Before getting a pig you will need to know if you can have one where you live. There are zoning laws that might not
allow you to have a pig, because pigs fall under live stock. Pigs are a big commitment when it comes to caring for them.
Pigs live as long as 15 to 20 years. Some pigs have lived as long as 25 years.
Pigs can grow as big or bigger then a pony. Even the miniature potbelly pig gets as big as a large dog. There are
different types of pigs that can weigh from 400 to over 1000 pounds. Pigs do come in different colors. So you will need
to do some research on the different species of pigs before making a decision.
Always remember that your veterinarian is your best source of information on your animal’s health care.
WATER AND FOOD:
Pigs need proper food and fresh water daily.
Your pig will need fresh clean water everyday. It is also very important to wash the water bowl out because bacteria and
algae can grow in a water bowl. Bacteria and algae can lead to health problems which can lead to a huge medical bill.
Just by taking the time and providing your pig with a clean bowl of fresh water you will help keep him or her healthy.
Water is the most important thing in any animal’s life. You will need to check their water through out the day, because
they do tip their water so they can have a lovely mud bath. It does help if you had a second water bin or a small pool of
water for them to use. Still check their water through out the day. Fresh water is very important.
You can find pig feed at a feed store. Some pet stores will carry pig feed, but most don’t. A feed store will be the place
for all your pigs needs. Pigs are omnivore; which means they eat both meat and plants. Pigs root the ground for insects
and the root of plants. Good foods to give your pig are worms, grubs, insects, acorns, nuts, apples, grains, carrots,
other vegetables. Just make sure that these are treats and that there basic diet is the pig feed from the feed store. We
use a hog maintenence pellet for our adult potbelly pigs.
Let your pig have some grazing and rooting time outside. Rooting in the dirt will help give your pig the minerals they
need.
Over feeding will kill your pig.
Pigs will eat all the food you give them and wine for more. You must make sure you do not over feed your pig. Over
weight pigs is a real problem. A pig that is over weigh has a lot of health problems. Too much food is a big no, no. don’t
give into your pigs demands for more food. As we say at the ranch, "Never trust a pig to tell you if they are hungry!"
Potbelly pigs lack the trigger in their brains to tell them STOP EATING. They will eat themselves to death. We feed 1
cup of pig maintenence pellets per potbelly pig daily. The remainder of their food is about 1/2 a gallon of vegetable
matter. This could be alfalfa cubes, veggie trimmings, etc. Squash and pumpkins are greatly relished! I will offer a
whole large pumpkin with holes cracked in by an axe. The pigs demolish it!
Poison plants
Pigs will eat almost any plant that is around. So it is very important that you keep any kind of poison plant out of your
pig’s reach or just get rid of the plant all together. Pigs are very smart and will find a way to get what they want.
DON’T FEED YOUR PIG:
Dog food or cat food
Chocolate
People food
These foods do cause health problems.
HOUSING BEDDING AND SHELTER:
Pigs need a dry warm place to sleep. Housing a pig depends on if their going to be an inside or an outside pig.
Inside pig
Pigs that are living in your home with you will need a sleeping box. If your pig was still in the wild it would find of make a
burrow to sleep in. A wooden box feels just like a burrow. Some people buy a large dog crate for their pig. Be sure to
put blankets and pillows in the box or crate for them. Pigs do get cold with no fur. Your pig will tear and shed their
blankets and pillows until they get their bedding just right. Pigs are nesting animals. Cleaning their bedding can be a bit
tricky, most of the time you will be replacing it. But their bedding needs to be cleaned every two weeks at the longest.
We buy blankets at garage sales all year for our pigs!
Your pig will need a rooting box; that is a toy box. A rooting box is a great place to hide pig treats for your pig. Pigs in
the wild spend most of there day rooting. Pigs need something to do; because of how intelligent they are they can
become bored. You will also need to pig proof your house or they will get into everything. Pigs can be very destructive.
So it’s a good idea to have things around the house to keep your pig busy.
A inside pig can be house trained like a dog. Some people have even paper trained their pigs.
Pigs need to go outside for gracing and rooting every day. Pigs will eat any plants you have in the backyard, so making
a pin or fencing off your gardens will be a must.
Pigs love to roll in the mud. Pigs in the wild use mud to protect their skin from the sun and insect bites. So it’s a good
idea to make place for a mud pit for your pig. There is nothing like a good old fashion mud bath. Before letting your pig
back into the house, get the hose out.
You will also need to get a kids pool for your pig. Pools and mud help your pig to stay cool on hot summer days. Pig’s
love pools as much as a mud bath.
Outside pigs
A pig that lives outside will need shelter from the weather. A barn, a shed, or a big dog house will work for your pig. The
shelter needs to warm and dry with no drafts. There needs to be a flap on the entrance to the shelter. A flap will keep
the wind out. The pig will need bedding like hay, a blanket, sheets or a rug to help keep your pig warm. Pigs don’t have
fur.
You will need a strong fencing because pigs are very strong and do try to break out of their pins. Because pigs are a
rooting animal they do dig under a fence, or root up a fence from the ground, so you will need to have something about
3 feet into the ground. The best thing to do is to have a concrete boarder about 4 feet into the ground around the pin.
But not everyone can do this. Some people use wood or chicken wire. Feed stores do provide hog panels which was
made for pigs. At the rescue our hog pens are made from hog panels, or wooden panels. Pasture for hogs is fenced
in with safe electric poly tape.
You will need to provide your pig with a mud hole, a small pool, and something that will provide shade. The mud hole is
the easiest to have, all it is dirt and water. The small kiddy pools work perfect for your pig and they love them. For
shade buy a big tree or build a lean-to. Shade is important on hot days. Pigs don’t sweat and need help with keeping
cool. The mud is great to help with insect bites. Pigs do need their mud, pool and shade.
It is important to have a place for your pig’s food and water. You will need something that won’t be so easy to knock
over. Pigs tip their bowls.
VETERINARIAN, SHOTS, HEALTH:
One of the first things you should do when you first get a pig is set a veterinarian appointment and gives the pig a
complete check up.
Pigs have dry sensitive skin so it’s not a bad idea to use sun screen on them. Pigs will need moisturizers. You will need
to take good care of your pig’s skin.
The biggest health problem is overweight; please don’t over feed your pigs.
There is a problem in finding a veterinarian for your pig. Most veterinarians will not treat pigs. So you will need to get on
the phone and find one that will. It is important because pigs do need to have their vaccinations.
If you can’t find a veterinarian then you will need to learn how to give the pig its vaccinations and anything else it will
need. You will find these shot at feed stores. Make sure you bring a cooler with ice in it. Vaccinations need to be kept
cool until they are used. Also check the date on the vaccinations. There are a lot of great books out there about the
health your pig.
If your pet is showing any signs of distress or you suspect your pet is seriously ill, CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN
immediately.
SPAYED OR NEUTERED:
It is heart breaking when a pig has to be killed because a home can not be found for it. Please spay or neuter your pig
so here are no more unwanted pigs.
Spaying or neutering your pig will help in some behavior problems.
There also health benefits for your female pigs when getting them fixed.
GROOMING AND BATHING:
You only bath your pig once a month because their skin can become so dry. Over shampoo your pig can cause
problems with your pig’s skin. Be very picky about the kind of shampoo you use on your pig. Shampoo that moisturizes
the skin is what you’re looking for. This is one thing that you should ask your veterinarian about.
You should brush your pig every day. Your pig will love you for it. Because pigs have dry skin a good brushing feeling
like a great back scratching. Scratching is a better reward for your pig then food.
You need to trim you pig’s hooves. It is not an easy thing to do. Pigs hate having their hooves trim; they act like you are
killing them. No, it does not hurt; trimming their hooves is like trimming our nails.
Pig’s need their tucks cut to prevent them from over growing; they can become very long. In some breeds of pigs a tuck
will grow right into their upper jaw or into their skull.
Cleaning a pig’s ears is a ‘must’. Mites will get into the pigs ears and cause all kinds of problems.
Grooming is a good time to check over your pig for any health problem or wounds.
PLAY TIME AND TOYS:
Pigs can become bored very easily, and a bored pig is a destructive pig. Pigs can be very destructive because they are
very strong. Pigs are very intelligent animals so it’s no wonder that they can easy become bored. So, it is very important
to have toys and activities on a daily bases. It will also keep your pig mentally healthy and save your home from being
destroyed.
A rooting box is great way for your pig to earn its treats.
Most people think a ball is just for dogs but pigs love playing ball. So get a pig ball for your pig to push around.
News paper is a fun toy for your pig to shred apart.
Some people make their own toys for their pigs and others buy pig toys.
A great activity to do with your pig’s food or treats is to hide them in the yard then let your pig try to find them. This
activity is a natural behavior for your pig. Worms are a great treat for this activity.
One man made a toy for their pig in the back yard. He made his pigs a punching bag. It was hung from a tree with some
strong rope. It hung very low to the ground. His pigs would play it for hours.
It is a good idea to take your pig for a walk on a daily bases, just make sure he or she doesn’t get into your neighbor
front yard to have a snack.
Pigs will let you know what their favor toy is as you try different thing with your pig. Some pigs will love the ball and
others will love a pile of new paper. No matter what your pig likes and doesn’t like your pig does need something to do
on a daily base; it might save your home from ‘destructive bored pig syndrome’.
TRAINING:
The first you will need to do is gain your pigs trust. It will take time for your pig to get to know you. Then using positive
reinforcement and patients will help you in training your pig.
Being consistent is the key to training any animal even pigs.
It is important to train your pig so that you can give them the proper care they need. A pig that is not train is very hard
to trim hooves or check how their health is doing. If you have a house pig he or she really needs to know where they
can go to the bathroom.
Training your pig keeps him or her mentally healthy as learning keeps boredom away. Plus training your pig will help
your bond with your pig grow stronger.
Pigs can be trained in walking on a leash, house trained, and tricks.
Food is a good way to help you train your pig. Instead of putting your pig's food in a bowl hand feed your pig. Please do
not over feed your pig as overfeeding causes health problems. A good scratching or rub down will also help in training
your pig. Pigs love a good scratch.
If your pig has a favorite toy use it as a reward when training your pig.
If you just keep working with your pig every day you will notice a different and see your work paying off
The training does not happen overnight it takes time.
COMPANIONSHIP:
Pigs are a herd animal so companionship is a must. It is a good idea to have more then one pig. Pigs love the company
of their own kind. They are going to be skirmishes in the beginning as they decide who runs the show. Only one pig can
be top pig. Pigs need to establish a hierarchy.
BEFORE YOU GET YOUR PIG
Make sure that you got everything on your list.
Your shopping list:
Heavy bowls for food and water or troves
Shelter/housing
Good strong fencing
Pig chow/food
Water
Small pool
Harness with leash
Lean-to for shade
Kennel carrier for transporting
Toys
Rooting box
Soft brush
Moisturizer or humectants for pig’s dry skin
Blankets
Hay
Tools for trimming hooves and tusks
Find out if there are any veterinarians that handle pigs.
ONE LAST TIP…
The whole family should help in the care of a pig.
There are many great books that give more detail on the proper care of pigs. This web page only gives the basic on pig
care. You will need a book on pigs that provides more detail information.
| PotBelly Pig Care Sheet Pictured is rescue ambassador Oasis and her friend Thistle. Thistle was a little orphan potbelly who volunteers bottle raised. She kept tripping on grass so Oasis held her up. I wish all friends could be so loyal! |