At What Age Can You Take Piglets from Mom?

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drdoolittle

drdoolittle

Crowing
13 Years
Jul 30, 2010
1,408
53
291
NE Indiana
As some of you know, one of my pot belly pigs had 3 babies last Friday. I already advertised them for sale on CL and hoobly, and in a local paper. I did say they wouldn't be ready until December 16----although I think they could go as soon as they start eating the mini pig pellets. However, I had a young woman call tonight and ask if I would sell her one tomorrow because she wants one young enough to bottle-feed. She then told me she has 2 older piglets, "Which aren't pets, we're selling them." I asked her how old they were and she said 12 weeks. They're selling them because they got them when they were too old to bottle-feed----but when I asked how old they were when she got them, she replied, "12 weeks". What?!? I'm sorry, but I don't feel comfortable with selling a piglet that young. What are everyone's thoughts on this?
 
Personally I wouldn't sell to her just because her story seems really weird. Not sure about the age of the pigs. I bought my two weaner pigs at 6 weeks old and they were well on their way eating and not with the sow any longer.
 
Well, I am thankful that I probably have all 3 sold to other people. The female went first---well, she's still here, but on hold for people who want her for a pet. One male is sold to a friend of my sister's, and I believe the other will be taken by the mother of a friend of my sister's who had a farm pig as a pet for many years. He died earlier this year, and she was devastated. So, if things work out, at least all three are being bought as pets.
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I thought that lady's story was weird too. She also wanted to know if she bought 2, would I give her a deal. Maybe she wants to buy low and sell high? She sounded very young too.
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O.K., here's what I found on pigs4ever----it's exactly what I intended to do from the beginning.

A responsible breeder will not sell you a baby pig until it has been weaned from it's mother. This should be done at 6-8 weeks of age at the earliest! Any breeder that tells you that a baby pig has been weaned earlier than this is trying to make a sale at the expense of the baby piglet's health.

But, things do happen, and in case you end up with a very young baby potbellied pig for one reason or another, here are a few suggestions to help you along.

First, you have to understand that this baby pig was taken away from its Mom way too early. It doesn't know how to eat, misses it's Mom and siblings and is confused, scared and lonely, does not know it's surroundings. The piglet is SCARED.

While some think this will make for a stronger bond with its people, it is very tough on the baby! I would never ask that people take on a one week old baby piglet unless it's a case of no Mom at all. Even for the oldies out there that have done this for years, the mortality rate of raising one week old piglets is about 50%. Not very good odds for the babies.

So glad I looked this up----even though I knew one week was way too young to sell one of my babies.​
 
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I thought that lady's story was weird too. She also wanted to know if she bought 2, would I give her a deal. Maybe she wants to buy low and sell high? She sounded very young too.

That sounds like a person I delt with last summer with my ducks.


I had a lady who was buying DOZENS, literally 3, 4 dozen eggs from me at a time to "eat", she then turned around hatched the eggs and sold the ducklings for TWICE what I sold her the eggs for, AND tried to claim then as hers >.>

needless to say I cut the cord rather quckly, tried to file fraud on her, but the police said they couldn't anything because I couldn't prove nothin'


ANYWAYS, glad all your babies hve new future homes, and I would not hav delt with that lady either.​
 
Usually 8 weeks to wean a piglet..(i think)
But i like to get them younger myself. Soo... its up to you if you trust the buyer to know HOW to feed the piget correctly and keep it warm... etc...
The youngest one i had was 5 weeks old. I dont think i would feel comfortable going any younger than that...
 
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farm pigs are weaned any where between 4-8 weeks. I try to pull mine between 6-8 weeks (depending on moms condition) and have them gaining weight on their own before they leave. Usually within a week. They have access to food as soon as they are able to move around. Glad your piggies found homes.
 
I raise them and I raise them on the sow but I have also bottle raised pigs before only when needed and will sell them if wanted. My babies provided they have food down to eat. Wean naturally at 4 weeks they get right in there with mom and other gilts and eat and are eating fruits and veggies. I never pull a pig unless asked for and proof of bottle feeding experince. 1 week bottle feeding 2 weeks bowl feeding 3 weeks bowl feeding with milk and mash and at 4 weeks they wean. Pigs are the easiest things to bottle feed its easier then bottle feeding calves and goats because they have stronger systems and handle milk change easy People who say that you are not a responsible owner for selling bottle pigs are silly when others have and sell bottle goats and calves and other bottle critters such as sheep. Pigs sold as bottle feeders are on contract to be neutered or spayed I'll come and do it myself when of age.
 
LOL anyone that needs proof I have pictures and videos of my pigs with their sow at 4 weeks of age eating with ease! And no I do not sell pigs as profit (Anyone who raises livestock should know you really can't make a profit off much of anything animal related with feed costs now a days) I just love to play with the litters and I screen people and find them homes. Normally before their born they are already being waited on and I keep profiles of each new owner and often get pictures everyday.
 
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Quote:
That sounds like a person I delt with last summer with my ducks.


I had a lady who was buying DOZENS, literally 3, 4 dozen eggs from me at a time to "eat", she then turned around hatched the eggs and sold the ducklings for TWICE what I sold her the eggs for, AND tried to claim then as hers >.>

needless to say I cut the cord rather quckly, tried to file fraud on her, but the police said they couldn't anything because I couldn't prove nothin'


ANYWAYS, glad all your babies hve new future homes, and I would not hav delt with that lady either.

Next time refrigerate your eggs before selling them. 24hours in the fridge will prevent hatching generally.
 

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