Adopting a pot belly pig...HELP! *UPDATE w PICTURES*

[2468Chickensrgr8]

OMG!!! Im watching this thread....I heard there was a PBP in the Guelph area last month at the local Humane Society . I wonder?.....Let me know ....I really would like to get one but need more information also......my fingers are crossed for you

 

[SarahF]

All is well! A little history on "Pork Chop" (old name). He is actually 5months old, 40-50 lbs, and was raised in an apartment. Clearly he has been overfed! I checked out his back, and it was not hunched. His feet look great, no crossed hoofs or anything. His skin isn't saggy by any means, but might be once he looses some weight. He's a sweetheart, apparently, and misses his pig friend he has had for the last month. His pig friend was adopted earlier yesterday morning. Once we get him settled, we're probably going to have to find another friend for him.

Here is our journey (sorry so long!):

Boy what a ride home from the humane society. He crapped and pee'd EVERYWHERE, poor guy. They gave me a blanket, thankfully, and I was able to catch most of the pee. The poop was easy enough to pick up, quite 'airy' and light. He was not a happy pig though thats for sure.

We got "Wilbur" (new name) home last night about 8pm and he roamed around our kitchen at first while DH went to pick up DD from the in-laws and give them their stinky van back. DH didn't tell his dad that Wilbur pee'd in the back, we'll see how that goes down!

Anyways, I gave him a new-old sheet to lay down with, but he started to rip it up. I had read that they did that sort of thing, so I didn't take it away. It just has a few tares in it. He also decided my kitchen needs remodeling, as he started to RIP THE WALLPAPER OFF! He got one little corner of lifted paper and ripped a section off. Good thing I didn't put the wallpaper up. I said "No!" like I would to a little child, and I felt bad immediately, as he back away like I just slapped him! But I wouldn't let down, he kept going. I had to push him away from it a number of times.

When DH got home, he right away went to work building a temporary pen for Wilbur in the basement. It's nice enough for now. We left the lights off lastnight, but DH wants to leave it on from now on, so I just put an energy-efficient lightbulb in.

So that's our pig story. I was expecting something much smaller, but am happy with my new family member. DD is scared of him, but she'll come around.

-SarahF

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

Hey Congrats !! He's adorable ! What a memorable ride home....ha ha ha !!!So was he from your area?
Did the Humane society or the foster home you got him from give you information on how to take care of a PBP? Like they would a domestic animal...Love the photo's !

 

[MissJames]

Quote:
Well,I'm jealous and you have a wonderful hubby.Congrats on your new baby!

 

[chilling in muscadine]

Your going to love your new pig. They are so smart. I got mine 5 weeks ago and she is 13 weeks old. I am having a ball with her.

My SO said if you are going to keep them outside in a pen you have to bury the sides to the pen pretty deep to keep them from rooting out.

They make special feed just for PBPs. I got mine a tractor supply. Its called mini pig. I'm trying to keep my girl Pitunia down to the recomended amount of feed per day but that is hard to do because she wants to eat all the time. I now have her on carrot sticks or something similar for her snacks. The carrot sticks always quite her down. After all the girl has to watch her figure.

They are suppose to be easy to teach tricks. Have fun {I know you will}

 

[SarahF]

He's not very happy with amount of food I'm giving him... He was raised on 4 cups a day (of God knows what) and than down to 2 a day since Dec 29th, and now I'm trying 1 cup a day. I gave him 1/2 for breakfast with two carrot sticks (which he hasn't finished still and that was a few hours ago). I'll give him 1/2 cup at dinner time. But he really needs to loose weight!

My good friend is going to come and watch Wilbur so we can go away this weekend. I feel really bad, as DH really wanted to go. I feel bad leaving Wilbur though, because my friend won't be here all day and she's not staying the night. I know he won't know that we're not here, but I feel bad leaving him alone regardless. Could I give him a stuffed animal, or is he going to rip it to shreds?

Anyways, I just figured out that Wilbur is kinda famous around here.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1423349
My dad knew all about him before I could get my story out. And than my grandparents aswell.

Any suggestions on how I can make him happy while I'm gone?

 

[ksacres]

Get him some toys to play with. Those treat balls for horses work, you can fill it with his regular food, then he has to exersize/play while he eats. Serves two purposes.

(BTW: I don't know a lot about pigs, but I don't think 1 cup a day for a 40-50# piggy is enough.)

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

As for toys....You can take pop bottle and fill with dry pig food. Then cut slits into the sides in different spots, as they roll it the food will fall out.
Or even those 'horse balls' hard rubber with a handle. Our pigs LOVE them
When I give them veggies I will throw in a whole celery stalk and that is like gold to them(at least mine) they will run for hours with it in there mouth just so the other pigs won't get it...lol
For treats you can give your PBP dog food. It's not good for an only diet but as treats it's fine.
Our feed mill will mix up a PBP feed ration. It's way way way cheaper than buying the premixed stuff(Muzri pot belly pig feed). I think that used to cost me $25 for a 15 pound bag. When I finally found out the feed mill mixed there own just for PBP's I went that route, because 500 pounds only costed me maybe $40 tops. Might wanna ask your local feed mill about that...
You can put shingles(same as roof shingles) in his run and that will help keep his toenails trimmed.

This is just my thought, but I personally think the 1 cup a day is way to little. We go through a 50 pound bag every 3 days of pig feed and that's for 3 pigs. (when I had 10 running around here we went through 50 pounds a day almost). But then again my PBP's are outside. And they get 'real food' scraps everyday along with there regular pig feed and corn. They have free choice of it and will eat when they want.

Oh yeah, most importantly.....Wilbur is very very nice looking. You are really going to enjoy having him...If he lets you I would really get a harness and walk him(even the blacktop will help keep his feet trimmed). They love to be walked. Make sure to get a PIG harness though as there necks are obviously different than other animals and if you get a dog or even a sheep or goat harness he will eventually slip right outta that....
I am jealous of the pig...I so want more, we didnt' need 10, but oh how I miss them...

 

[redhen]

Hi, you dont want to cut his food down too quickly...that will make him ill...and the food treat balls are great!..or even use an 2 liter soda bottle, with small holes poked in the sides of it...they will roll it all around and smash it up trying to get every piece of food out of it! and it will give them excercise...

 

[Haviris]

He's adorable! I'm glad you got him and are giving him a good home!