How to Raise a Pig in Your Backyard: What You Need to Know

From the Three Little Pigs to Babe and Wilbur, pigs have prolonged been beloved characters from our favorite books, cartoons, and flicks. So it’s no shock that followers of these cute little piggies would wish their very private porky companion. On this text, we’ll be going over all of the issues that you simply simply’ll have to seek out out about improve a pig in your yard!

1. Know Your Native Authorized tips

At the start, it’s time to evaluation up in your native authorized tips. Determining whether or not or not or not it’s licensed so as to private a pig the place you reside is the preliminary deciding problem. In some areas, it’s illegal to private a pig if you reside inside metropolis limits. In others, it is doable you may private a pig if you keep in town, nevertheless with restrictions.

For further data, the American Mini Pig Affiliation has a terrific article addressing native pig proudly proudly owning and zoning authorized tips.

2. Ample Space to Roam

On absolutely the minimal, your pig must have at least 10 sq. toes of home to walk spherical in – nevertheless we don’t primarily recommend this. In relation to livestock, the larger your yard, the upper. Should you occur to remain throughout the suburbs and your yard is sufficiently huge for a medium to large canine, then it’s best to have sufficient home to raise a single pig.

Fairly the other, if you keep throughout the nation, it’s best to spend further effort on providing a much bigger pen in your pet pig. A pen that is half an acre to an acre may very well be an beautiful enclosure for a pig to walk and roll spherical in – and it’s possible you’ll presumably add a pair further pig companions to the world afterward, down the freeway.

3. Shelter for Your Yard Pig

As with all animal, pigs need shelter to take care of them from being uncovered to harsh environmental parts and potential predators. Pigs are woefully delicate to extreme local weather conditions, whether or not or not or not it is heat spells or freezing temperatures. It’s essential that you simply simply current them with a stall that is correctly ventilated for hotter days nevertheless can defend from wind and snow all through winter.

Pink pigs are moreover delicate to overexposure to the photo voltaic and should get sunburned pretty merely. Numerous these pigs will need shade from timber, along with a manmade shelter.

Complete, the proper shelter will likely be achieved with a straightforward 3-walled shed or small, enclosed barn if it’s doable for you. Though, throughout the winter, it is doable you may must take additional precautions to take care of your pig toasty. Which brings us to our subsequent “how-to”…

4. Bedding

Providing your pig with adequate bedding will help preserve them warmth and comfortable as they keep their lives throughout the Good Outdoors. Pig bedding usually consists of huge clumps of straw gathered in a single nook of the stall.

Not like horses, cows, chickens, goats, and creatures of the like, pigs are comparatively clear animals (no matter how they’re usually portrayed throughout the ideas’s eye). When a pig’s bedding is positioned in a single nook of their dwelling area, they’ll steer clear of messing their resting place up with waste. As a substitute, they’ll head elsewhere to utilize the piggy porta potty.

That is good news for every you and your pig pal since you obtained’t have to modify their bedding each single day they often obtained’t be awoken from their nap as you obtain this.

5. Fencing

No matter what many may think, pigs are actually comparatively wise creatures and may merely slip through improper fencing. Should you occur to find out to take care of your pigs in a small enclosure of roughly 10 sq. toes (which we don’t recommend – notably for pet pigs) then your best guess for fencing is also hog panels.

Alternatively, if you decide to cope with your pigs on further land, {an electrical} fence shall be inexpensive, look further visually attention-grabbing than hog panels, and may efficiently deter your pigs from getting too close to the perimeter of their enclosure.

In actual fact, every fencing methods are extraordinarily environment friendly at defending pigs the place you want them. It primarily comes down to non-public alternative.

The subsequent fencing does good when paired with a picket physique:

Ultimate exchange on 2025-03-28 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Footage from Amazon Product Selling API

---

6. Feeding Your Pig

Pigs are gluttonous creatures. And every time they eat, they create an entire new which suggests to being in hog heaven.

These chubby little fellas will pretty really eat all of the issues they will get their stubby little snout on along with every meat and plant merchandise. They’ll even eat garbage within the occasion that they uncover any lying spherical. Nevertheless just because pigs are opportunistic eaters, doesn’t suggest that they should eat one thing and all of the issues.

A nutritious food regimen is solely as important to your pet pig as to each different pet, though they is perhaps distinctive of their ability to course of in some other case harmful meals objects. A consuming routine that is extreme in fiber and low in meat and sugar is without doubt one of the greatest.

Fruits and Veggies for Pigs

As we talked about above, a consuming routine consisting of low sugar is most helpful to pigs. So everytime you go to feed your pig expiring fruits, guarantee to not load them down with fruits consisting of extreme sugar content material materials.

Listed below are just some fruit and veggies which is perhaps okay for pigs to eat:

• Broccoli (cooked)
• Darkish leafy greens
• Potatoes (cooked)
• Carrots
• Pumpkins
• Oranges
• Apples
• Squash
• Zucchini
• Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew)

Pig Pellets

On account of searching for current fruit and veggies can positively get expensive, you presumably can choose to include pig pellets into your pet’s consuming routine to save lots of money. Often, any type of pig feed will do for domesticated pig species. Nonetheless, there are some feeds which is perhaps notably made with a number of varieties of pigs in ideas (Potbellied pigs and Mini pigs, as an example – we’ll go over these in extra depth, afterward).

An superior feed for Mini pigs, and for domesticated pigs basic, is the Modesto Milling Pure Pig Feed:

Ultimate exchange on 2025-03-28 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Footage from Amazon Product Selling API

---

One different feed we advise that is notably good for Potbellied pigs is the Manna Skilled Potbellied Pig Feed:

Ultimate exchange on 2025-03-28 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Footage from Amazon Product Selling API

---

And if the above two choices merely don’t decrease it for you, you presumably can always discover and purchase a superb pig feed at your native farm present or pet present retailer.

Troughs

It goes with out saying that domesticated pigs need a delegated area for his or her meals and water.

Troughs may be utilized for every water and meals and are usually positioned on the fence or positioned on the underside. Make sure, notably all through extreme local weather conditions, to wash and alter the troughs usually to steer clear of algae, mould, or totally different unappetizing outcomes of slacking upkeep.

We recommend troughs that could be clipped or screwed onto fencing. This ensures that the troughs can’t be scattered, tipped over, or contaminated by feces, mud, or something {{that a}} pig’s physique may introduce to a low-lying feeder or waterer.

This pack of two troughs (for meals and water) is our favorite:

Ultimate exchange on 2025-03-28 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Footage from Amazon Product Selling API

---

A Phrase of Warning

Though pigs look cute and harmless as they chow down, they’re really terribly dangerous if you get too shut. Not loads concerning assaults or aggressive habits, nevertheless comparatively on account of pigs are ravenous after they eat and obtained’t ideas within the occasion that they’re chewing on a carrot or your finger.

There have been circumstances of farmers dropping their fingers by putting their hand too close to the trough whereas the pigs had been consuming, so be cautious of your surroundings as you pour slop or pig pellets.

7. Veterinary Care

Like every totally different pet, pigs will need entry to veterinary care. They’ll need footage and to be positioned on a deworming schedule just like a canine or a cat, so anticipate to spend an sincere amount all through your first few vet visits after selecting up your piglet.

It’s essential to additionally take into consideration whether or not or not or not it’s best to spay or neuter your pet pig. You most likely have a number of pig of the opposite intercourse, we extraordinarily recommend that you simply simply spay or neuter them after they’re of a safe age to steer clear of any undesirable litters.

Maintain tabs in your pig’s veterinary visits and nicely being information merely in case you need any medical data for startling future vet visits as a consequence of sudden illness or hurt.

8. Must You Elevate a Pig Indoors?

Pigs can really do very correctly when raised indoors. They are going to use a doggy door to go exterior or warn you every time they need to exit, they will eat and drink from indoor troughs, and should even sleep in a giant kennel as any canine or totally different frequent indoor pet would.

In actual fact, all of this comes from teaching (similar to you’ll a canine) and can take some time for them to get used to not using the bathroom in your home, learning directions and the place to go once they want out, and so forth.

Complete, that’s one different a form of points that fall all the best way right down to alternative. Pigs are comparatively clear animals and don’t have a tremendous pure odor so many people do decide to take care of them indoors. Nonetheless, they do super out of doors, as correctly. It’s possible you’ll even depart them exterior for primarily essentially the most half and convey them in at night or in the midst of the winter.

9. Deciding on Which Pig is Correct for You

Often, there are two sorts of pigs that make top-of-the-line pets; they’re the Pot-Bellied Pigs, and Kune Kune Pigs. Let’s take a look at each individually:

Pot-Bellied Pigs

Pot-Bellied Pigs are super chubby and cute (and our favorite, if you couldn’t inform). They’re pretty docile and do correctly when raised spherical totally different pets and livestock and should even do correctly indoors alongside canine and be potty expert.

Pot-Bellied Pigs are moreover pretty small in dimension as compared with pigs used for meat, which can rise as much as 600 or further kilos; weighing at roughly 100 kilos. They’ve temporary legs, and their bellies dangle close to the underside for his or her whole grownup lives, and in case your pig happens to show into pregnant, her abdomen may even drag the underside as she walks.

They’re typically black in coloration with saggy jowls, shorter ears, and a shorter snout.

KuneKune Pigs

Well-known for his or her odd, nevertheless cute, coloration, KuneKune Pigs are the second type of pig principally used as pets.

Their coloring varies further extensively than Potbellied Pigs and comprises black, cream, seen, brown or crimson and their hair will likely be straight, curly or wavy in texture. They often weigh a bit better than Potbellied Pigs, spherical 132 kilos or barely further, nevertheless their physique’s assemble is analogous in that they are short-legged with smaller ears, small eyes, and a quick black snout.

KuneKune pigs are moreover extraordinarily docile and do correctly when paired with totally different farm or pet animals of a peaceable demeanor. Like most pet pigs, KuneKunes will likely be potty and residential expert if you do decide to take care of them indoors. KuneKune Pigs are moreover incredible meat pigs.

The Cons of Elevating a Pig in Your Yard

• You’ll get related to your pigs. Should you occur to’re elevating your pigs for meat, do not forget that you simply’ll doable get related to them and harm to see them off to the slaughterhouse.
• And by no means solely that nevertheless sending them to slaughter will likely be expensive. So not solely will your pigs be breaking your coronary coronary heart, nevertheless they might be breaking your monetary establishment concurrently.
• Even the small ones will likely be pretty heavy. And in case you’ve gotten infants that favor to run spherical your pets, it might very nicely be significantly dangerous within the occasion that they get trampled.
• And by no means solely are they heavy, nevertheless they’re crazy sturdy. If it is good to get administration of a rogue pig, good luck. It’s going to be a nightmare to do by your self. A pig that is attempting to get away, usually will besides met with a strain of some males. They are going to moreover bust through fencing, depart nasty bites, and bruise you up a bit – to not level out your totally different animals if a situation goes awry.
• Elevating a litter isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Mama Pig will not want you coming anyplace near her infants, and if you happen to grab one, it’s possible you’ll get chased – oh, and the piglet will scream bloody murder your full time.

The Benefits of Elevating a Pig

• Pigs will eat what your youngsters obtained’t. In case your child doesn’t like carrots, slip the pig a carrot beneath the desk. You most likely have leftovers sitting throughout the fridge on account of no person will eat them, give them to the pig. As we talked about earlier, pigs will usually eat one thing, making them dwelling recycling bins.
• Pigs aren’t needy pets. Not like some pets, pigs don’t really require all that loads upkeep. Meals, clear water, shelter, bedding, and a pair pats every now and again and your pig shall be as happy as… correctly… a pig in mud.
• They’re merely plain, old style gratifying. No matter what some may think, pigs are playful creatures that have the benefit of interacting with people and totally different animals, like canine. If nothing else, you and your youngsters are positive to get a kick out of elevating a pig – and the canine may merely uncover a brand new best pal.
• They are going to type so loads higher than store-bought pork. Everytime you improve your private pigs for meat, notably KuneKune Pigs, they usually type so loads higher than pork that has been raised in mass manufacturing. It’s since you presumably can farm them in a far more pure methodology, feeding them nutrient-dense meals.
• You can shortly get your a refund – and additional. Everytime you buy two or further pigs, you presumably can each promote them for meat or improve litters to advertise to totally different pig lovers.
• Their manure makes for good yard fertilizer. You most likely have flower beds or develop your private produce, the manure your pigs generate will assist to fertilize and nurture your vegetation.

Final Concepts

Elevating a pig or pigs in your yard is often a satisfying and incredible experience in your full family. Ensure you have the proper shelter, an sincere amount of home in your pig or pigs to roam, sufficient meals and water sources, and entry to veterinary take care of emergencies and nicely being checkups. It’s important to note that pet pigs, even these which is perhaps smaller in dimension, are nonetheless heavy and highly effective and should pose a menace to bodily wellbeing, even when it’s solely a minor one.

On the good facet, though, they’re extraordinarily wise and will likely be raised indoors with out state of affairs. Moreover they usually do correctly when housed alongside totally different livestock or pets, notably canine, and are usually playful and loveable creatures. And, other than the stereotype, they’re comparatively clear animals that favor to separate their dwelling quarters from their restroom.

We hope we had been able to give you some notion into improve a pig in your yard!

Throughout the phrases of Porky Pig, “That’s All Of us!”.