How to Raise a Pot-Bellied Piglet
With their intelligence and good nature, pot-bellied pigs can be excellent pets, although they are as much of a time and money commitment as a dog. Raising a pot-bellied piglet is a similar process to raising a puppy. You have to provide the right diet, a suitable environment and plenty of attention. It is also advisable to house-train your piglet early.
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Things You'll Need
- Pig enclosure
- Blankets
- Food and drink bowls
- Mini-pig chow
- Litter tray
- Newspapers or pine shavings
- Children's vitamins
Instructions
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Provide a suitable space for your piglet. This could be an outdoor pen with a sheltered sleeping area, a dedicated room indoors or a section of a family room. Line the sleeping area with old blankets and sweaters as you would for a dog. In an outdoor enclosure, the shelter must be weatherproof and free from drafts. Provide plenty of straw for extra insulation. In very cold climates, an insulated shelter and possibly a heater may be necessary. Pot-bellied pigs are most comfortable at about room temperature.
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Feed the piglet a high-quality pig chow specifically for pot-bellied pigs, rather than larger breeds. Up until the piglet is a year old, it can have unlimited food. After a year, it might be necessary to restrict how much your pig gets, but check with your vet for specific feeding instructions for your pig and its lifestyle.
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Provide a large dish of fresh water. Replace the water daily.
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Arrange an appointment with a vet experienced with pigs for an initial checkup, any necessary vaccinations and to arrange spaying or neutering. Finding a suitable vet shouldn't be difficult in rural areas. If you are in or near a city, ask a pot-bellied pig breeder, an animal sanctuary or a pig group for a recommendation.
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House-train your piglet. Provide a large plastic tray, such as a cement mixing tray, lined with newspapers or pine shavings; don't use cat litter or cedar shavings, which can both be dangerous to pigs. Keep the piglet confined to one room or small area until it is toilet-trained. Place a few of its droppings in the litter tray and clean up all other messes. Walk the piglet to the litter tray every couple of hours, preferably on a schedule such as after each meal and at regular points in between. When you change the litter, retain a couple of droppings in the tray. Pigs usually learn to use a litter tray in less than a week, although piglets under 6 months may still have occasional accidents. Keep the litter tray in one place.
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Tips & Warnings
A children's vitamin crumbled into the piglet's food daily helps ensure it gets enough nutrients.
Piglets under 8 weeks old may not be weaned. No reputable breeder or animal sanctuary will sell or adopt out a piglet this young. If you end up with a very young piglet for any reason, contact your vet immediately. Goat's milk is suitable for an unweaned piglet in an emergency. Very young piglets need warmth and you should keep them inside. A covered heating pad may be used to keep a piglet warm.
References
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