Pot bellied pigs

[Picco]

I think hog rings are cruel. They are painful and prevent natural behavior. A rooting pig is like a scratching chicken. If you don't like them rooting up your lawn you should give them thier own pen to do it in. Pigs are highly intelligent animals and need to be mentally stimulated, not alowing natural behaviors can have very bad consequences for thier well being.

 

[MoonGoddess]

not alowing natural behaviors can have very bad consequences for thier well being.

Yeah...That's what I was concerned about Picco.

My lawn is pretty much, well not a lawn anymore as it is, so whatever. lol. I knew that was going to happen when I adopted him. I have resigned to the fact I have a nice mud wallow in my yard.
I had never heard of the rings before which is why I asked.

I had rememered seeing them in like weird esoteric memories...like isn't there a Bugs Bunny cartoon that has a pig in it with a ring in it's nose? I always wondered what the heck that thing was for. I think I assumed it made them look more fierce.

God I'm a dope.

 

[Redneckchick]

My Grandfather used the rings to keep his penned up boars from digging out...the sows seemed content (wallowing in the mud & feeding babys). I don't remember ALL of them(Adult swine) being ringed tho. Of course they were in a pen & not running around the yard.Grandma would have been cooking them if they got in her flowers or veggies

.Dont think ringing is cruel when used in the right perspective , same difference as electric fences to me. Just my opinion of course

 

[MoonGoddess]

Undoubtabley a loose boar has to be a NIGHTMARE to catch and pen up again.:|

Lordie, catching my piglet look 28 hours!

 

[momof3]

Thanks everyone. Personally I'm hoping to talk him out of it. Make him think that it is not a good idea. I know they get big. He has only seen the baby ones at the swap meet. His father has said anything new we get has to pay for itself or make money. Our chickens just pay for themselves now. Thanks again. 28hours is a long time to try and catch a pig. But I bet the pig had a blast being so free.

 

[momof3]

More questions. We went to a swap meet this weekend. There of course were pot bellied pigs. Are there miniatures? Some we found weren't bigger then a cocker spaniel. The guy said you only have to feed them a cup of food a day. He said they wouldn't get any bigger. Now if that is true I would let him have one when we move. However were we being told them truth.

 

[MoonGoddess]

That is absolutely NOT true...AND the cup of food a day is exactly what I was warning you about. Piglets that size need about two cups twice a day. When they get about 60lbs they should go down to one cup, but still twice a day... Plus fresh fruit and veggies. Those are the people that claim to have tea cup pot bellies. All pot bellies will hit the 100 mark and most go to 150-200. Tea cup pot bellies just don't exist and feeding them only one cup a day will make a very unhealthy piglet.
Sorry to disappoint.

 

[MoonGoddess]

Here is a great website by the way. It should answer most questions you have.
http://www.pigs4ever.com/PotBelliedPigInfo/FAQs.htm

 

[momof3]

Thanks I'll go check out that website. I thought it seemed to good to be true.

 

[starlingsbaby]

Needing some advice.... i have posted several pics on other threads and got some answers but im sure she is pregnant. i can feel the babies moving and her teets have dropped and i know she mated with the boar and 3 days ago it was like she lost a "muscus plug" which i have the pic of if need be and was wandering if any of u guys think she looks pregnant to you? and she is a 9 month old pot belly. her name is stinkerbell. about 3 months ago she did not look like this and that is when she was in the pen with the boar for about 5 months and i started to notice the weight gain and felt belly and decided to move her cause she is preg i think. and i heard that if she is she will not come into heat anymore until baby;s are born and she has not. any advice would be great thanks