[becca1401]

I have always been a great pig lover and reared two large pigs for meat last year. I have seen that you can get tiny little pigs and that they make great pets and wondered if anyone knows anything about them. I was thinking about keeping it in a large pen at night and letting it have free range of the garden and if house trained my home. We have four dogs,chickens and dogs so there will be plenty to keep the pig occupied. If away I would have to leave it in its pen and I'm not sure if thiswould be viable as I know they get lonely,should I have two?
Do they make good house pets or will they destroy it?Can they be trained like a dog,as my pigs before only seemed to respond to the word dinner!Could somone please help as I am trying to convience my other half that we really need one.
Many thank

[smiffy]

becca
we breed mini pot bellies.

pigs are as intelligent as dogs, they can be trained to sit, beg etc.

Ours live outdoors in a field, however they can be house trained, but i would not recommend a pig as a house pet, they can be distructive. In gereral they dont root like other pigs, but there will always be an exception to the rule who would turn a garden upside down over night!!

I would always keep 2 pigs as pigs can forget they are pigs and can become very protective of their owners. also a single pig should not be left for long periods on its own as they are very social. If you have 2 pigs you dont have the same issues.

Pigs will socialise with dogs and live quite happily along side them. They are like any other animal, you get out of them what you put in. if you spend lots of time with them and have patience to train them, they sre esdier to train than a dog.

My friend has one of our pigs as a garden pig. he sits, rolls over for a belly rub, lives in the garden with the dogsand potters about in the kitchen while she is cooking and cleaning etc. But he has a pen outside an is put away when she goes out or to bed. She also got another pig to keep him company while she was at work, as he got lonely.

[becca1401]

Thank you so much for your information. The sort of pig I want is like your friends that has its own pen for night but has a free range to follow me about in the day. I am at home most of the time and normally only go away for a couple of weekends a year and on odd occasions one week long holiday. There is no doubt that any animals I have gets my full attention as everything is free range which makes life alot better for everyone.
So two pigs it is then,my other half will be happy!!!!

Once again thanks. I've now just got to find some mini pigs for sale.

[ukag0972]

I have Kune Kune pigs who do all the above!

They are not very micro but are slightly smaller than the average pig. They are great pets and are fabulous with other animals and kids.

I would have a browse at the BKKPS website for more info.

[becca1401]

Thanks

[Hilarysmum]

Becca if/when you do get micro pigs would you post on here ?  I and a friend are trying to source some for a third person.  (Cant say too much as they post on here too).  Any information would be gratefully received. 

[becca1401]

No problem. I have seen plenty for sale but they are quite expensive and not really local to me. I have still got to get round my other half before anything can go ahead as he is digging his heels in over this one. I have been thinking about getting a kune kune as they are easier to get hold of and cheaper as they are not so much of a fashion accessory.

I remember I did see some in Oakham,Leicestershire for £100,not sure if they have all gone though.

[little blue]

Be aware that many 'micro pigs' tea-cup etc are simply in-bred Kune kunes with the 'smallness' gene bred in. Its a form of genetic manipulation.  What do you feel about pedigree dogs with all the probs like repiratory, hip displacement, squashed faces?!

Kunes are lovely.  Pigs can apparently understand 160 words compared to a dog understanding 80-90 (and thats debatable!) So can be 'trained' to some extent though are stubborn as heck in my experience!

But you;ll need a pair at least, and be sure the males are castrated if they are sold as pets (Locally, I've  answered an advert just to be nosey - the males are entire and 8 months old, and obviously the gilts are their sisters, so cant be breeding pairs, think they're going to have trouble, or else con idiots who havent researched such things)
Also, if you want to breed, try and get BKKPS registered piglets. (Ours aren't, even though they are pedigree) so their babies can be registered.

[Hilarysmum]

We (friend and I on behalf of 3rd party) are looking primarily at German Micro pigs.  The "best" we have found were near German/Austrian boarders and worked out at 300 euros each for a breeding pair.  Obviously neutered males would be cheaper. 

My friend already has a large selection of pigs, GOS, tamworth and kune kune would a micro pig or pair of micro pigs be ok in their company?  I dont mean in the same pen, but on the same holding. 

[MARSZ01]

We have Kune Kune piglets at the moment we had two litters in June and have some castrated boars left, they are 9 weeks old and weaned. I'm happy to send you some pictures if you would like?

We have had Kune's for a few years now and they are certainely very intelligent and social our full boar is adorable, they are all docile and love to roll over for a tummy rub or stand on a hot day waiting for the hose to cool them down.

The boys are 95-00 if you are interested.

Zelda 

[smiffy]

Hilarys mum

My pot bellies are in pig and due mid november. we have 3 generations and they grow to around 16 inch tall and 2 ft long. they are smashing little pigs although i must admit the OH is not keen on them, he prefers our traditionals, mangalitzas, berkshires, tammys and lops. Mind he is a man and i think its a size thing 

they are kept on the same holding , but I dont mix them in the same pens as the larger pigs, purely due to the fact they are so small, however they are quite a robust sturdy little pig,

I love them, they are so funny!

Zelda
I have seen some really tiny kune kunes about 14 inch's and i was very suprised as its the 1st time i had ever seen them so small. Are the small kune kunes all inbred? or are there smaller strains?

Quite a few people are breeding mangalitzas, brothers and sisters, I checked out a few pedigrees earlier this yearand was suprised. people should always do their homework before buying a pig!

good luck with your search HM

[Hilarysmum]

smiffy thanks, the friend has just bought a breeding pair of kunes as well, which is why they have to be micro pigs. 

[smiffy]

hm
have you tried piggylicious? she was advertising micro pigs on here

[MARSZ01]

Smithy in reply to your post our Kune's are Jenny & Andrew bloodlines but for breeding there must be at least two generations from close relatives. I have had numerous enquiries of those wanting me to measure legs etc as they want to breed small, I do not entertain these enquiries as I believe this to be a practice against nature itself, the smallest would never survive on their own and therefore surely by mating these small pigs this can only lead to the problems associated with many types of breeding of this nature i.e. hip, respiratory problems etc etc . I'm not keen despite the apparent popular trend, has Paris Hilton something to do with this trend setting?

[smiffy]

has Paris Hilton something to do with this trend setting?

 

there does seem to be a trend for smaller pigs.

we breed large pigs, however this year i bought 6 mini pot bellys, its a long story and nearly caused a divorce!!!

I have resfused to sell them to a number of people. However in the right hands pigs make excellent pets. But they are not a fasion accessory and can not be purchased as a fad. They are a long term comitment. Fortunatly so far the people i have sold these little pigs to love them and they are part of the family.

I remember in the 80's when pot bellies were popular as garden pets, my friend used to help the PB club rescue many pigs. They once moved around 100 pigs from near heathrow airport, a £500 phone bill, many sleepless nights later they managed to rehome them all.