:39 am
One of my sows loves chasing the cows.We have a Dexter heifer and bull and I sometimes let the sow have a run around their field, she will chase them around for ages, even the bull is afraid of her.
Title: Re: Pig Courses: Learning About Pigs
Post by: Bodger on November 19, 2013, 11:26:43 am
Welcome to the forum and thankfully, my inability to play the piano owes nothing to me having lost any fingers in the trough. :roflanim:
Title: Re: Pig Courses: Learning About Pigs
Post by: HappyHippy on November 20, 2013, 09:03:40 pm
Have to disagree that gilts/sows make the best pets - castrated boar every time  :thumbsup:
No piggy PMT to worry about with a castrate  ;) and gilts which aren't being bred from can suffer pyometra (I've probably spelt that wrong) in later life. Some of our castrated Kunekune boars think they're lapdogs......even when they're 80Kg plus  :D :innocent:
Title: Re: Pig Courses: Learning About Pigs
Post by: Fowgill Farm on November 21, 2013, 09:26:32 am
As with any animal its how its brought up(reared) is the key to its personality & character. An animal treated cruelly, neglected & starved of human interaction will never make a good pet whilst one shown respect, well socialised & kept correctly will be a friend for life. Likewise human beings which is something sadly forgotten it seems in the world today.
Mandy :pig: