Minature Pigs

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Minature Pigs
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Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 06 9:27 am Post subject:
Do people keep them for the other reason to keeping?

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 06 9:47 am Post subject:
As I understand, all pigs, of whatever size, are edible. I only keep the BIG sort, though Very tasty they are too!

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 06 9:51 am Post subject:

I know someone who keeps two kune kunes as pets. If you keep them long enough they wil get quite big. He's got them in a grass paddock and they are very friendly
He reckons that eat a lot of grass and they don't appear to do a lot of rooting. They get a load of house hold scraps and very little else. They can get very fat if you're not too careful but then again who doesn't .
I like pigs and to be honest I always felt just an incy whincy bit guilty at sending my little mates off for the chop. The first crunch of crackling hot from the oven always use to dispell this feeling though !

They make good but a bit smelly composters .

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 06 6:16 pm Post subject:
i love pigs and we have kept them off and on i think if there was a pig that never got any bigger than a labrador, i would keep one as a pet isn't there an american miniature pig? they seem to have either something huge or something miniaturised.............

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 06 6:29 pm Post subject:
I hadnt heard of miniature pigs, do they fundamentally behave just like the big-uns or do they need special conditions? Not in the market for a back garden proker just yet, but the thought of a teeny herd is quite intriguing!

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 06 11:38 am Post subject:
They're called micro-pigs and aren't all that small, but still a lot smaller than, for example a Tamworth. Smaller than an adult pot-belly or kune-Kune, but one could still knock you flyiing!

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 06 7:13 pm Post subject:
lovely creatures but still power through because their centre of gravity is so low and they can be very determined !!!!!

Moose

Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Posts: 8

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 06 7:35 am Post subject:
Does anybody have the measurements of the area required per pig? I have an area of 700 sqft but i think its too small. Any info?

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 06 10:54 am Post subject:
How many metres by how many metres Moose? I got CSE grade 5 in maths

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 06 11:09 am Post subject:

These are the Defra requirements for weaner pigs. I think your 700 ft2 offers rather more spacious accommodation than most pigs get:

Quote:

Accommodation

7. (1) A pig shall be free to turn round without difficulty at all times..

(2) The accommodation used for pigs shall be constructed in such a way as to allow each pig to -

(a) stand up, lie down and rest without difficulty;

(b) have a clean,comfortable and adequately drained place in which it can rest; and

(c) see other pigs, unless the pig is isolated for veterinary reasons.

(d) maintain a comfortable temperature

(e) have enough space to allow all the animals to lie down at the same time

8. - (1) The dimension of any stall or pen used for holding individual pigs in accordance with these regulations shall be such that the internal area is not less than the square of the length of the pig, and no internal side is less than 75% of the length of the pig, the length of the pig in each case being measured from the tip of its snout to the base of its tail while it is standing with its back straight..

Moose

Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Posts: 8

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 06 2:54 pm Post subject:
thats interesting. defra statutes are one thing, my conscience is another. i really want pigs but i have to convince myself that the home i make for them is adequate. the micro pigs sound nice. does anyone breed them in the uk?

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 06 3:02 pm Post subject:
Again, Moose, try Tony at Pig Paradise. I think he usually has a few micro pigs knocking about.

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 06 8:02 pm Post subject:
700 sq ft is palatial my dear.......... if i was a pig i would definitley want to live at your place............

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 06 11:21 pm Post subject:
Saw kune kunes at agricultural show a couple of years ago, even fully grown didn;t look too big. And they apparently make good eating as well as being highly cute.

Beckyess

Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 1076
Location: Worcestershire

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 06 4:56 am Post subject:
The micro pigs (I believe orginally from Germany) were bred for the laboratory research industry. Becky

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