Pot Belly Pig Barrier Training

[Dizzylizzy1330]

Hi all! New to the group. I have 2 pot bellies, a male and female. I have had the male about 6 months, the female for 2. They are both sweet pigs. They are "mini", right now female 30 lbs male 60 ish. My question is this---we have 6 acres of lush forest as well as pond and open grazing areas. We have neighbors that are close ish on either side as the acreage goes back from our property. We have very large shrubs/trees/bushed and patchy fencing service as barrier between our property line and that of our neighbor's. So far I have had VERY little luck in keeping my pigs from going into my neighbors yard, which is a hassle because I cannot walk through the barrier to their yard to retrieve them. So I have to load up my 1.5 yr old and 3.5 yr old in the car to drive down our long drive and up the neighbors drive, and kind of swat at them to make them run back home. Sometimes they will stay home after this, other times when my back is turned again they will run back over. Some times they wont go over for days, but then will start going over again. Also, my female pig seems to break out of every fencing. I hate to keep my pigs in their pen, bc obviously they need to graze and forage etc, but I'm at a loss as to how to keep them on my completely adequate land and out of my neighbor's yard. Ideas?? Thank you!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

I just love my mini pigs.

Is how long you've had the pigs the same as their age or how old are they?

I have 4 ft tall woven stock yard fencing, held in with T post as the easiest and most affordable for large areas. In between the T post we had to use a notched stick pounded over the bottom wire(similar to tent stake) to keep it tight enough to the ground to prevent the snout from going under and lifting it and pushing through. It works!

The other best and most affordable option is a well placed E wire. I went with solar which cost a little more, but I like the ease of placement and more reliable than my home power which goes out WAY too often. I haven't gotten one yet, but I also like those portable electric poultry or livestock netting with step in post.

Either are well worth the investment to have peaceful neighbors, safe pigs, and less pain loading up and dragging around the young 'uns.

If your piggies aren't fixed, maybe consider having that done if you are able.

One of my favorite resources for pet pigs is www.minipiginfo.com and there might be some cool information on the sister site www.backyardherds.com. But BYC is my favorite, since it is after all chicken math that led to the pigs training me.

Forest also often equals predators. E wire works well to keep them at bay.

Good luck!

 

[Dizzylizzy1330]

Thank you! I have had the male since December, he is fixed, I've had the female 8 weeks, have an appointment to have her fixed. Do you let your pigs out to graze? I wish that mine would stay in the yard so they could graze, I have a pen for them I think I can fix up to keep little girl from busting out. But I hate to keep them in the muddy pen! Any tips for keeping them interested in my yard instead of my neighbors or is this just a "pigs will be pigs" situation?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you! I have had the male since December, he is fixed, I've had the female 8 weeks, have an appointment to have her fixed. Do you let your pigs out to graze? I wish that mine would stay in the yard so they could graze, I have a pen for them I think I can fix up to keep little girl from busting out. But I hate to keep them in the muddy pen! Any tips for keeping them interested in my yard instead of my neighbors or is this just a "pigs will be pigs" situation?

My piggies go out and graze all day long. I am lucky enough and keep my stock numbers low enough that I don't have any mud... though my lil Waldo sure enjoyed the mud puddle I made yesterday.

I use fences to keep my pigs on my property. Aside from not wanting them to destroy the neighbors place... it also protects them from possible roaming domestic dogs. Without a fence of some sort.. all bets are off for containment, in my experience. Just like with goats or any other livestock, you NEED a good fence.

You might be able to set up a motion activated impact sprinkler (scare crow it's called) at your neighbors facing your place so when the pigs approach it startles them and teaches them to avoid that area.

To me there is no such thing as pigs will be pigs. While it is true that things will be what they will be... if we are keeping them, it's up to us to keep them in a way that is conducive to our lives. While I may not be happy having my animals in a pen... that is the reality for many. And if that is what it took to keep them safe and out of my neighbors yard... I would either pen them or re-home them if I couldn't contain them. They ARE pig headed! And all animals seem to want to go where we don't want them to.

Plug in E wire set ups can be done very economically and easy to move around. Very effective. Otherwise, maybe investing in a couple of "hog panels" and zip tie them to some U post and be able to move around as needed on your property. These are my very best suggestions. Good luck!

 

[Dizzylizzy1330]

Thank you for all the suggestions! I may look into scare crow--never heard of it! By "pigs will be pigs" I hope I didnt imply that there is nothing i can do to keep my pigs from my nieghbors yard--I definitely believe in responsible pet ownership and keeping them safe! but I DID mean without a barrier, for grazing while out of the pen. I do keep an eye on my pigs, but I have small children who require me to run inside and change diapers, etc. I have goats who are penned but graze out of their pen during the day and they never leave my property--I was just wondering if there was a way to deter the pigs from my neighbors yard instead of having them just bust right past me to get over there despite my calling and pleading lol. I know how smart they are and Im always hearing you can train pot bellies to do "anything"--sure wish there was a way I could train them to not leave my yard! Its funny that my goats, who dont seem to be very intelligent, have understood the boundaries while my intelligent pigs have not....But I suppose the intelligence may actually be the problem, Ha!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

t my goats, who dont seem to be very intelligent, have understood the boundaries

Wow, that IS shocking!