All the info your piggy lovin' heart desires!
Pigs are social animals that would normally live in a herd, so they really enjoy being with their people and with other animals. Snuggles, belly rubs, sunbathing and rooting around are some of our pigs' favorite things. Owning a pig is a huge commitment, much like owning a dog. They require time, attention and training. Julianas run around the house wagging their tails, raise up their mohawks when the scratches feel good, and flop over when you rub their belly. Feel free to ask us any questions; we will happily tell you all we've learned from owning pigs.
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Q: What does "Tea Cup Pig" or "Micro Mini Pig" mean?
A: It is simply a term used to describe a piglets size AT BIRTH. There is absolutely NO such thing as an Adult Tea Cup or Micro Mini. We like to keep things REALLY REAL around here and we would never want to mis-inform anyone of anything just for a "sale". We do what we do to properly educate others on mini pigs and always want piglets to be accepted into a family for life. Sharing correct information and setting realistic expectations is the best way to accomplish this goal.
Did you know that pigs can get pregnant at 3 months old? ALWAYS make sure you are buying from a breeder that has papers on their adult so you can confirm their age. An ethical breeder will not breed a pig until they are over the age of 2, for the health of the pig, piglets and the reputation of their breeding program. (Note: We will NEVER breed a pig under the age of 2 for ANY reason).
How big do they get?
This is probably the most frequently asked question. The short answer is they will be about 13-17" tall. The long answer is that we need to take into consideration genetics, environment and terminology A "mini pig" simply means that they are not a commercial farm pig. Mini pig is a term that is used for ANY pig weighing less than 300 pounds. Anything over 300+ pounds is considered a farm (meat) pig. A pig can grow for up to 3-5 years.
*Our adult pigs still cuddle up to us and are small enough to sit on our laps. There are some that we DO carry around with us when needed - because they are spoiled and loved and we enjoy it.
Genetics: There is natural variation in size among offspring in any species, and offspring are not always going to end up the exact same size as their parents. Similar to humans.
Environment: Pigs will be pigs, that is, they will eat whatever is available to them and have a tendency towards being overweight. Weight is greatly affected by diet and exercise in any species of animals. So to say that all pigs that are 14" tall will weight the same amount is unrealistic. Juliana pigs should have a long lean appearance, and should NOT have a pot belly or heavy jowls!
Diet: A healthy diet is a must for any pig regardless of breed. Pigs have a much slower metabolism than many other animals, thus resulting in rapid weight gain if not fed a healthy proportion of feed daily. They are not likely to burn calories therefore they can become overweight quickly and carrying that extra weight is not good for the joints or bone structure. You should never see a mini pig with heavy jowls or a fat eyebrow roll. Likewise, underfeeding to keep them small is cruel and dangerous for their health. You should never see hips jutting out.
ADDITIONAL FAQS:
Q: Male or female? Differences? Which ones make better pets?
A: Both males and females make equally as good pets, so long as they are spayed or neutered. ANY intact pig will not make good pets and cannot live in the house. In my opinion, the piglets vary more in individual personality than in gender. Some males are more snugly, some are more confident, others tend to be more shy. Same goes for females. Even within the same litter of all females, you will see a big difference between them in temperament. Any intact pig (male or female) will exhibit destructive behavior issues when they are in heat... males being all the time and females every 3 weeks. It is not recommended that you ever have an intact pig inside your home.
Q: Do they get along with other animals like dogs and cats?
A: Yes!! Pigs do fabulously with cats and dogs. They will snuggle and interact with other pets very readily. Most of my piglets go to homes with other pets and within a few days in their new home I am getting pictures of the pig sharing a bed with the dog. Just make sure that you never leave them together unattended.
Q: Are pigs expensive to keep and maintain?
A: No, not at all. Feed is about $10 for a 25 lb bag and the litter (pine pellets) comes in a big 40 lb bag for about $5. Vetting for pigs through a large animal clinic tends to be more affordable than for cats or dogs too. While the purchase price is high, the maintenance cost is really very minimal.
Q: What about vaccinations?
A: There is no standard vaccination protocol for miniature pigs. NOTE: Pigs do NOT need a Rabies shot ever!
There are plenty of swine vaccinations, yes, but they were all developed for commercial swine and many of them are not relevant to a single pig living indoors. I encourage all of our adoptive families to talk to their own vet to decide which vaccinations would be necessary based on location, exposure to other animals and wildlife, travel, etc. Pigs that are rooting around in the ground do require regular deworming. I personally use Ivomec twice a year, which takes care of intestinal parasites as well as mites. They also snack on garlic and organic pumpkin regularly which keeps everything balanced.
Q: Is having a piglet like having a puppy? (NOTE: Dogs and pigs should never be left together unattended).
A: No. The biggest difference between pigs and dogs is that pigs are naturally PREY animals, whereas dogs are predators. Fight or flight, pigs will choose flight every time, run away from anything scary. So whereas puppies are naturally very friendly and come right up to new people from the time they're able to walk, a piglet's natural instinct is to be afraid and run. That said, pigs are VERY food motivated so it is easy to overcome this natural fear. Just takes some time and patience, plus they naturally outgrow it when they are raised around humans. This food motivation also comes in handy for training a pig!
Potty training is much like potty training a puppy; you can crate train them like a dog and teach them to go outside to potty, or you can have them use a litter box. Remember that as babies, they cannot hold it as long as an adult, so they will need to go outside or visit the litter box more often.
Q: Do they squeal a lot? How do you get them to stop?
A: In general, no, but it depends on the pig. As piglets, they will squeal when they are scared. This is normal! If they squeal when picked up, just hold onto them until they calm down and are quiet, then set them down. Do NOT set them down when they squeal!! Setting them down when they are being loud will reinforce the bad behavior. If a pig knows that it can get away with something, it will do it over and over again. Again, being prey animals, they are naturally a little fearful and don't like being picked up. You can teach them that being picked up is a good thing by following these tip.... Reward your pig for being quiet, either with a treat or setting them down. Hold them snugly up against your body so that the feet are not dangling; this will make them feel more secure. Routine is key! If you pick your pick up regularly and make it part of the daily routine, the pig will accept it. Holding them in a blanket helps a lot.
Q: Indoors or outdoors? Where to keep my pig?
A: Both or either. Pigs love sunshine and don't care much for the cold. They can live indoors but enjoy going outside now and then too. If they are going to live outside full time, they will need shelter and depending on the temperature, a heat source. Our pigs have an indoor/outdoor barn for the summer which transitions into an indoor only space with a heater for the winter. Our indoor pig has a large dog bed and access to the outdoors for play time and exercise.
Q: What is the purchase price of a piglet? Do you have any piglets for sale? How do I get one?
A: CLICK HERE
BASIC CARE
Bedding: Pigs love blankets and beds, especially the ones with the bolster edges for them to cuddle up into.
Litter box: Under the bed storage container works great.
Litter: Pelletized pine, made for horse stalls, is the way to go. Just a thin layer, enough to cover the bottom of the tray. No kitty litter!!
Food: Prince Mini Pig or Nutrena food plus fruits or veggies. Yogurt or Cheerios are great for treats! Grazing on grass is nice too and some pigs like a bit of hay. Mazuri Mini pig food is easy to come by, but doesn't offer the best in nutrition. Think of it like Ole' Roy dog food in comparison. You might end up with a larger pig, rust in the corners of eyes and stinky poo, but at the end of the day you piggy will be just fine.
Dry skin: Pigs are prone to dry skin, so you can rub them with coconut oil if the skin is flaky. Coconut oil can also be fed to the pig for a nice coat. Frozen dollops of coconut oil is a great treat on a hot summer day. You can also purchase a moisturizing piggy lotion made just for pigs through our farm. (The piggy lotion we make is also perfect for human use too).
Hooves: Hooves can be trimmed with a pair of horse trimming shears or goat hooves trimmers from the farm store. Just trim around the edges. Not into the quick. This is nothing something you will find yourself needing do regularly, just when needed. The vet can do this for you and there are also YouTube videos that are helpful.
--------------------------------------
Q: What does "Tea Cup Pig" or "Micro Mini Pig" mean?
A: It is simply a term used to describe a piglets size AT BIRTH. There is absolutely NO such thing as an Adult Tea Cup or Micro Mini. We like to keep things REALLY REAL around here and we would never want to mis-inform anyone of anything just for a "sale". We do what we do to properly educate others on mini pigs and always want piglets to be accepted into a family for life. Sharing correct information and setting realistic expectations is the best way to accomplish this goal.
Did you know that pigs can get pregnant at 3 months old? ALWAYS make sure you are buying from a breeder that has papers on their adult so you can confirm their age. An ethical breeder will not breed a pig until they are over the age of 2, for the health of the pig, piglets and the reputation of their breeding program. (Note: We will NEVER breed a pig under the age of 2 for ANY reason).
How big do they get?
This is probably the most frequently asked question. The short answer is they will be about 13-17" tall. The long answer is that we need to take into consideration genetics, environment and terminology A "mini pig" simply means that they are not a commercial farm pig. Mini pig is a term that is used for ANY pig weighing less than 300 pounds. Anything over 300+ pounds is considered a farm (meat) pig. A pig can grow for up to 3-5 years.
*Our adult pigs still cuddle up to us and are small enough to sit on our laps. There are some that we DO carry around with us when needed - because they are spoiled and loved and we enjoy it.
Genetics: There is natural variation in size among offspring in any species, and offspring are not always going to end up the exact same size as their parents. Similar to humans.
Environment: Pigs will be pigs, that is, they will eat whatever is available to them and have a tendency towards being overweight. Weight is greatly affected by diet and exercise in any species of animals. So to say that all pigs that are 14" tall will weight the same amount is unrealistic. Juliana pigs should have a long lean appearance, and should NOT have a pot belly or heavy jowls!
Diet: A healthy diet is a must for any pig regardless of breed. Pigs have a much slower metabolism than many other animals, thus resulting in rapid weight gain if not fed a healthy proportion of feed daily. They are not likely to burn calories therefore they can become overweight quickly and carrying that extra weight is not good for the joints or bone structure. You should never see a mini pig with heavy jowls or a fat eyebrow roll. Likewise, underfeeding to keep them small is cruel and dangerous for their health. You should never see hips jutting out.
ADDITIONAL FAQS:
Q: Male or female? Differences? Which ones make better pets?
A: Both males and females make equally as good pets, so long as they are spayed or neutered. ANY intact pig will not make good pets and cannot live in the house. In my opinion, the piglets vary more in individual personality than in gender. Some males are more snugly, some are more confident, others tend to be more shy. Same goes for females. Even within the same litter of all females, you will see a big difference between them in temperament. Any intact pig (male or female) will exhibit destructive behavior issues when they are in heat... males being all the time and females every 3 weeks. It is not recommended that you ever have an intact pig inside your home.
Q: Do they get along with other animals like dogs and cats?
A: Yes!! Pigs do fabulously with cats and dogs. They will snuggle and interact with other pets very readily. Most of my piglets go to homes with other pets and within a few days in their new home I am getting pictures of the pig sharing a bed with the dog. Just make sure that you never leave them together unattended.
Q: Are pigs expensive to keep and maintain?
A: No, not at all. Feed is about $10 for a 25 lb bag and the litter (pine pellets) comes in a big 40 lb bag for about $5. Vetting for pigs through a large animal clinic tends to be more affordable than for cats or dogs too. While the purchase price is high, the maintenance cost is really very minimal.
Q: What about vaccinations?
A: There is no standard vaccination protocol for miniature pigs. NOTE: Pigs do NOT need a Rabies shot ever!
There are plenty of swine vaccinations, yes, but they were all developed for commercial swine and many of them are not relevant to a single pig living indoors. I encourage all of our adoptive families to talk to their own vet to decide which vaccinations would be necessary based on location, exposure to other animals and wildlife, travel, etc. Pigs that are rooting around in the ground do require regular deworming. I personally use Ivomec twice a year, which takes care of intestinal parasites as well as mites. They also snack on garlic and organic pumpkin regularly which keeps everything balanced.
Q: Is having a piglet like having a puppy? (NOTE: Dogs and pigs should never be left together unattended).
A: No. The biggest difference between pigs and dogs is that pigs are naturally PREY animals, whereas dogs are predators. Fight or flight, pigs will choose flight every time, run away from anything scary. So whereas puppies are naturally very friendly and come right up to new people from the time they're able to walk, a piglet's natural instinct is to be afraid and run. That said, pigs are VERY food motivated so it is easy to overcome this natural fear. Just takes some time and patience, plus they naturally outgrow it when they are raised around humans. This food motivation also comes in handy for training a pig!
Potty training is much like potty training a puppy; you can crate train them like a dog and teach them to go outside to potty, or you can have them use a litter box. Remember that as babies, they cannot hold it as long as an adult, so they will need to go outside or visit the litter box more often.
Q: Do they squeal a lot? How do you get them to stop?
A: In general, no, but it depends on the pig. As piglets, they will squeal when they are scared. This is normal! If they squeal when picked up, just hold onto them until they calm down and are quiet, then set them down. Do NOT set them down when they squeal!! Setting them down when they are being loud will reinforce the bad behavior. If a pig knows that it can get away with something, it will do it over and over again. Again, being prey animals, they are naturally a little fearful and don't like being picked up. You can teach them that being picked up is a good thing by following these tip.... Reward your pig for being quiet, either with a treat or setting them down. Hold them snugly up against your body so that the feet are not dangling; this will make them feel more secure. Routine is key! If you pick your pick up regularly and make it part of the daily routine, the pig will accept it. Holding them in a blanket helps a lot.
Q: Indoors or outdoors? Where to keep my pig?
A: Both or either. Pigs love sunshine and don't care much for the cold. They can live indoors but enjoy going outside now and then too. If they are going to live outside full time, they will need shelter and depending on the temperature, a heat source. Our pigs have an indoor/outdoor barn for the summer which transitions into an indoor only space with a heater for the winter. Our indoor pig has a large dog bed and access to the outdoors for play time and exercise.
Q: What is the purchase price of a piglet? Do you have any piglets for sale? How do I get one?
A: CLICK HERE
BASIC CARE
Bedding: Pigs love blankets and beds, especially the ones with the bolster edges for them to cuddle up into.
Litter box: Under the bed storage container works great.
Litter: Pelletized pine, made for horse stalls, is the way to go. Just a thin layer, enough to cover the bottom of the tray. No kitty litter!!
Food: Prince Mini Pig or Nutrena food plus fruits or veggies. Yogurt or Cheerios are great for treats! Grazing on grass is nice too and some pigs like a bit of hay. Mazuri Mini pig food is easy to come by, but doesn't offer the best in nutrition. Think of it like Ole' Roy dog food in comparison. You might end up with a larger pig, rust in the corners of eyes and stinky poo, but at the end of the day you piggy will be just fine.
Dry skin: Pigs are prone to dry skin, so you can rub them with coconut oil if the skin is flaky. Coconut oil can also be fed to the pig for a nice coat. Frozen dollops of coconut oil is a great treat on a hot summer day. You can also purchase a moisturizing piggy lotion made just for pigs through our farm. (The piggy lotion we make is also perfect for human use too).
Hooves: Hooves can be trimmed with a pair of horse trimming shears or goat hooves trimmers from the farm store. Just trim around the edges. Not into the quick. This is nothing something you will find yourself needing do regularly, just when needed. The vet can do this for you and there are also YouTube videos that are helpful.
