Pot Belly Pig - Adequate Accomodations? - Page 2

Sorry I don't have any pictures, but I have a six by twelve barn that they sleep in. The pen is a work in progress because I can't get the boar to stay in anything. I will probably have to build a pen out of plywood or a solid board fence for him. My girl just hangs out where ever and goes to bed at night. I thought I could put the chicken feed out of reach of the pigs but they just knock anything over to get the feed. My chickens aren't fast enough to take food away from the pigs.

I can take some tonight of their daily pen they use. We have 2 a sow and boar the boar is snipped AKA Lily and Wilbur! Mini-pigs do not actually exist technically. Mini-pigs have been bred over generations by normal Pot Belly pigs which can range up to 150lbs as adults to these small 40lbs pigs because they were given unproper diet and over time there body chemistry caused for a smaller pig if you get what I mean :)! We do not breed our PB because sadly their is never enough proper homes for them. And about 80% end up in rescues or killed from buyers who didn't really read up on it.

I am glad you are looking into a rescue and I am very glad you are taking the time to make sure you understand the commitment of these animals. We rescued ours also they are just chunks LOL.

Anyways, we have a pen set up for them to be locked into but they are allowed in the pasture every evening to munch on grass as the daily pen is pretty much just dirt and torn to piecies. They have a small housing outside in the pen i'll take a picture of that in winter they are moved into the barn with hay. They have a kiddie pool which they love.

Remember they need to be vet checked yearly, have feet trimmed and for males tusks should be trimmed also. I love these guys they are great they follow like dogs and love belly rubs. They are super tame and super sweet to children. With a resuce you never know what you will be getting so watch for behaviors as they are strong creatures :)!

Heres my Lily and Wilbur:

And heres a picture of Wilbur at 3 months old when we first got him just compare size difference already he is a year old now which is still not full grown they take 3 years for adult hood. Lily we got at 8 months old so we don't have a baby picture of her.

I will post the pen tonight!

Above is how we have  a gate that we can open and get into. Hubby put the board on the bottom and they haven't dug under it yet!

 Above :Here you can see the length of the pen and how we just put up gates to block the rest of the pen where the chicken coop is.  Also you can see what damage they do to a pen that was lush with grass hehe!

Above: This is the fencing that is wrapped around the whole pen.

Below: Is the small shelter we built for them to get into from weather. During the summer this is fine for them unless I know we are having  a terrible storm then they are moved into the sheds pen we have built for them that what they use all winter with heat lamps.

I allow them out in the pasture at night or if I am home. The pastured only has the normal electrical fence and they always seem to find ways out of it no matter what!!!!

Hi there,

I have a very different situation than most folks on here. I have a four year old black pot-bellied pig named Mickey. He is a wonderful pet. I live in Calgary, so it's all city living for Mickey. He has his own room in my house that opens up to a huge backyard where he has 24 hr access (although he gets cold in the night so I close the door - a bit of a spoiled city pig). He was neutered at 8 months, and very well socialized the first few years of his life. He gets his hooves trimmed once a year by a couple from Strathmore.So, his accommodation is very different. He sleeps on piles of blankets. 

My house is entirely pig-proofed, as he is stronger than a football player.

In the last 6 months Mickey's demeanor has changed. This is something I had not read about prior to getting Mickey. Despite doing everything properly, by the books, he is still missing something in his life. It didn't take long to figure out, he needs more pigs. He is beginning to treat us like pigs, and attempting to move up the ranks in the house in order to be top pig. 
 

I never thought i'd say this, but either I have to move to Nanton and start a hobby farm, or I have to find a place for Mickey to live with other pigs. Ideally, I can rent a space for him, like a horse. I can keep him, while he socializes with other pigs and spends time at a farm. 

Until that day, we'll be here in Calgary.

Good luck with your hobby farm!