How to Raise Potbelly Pigs

You can keep a potbelly pig as a farm animal or as an affectionate house pet. With a higher intelligence level than that of a dog, the potbelly can be trained to respond to commands. Toilet training is also possible as potbellies naturally avoid excreting in their living area if they can help it. Pigs are social animals and so should be kept in groups. A single pet pig will build a strong bond with its owner or even other household pets such as dogs.

Things You'll Need

  • Straw
  • Blankets
  • Fencing materials
  • Heat lamp
  • Goat's milk
  • Dish
  • Cereal
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide your potbelly pig with a comfortable bedding area. Pigs living in outdoor shelters should have lots of straw to sleep on, whereas pigs living as house pets should be provided with old non-electric blankets or a large dog bed. Keep the pigs' housing at a temperature of 75 to 90 degrees. A potbelly pig is sensitive to the cold.

    • 2

      Provide an outdoor enclosed area where the pigs can dig in the soil. Ensure that the area is free of poisonous plants and hazardous materials, including anything with a sharp edge. The area must also be securely built with sound fencing because pigs are very strong. Include a mud bath in the area so the pigs can cool off on hot days. Just add water to a muddy area.

    • 3

      Feed your potbelly pigs a diet high in fiber but not too much ash. Mazuri Mini Pig Food by pet food maker Purina Mills is recommended by Kind Planet. Weigh the pigs regularly. A potbelly should weigh about 100 pounds when fully grown, although overfed pigs can weigh in at 300 pounds. Monitor your male potbelly after castration because he could become overly possessive of food, causing weight gain.

    • 4

      Keep your orphaned potbelly piglet warm with a heat lamp that will maintain a temperature of 90 degrees . Young pigs cannot produce their own body heat until they reach two weeks of age. Feed the piglet lukewarm goat's milk in a small dish by dipping its nose into the milk until it drinks. Do this every three to four hours during the day, leaving an eight-hour gap through the night between feedings. After three days, start adding cereal to the milk and steadily increase the amount of cereal. This will help to avoid diarrhea and give the piglet a better chance of survival.