1) What does it take to be a good Pig Parent?
2) What about food, what would I feed a pig?
3) I always thought pigs could eat anything that's why they are pigs, right?
4) Can a pig be potty trained for the house?
6)What would I need to do before I get a Pig from Noah's Ark Pot bellied Pig Rescue?
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Pig Parenting
Parenting requires knowledge and commitment. This is true
whether the person is raising children or caring for pets. Being a pig parent is
no different. The successful pig parent is one that understands the unique
characteristics of the pig and is willing to make
the effort and commitment to be a good pig parent.
Pigs require outside time to be a pig. Pigs root, but can be trained to use a
certain area of the yard, or to use a “rooting box” to satisfy their urge to
root. Pigs are ranked 4th in intelligence of all animals, and are easily halter
and lead trained. Probably the most important fact to realize is that pigs grow
until they are about 3½ or 4 years old,
and no honest person can guarantee the weight of an adult pig. Weight averages
for adult pigs range from 90-150 pounds, and some pigs even top 200 pounds.
Adult potbellied pigs are generally about 18 inches high. When
maintained on a proper diet (grain-based without meat by-products), the pig has
no body odor and the pig’s waste is odorless.
It is commonly said that parenting a pet pig is like parenting an inquisitive
two-year old - one that will remain so for ten to fifteen years. Pigs are also
inquisitive and need toys, games, and training to keep them stimulated. The pig
parent must “childproof” their
house, installing childproof drawer locks on lower drawers, making sure that
doors are closed and that food and harmful things are kept out of reach. For
example, a pig parent recently forgot to make sure the garage door was fully
closed and discovered that her
pig was missing. She found the pig, and what was left of her five pound bag of
potatoes in the garage.
The issue of food:
Pigs will eat just about anything. That’s where the expression, “eats like a
pig,” comes from! Unlike cats, who generally will stop eating when they are
full, a pig will eat itself sick. It will also, if given the
opportunity, eat things that are harmful
to the pig, even fatal. The proper pig parent will feed their pig a potbellied
pig food, or, if not available, a hog, rabbit, horse, or other grain-based feed
with no more that 14% protein. Generally, piglets under 3 months old should get
½ to 1 cup of feed a day, and older pigs 1 ½ to 2 cups a day. This amount should
be divided into a morning and evening feeding. Unless the pig spends the day
grazing in the yard, the diet should be supplemented with fruit and leafy
vegetables. (Avoid peas, potatoes, corn, and other starchy vegetables that are
fattening. Also limit fruit because of the natural sugar content.) Iceberg
lettuce is good, as it has almost no calories and provides bulk.
Frozen grapes and cucumber slices also make good treats for tricks well done or
lessons well learned. Other good treats are air popped popcorn (plain, no
butter), carrot slices, and individual pieces of dry cereal like Cheerios and
Chex. The easiest way to be sure that the pig is not overfed is to measure out
the treats for the day. To supplement all of this, the pig parent should also
daily feed the pig a children’s complete vitamin tablet (any brand is fine).
Pigs can be potty trained.
The potty box should have low sides as pigs do not like to step over things to
use the potty, and should be large enough so the pig can turn around. Beware of
slippery bottoms- use a non-slip rubber mat under the litter if needed. The
round “dishes” used for draining water heaters make ideal and inexpensive potty
boxes. Do not use clay-based kitty litter, as the pig could inhale it or eat it,
both causing life-threatening medical problems. An inexpensive and absorbent
material is pine shavings. Cedar is not recommended.
Be sure that you
have located a veterinarian in advance of obtaining a pet pig as many vets do
not see nor treat them. Having a good knowledgeable vet is vital for the pigs
welfare.
In conclusion, again let it be stated, a person considering a pig as a pet can
be assured of a loving and intelligent pet for many years, if they are willing
to learn about their pet and make a long-term commitment to pig parenthood.
Noah's Ark Potbellied Pig Rescue
and Sanctuary is available to help in educating the potential parent, and anyone
interested in learning about the pig as a pet.
Noah's Ark Potbellied Pig Rescue and Sanctuary. is a non-profit educational
organization that provides information and literature on the potbellied pig as a
companion pet to those willing to learn about their pet and make a long-term
commitment to pig parenthood.
Noah's Ark Potbellied Pig Rescue and Sanctuary is not involved in breeding nor
do we encourage prospective pig owners to seek breeders to obtain their pets. We
do encourage those who would like to parent pigs to seek out a pig shelter or
humane society and adopt a pig needing a home. We have, on occasion, put people
desiring to adopt a pig in touch with shelters or families wishing to place
their pigs. We also make information available to communities that are
considering zoning changes to help them make informed decisions based on facts
about potbellied pigs rather than undocumented opinions and urban legends.
Pig Parenting Is Not For Cowards
Noah's Ark Potbellied Pig Rescue and Sanctuary.