Miniature Pigs

Faye · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:31 pm

dufflight wrote:

Could just get a regular pig. They don't grow that big. :ahhh:

Or only keep it while it's little and then eat it :sad2:

Faye · **Posted:** Sat Dec 24, 2011 1:17 pm

Just found out that someone else had a litter born on Monday and we are invited to visit. they will be wened next Thursday or Friday and it will be possible to leave mum then. Mmm trying not to rush in, particularly as this one would be a girl and therefore the ultimate price after sterilisation (which is riskier with girls) would be double.
Just need to keep up the homework and get the nursery ready :joy:

I also figured that the piglet would have short legs and probably can't walk as fast as me, it might also get tired, so I will be looking for a stroller/pram to be able to walk him to walk :thumb:

If it's a boy, who do you all think about the name Brad (Brad Pig- get it?)

Peasants · **Posted:** Sat Dec 24, 2011 2:32 pm

Faye wrote:

If it's a boy, who do you all think about the name Brad (Brad Pig- get it?)

Love it!!

bushy · **Posted:** Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:57 pm

Umm, why do you want to or need to sterilse a female pig ?

Also it seems they are being weaned at 10 days..... monday till next thursday = 10days ?
IMO this is way too soon, 4 weeks is good.
Yes I know it can be done, but little piglets without their mothers milk are prone to all sorts of complications and if they get the scours, they never really seem to recover

Faye · **Posted:** Sat Dec 24, 2011 5:16 pm

bushy wrote:

Umm, why do you want to or need to sterilse a female pig ?

Also it seems they are being weaned at 10 days..... monday till next thursday = 10days ?
IMO this is way too soon, 4 weeks is good.
Yes I know it can be done, but little piglets without their mothers milk are prone to all sorts of complications and if they get the scours, they never really seem to recover

The reason that they suggest sterilising them is because when they hit puberty, (those teenage years) they can't understand why you don't want to give them the attention they require. :dunno:

The other reason is that I don't think I am allowed to keep an usterilised pig where I live.

10 days is quite early, although they hand rear them and it helps the bonding process of the cute little girl pig with the black spots. I was told that I could do it myself if I wanted to, Aaaw, makes you kind of already invested. I will have to be strong when I visit and make the decision when I am not standing there cuddling it! Some people really know which buttons to push, to suck me in :bash:

Daffy · **Posted:** Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:21 pm

Just a word of warning and regardless of what the breeder tells you if you value your garden at all please book the piglet into the vet and get it fitted with a nose ring.
They still lead a happy full life with one fitted and it saves having to get it done once your garden is destroyed and looks like a war zone.
Plus trying to hold down a fully grown pig (even a miniature) for the vet to administer the local really isn't what I'd call a good time.

Faye · **Posted:** Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:43 pm

The pig would look more like our eldest son if it had a nosering. :sad2:

Instead of me it's owner. lol
I would think of it as more of a house pig and there is no way it will have free range of my garden, Eddy is making it a pen, probably more like 3 actually. One of straw, then sticks and bricks, of course one of them will have to be at the shop for when we walk to walk :thumb:

Joker will love it and people will come from near and far to see it do tricks. The nose ring sounds like a good idea, thanks
Daffy.

gnash · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:51 pm

love it

Simo · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:16 pm

I am surprised you are allowed to keep a pig at all, I thought they were a no no in the Perth metro area, I know they are banned in the city of Swan.

Re sterilisation, can't see much point if you are going to eat it young enough :confused:

but I know next to nothing about domestic pigs :learn:

Faye · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 12:01 am

As it will be a pet pig, why would they have a problem as it is probably smarter than a dog, only the owners that would be a problem :dunno:

There is a guy in Bullsbrook selling on gumtree for $800- not sterilised, I not understand the high price when the others start from $110- for a desexed male, I do now want a pink one though! I know it is possible, initially I was happy to get whatever, but when I asked what I wanted , I realised that I had a choice :learn:

then thought it should look cute so that everyone else would love it too. The search continues :thumb:

, there are litters being born quite regularly, four this last fortnight and more suppliers, so I shall take my time and do my research while Eddy builds the pens, one of sticks, one of bricks and one of straw. Of course one will be at the shop, the office is waay toooo small for Joker and Brad

and Joel and Faye!

bushy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:55 pm

Hmmm....... my scepticism meter is reading very high on this one, having been a pig farmer in another life, sounds like a fair bit of "salesman ship" going on. The reason to wean early is so the sow can breed straight away, as they do as soon as the litter is weaned, however 10 days is really pushing it.
If you are doing the hand raising, get a guaranteed replacement FOC if it dies cos I'll bet it has the scours within a week.

gnash · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 9:29 am

Bushy...do pigs have a rumen like sheep/cows ? or just a main stomach?...I've never looked when butchering them.

bushy · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:02 pm

They are very similar to the human anatomy, thats why they do so well on grains and meat rather than grass

gnash · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:37 pm

Cheers

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Miniature Pigs

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Miniature Pigs

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