I’ve loved piglets since I was a kid. Most of us agree piglets are adorable. If you are thinking about pigs as a pet let me give you the insider edition.
If you were told there was a pig out there who would stay small like a piglet and could live in your house, you’d probably be on board! The problem is I’ve had a miniature pig as a house pet, and it wasn’t all adorable moments. They also don’t stay small like a piglet.
If you are wondering what it’s like to have a mini pig as a house pet, let me share with you four reasons it’s not a good idea.
Don’t Forget to read or pin for later our super popular post- 8 Do’s and Don’ts of Life with a Mini Pig
Pigs Are Not Full Grown Until 3 Years Old
The number one reason is – pigs don’t stop growing until they are three years old.
Myself and many other pig owners go crazy over how many “micro pigs” are being sold for thousands of dollars. Let me tell you this, there is NO such thing as a micro pig. Or Teacup pig.
These small breeds of pigs are potbelly pigs. They are not teacups or anything like that. If anyone is telling you a pig will stay under x amount of pounds, its a marketing tactic called a LIE!
If you truly do want to make a go of keeping your pig in your house be mindful they are heavy and will grow until they are three years old. If you really want a pig as a pet consider checking out your local animal shelter.
You Can’t give them all your scraps.
Many new pig owners who keep their pigs in the house will end up giving their pigs all their scrapes. Why not? They are a pig and will eat anything right?
The problem with this is these pigs are not farm pigs. The goal isn’t to put a ton of weight on them for the market. They are made to live out in the wild and search for their food. When you end up giving your pig all these scrapes you get what our local animal shelter has.
A bunch of Obese pigs that no one wants to adopt. How heartbreaking is this?
Remember that they are pigs, but their needs are different than farm pigs’.
They Love Being In Nature
This leads to my next point, They love to be outdoors and exercise their natural instincts. And let me tell you they are excellent at growing their own food. Olive is in her garden!
It’s important to know if you are going to have a potbelly pig as a house pet they need an outdoor area. It’s like keeping a larger breed dog inside all the time without a chance to run.
Your pigs will need an area to root up the mud, eat grass, and look for other things to eat and stay occupied. When Bentley was in the house a treat ball was a huge help. To this day my pigs still use a treat ball in winter to keep them occupied.
These pig treats will get my piggies to do anything. They love them from Tractor supply.
For tips on how to transition your pet pig outdoors read this.
If you ever decide to put your pig outside 24/7, you will need another pig friend. Pigs are happier and healthier when they have another pig friend. It is also said pigs with the same species of friends have a better relationship with humans too.
Pigs are a herd animal and although I would imagine it’s best to have another pig I often wonder if a goat, sheep, or even a chicken would be enough to occupy it?
The thing I’ve noticed without pigs is that they love to cuddle up together when they sleep. When you adopt from our local shelter, they will not let you bring home one pig. They must be adopted in pairs, or you have a pig already.
I hope this helps you on your journey of raising mini pigs! Potbelly pigs are still my favorite animal on our farm!
Amanda
Monday 7th of August 2023
Pigs don’t stop growing until they are 5 years old.
Tasia
Wednesday 23rd of August 2023
Yes they do slow down up until then. Our pigs are now over five years old.
Kristine
Friday 4th of September 2020
Howdy! I've read a few of your articles and made some of your home products so thanks for sharing! Our family is considering bringing home a piglet around Christmas. Our friend runs a sustainable farm and breeds them sometimes. We live in Montana so it will have to be indoors at first! We do not have a large yard, but do have a very walkable neighborhood. We have two dogs (a 75 pound pitador and a 47 pound Black Mouth Cur). They are both sweet and love other animals. My hope is that they will become fast friends. Thoughts? Tips?
Tasia
Monday 7th of September 2020
Are you getting a mini pig? The Kune Kune pigs don't root up the grass so they would be a good choice too for a smaller yard. I would recommend harness training a pig early on if you are going to be taking it for walks. Pigs and dogs usually get along fine, but every situation is different. I always say to never leave the two alone unattended. Just in case.