Goose got his pet pig when it was ever so cute and little. Apparently Goose did not read my previous post about this. Ever week or so someone calls or emails me asking about getting a pet pig. They are so cute when they’re little pink new borns. Who couldn’t love them. Recently I been getting more of these requests with the new piglets being born, the count is now over 50, and the photos on these pages. Yes, piglets are very cute – for about three months. Then they start getting big. I still like them but do you really want a pet that is:
- Birth = 3 lbs
- Three weeks = 10 lbs
- Six months = 225 lbs … annual feed cost = $130
- One year = 350 lbs … ” ” = $500
- Two years = 650 lbs … ” ” = $700 (Archimedes above)
- Three years = 1,062 lbs … ” ” = $1,100
- Four years = 1,500 lbs? … ” ” = $1,600 per year!
- Five years…???
They may not stop growing even then. Pigs can live to ten or fifteen years if they aren’t over fed and get too fat. I’ve heard they grow continuously. Properly raised they’re very friendly but big as a short legged horse. A big short legged horse. I’ve read of them getting over a ton. That’s like a small car. I met a pig that was taller at the shoulder than I am at the top of my head (5’8″). He looked like a mini-van and lived in a school bus. If you’re going to insist on getting a farm pig then plan on having a big space for it!
I think part of why I get these calls is that people think they can save money and get a farm pig as a pet rather than paying the higher many hundred dollar price of miniature pigs like Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs. In the long run a farm pig will be a lot more expensive – check out those feed bills! Man, he eats like a hog!
If you want a pet pig be sure to get a miniature like the Pot Bellied Pigs. Even those get big – think 150 to 200 lbs. A dog might be a better choice. Or at that, maybe a cat… :)
29째F/12째F, 6″ Snow here in Vermont
Walter Jeffries Tinker, Tailor… A bit eclectic & a tad eccentric, polymath, quantum mechanic & Farmer. Also lucky at cards.
I never considered a pet pig. Tt’s not the inputs you mention. The output would seem a much larger deterrent to considering them a pet.
I may be coming to see you about a “pet” pig in 2 to 3 years….unfortunately (for the pig) a some point he will go from being a ‘guest’ for dinner to the ‘host’ for dinner, and lunch, and breakfast………such is the life of a farm. Sorry Charlotte…………. :’(
Very good point, UA. A 300 lb sow produces about 9,000 pounds of manure a year from what I’ve read. (wet weight I suspect) Great if you have gardens you want to enrich and the pig will plow for free! :)
So funny!!!! I love the animals expressions!!!!
I love that photo!!! Great goose!
Wow! 9K a double bonus! Black gold and another consideration for good soil management. I’m taking notes….
Walter tell us about your pig tilling methods. You havementioned this a number of times and how you use the chickens to.
Mano,mano! He’s a screen saver cover boy! I have put this gander and his piggy onto my computer. I love humorous animal photos like this! Keep em comin!
An old lady down the road used to have a pet pig named Boot. He was about 850 lbs when he finally crossed to greener pastures. He was a tiny runt that the old farm woman took pity on and took in as a pet. He started life with another name. Became Boot because she would constantly have to boot him off the couch, boot him out of the kitchen, boot him out of the bedroom. Loyal as any labrador, darn good watch critter. Played serious havoc with screen doors.
I have a pet pig at 10 months she weighs 38.5 and should not exceed 80kgs. She loves walks and wallowing in the mud. She friendly and makes a great pet.
I started with American Guinea Hogs as my daughtr wanted a PET PIG. I have since gotten a gilt who is now my sow. She had her litter. The boars get to be about 300 lbs and the sow tops out just under 200 lbs. Very friendly breed. I wasn’t old enough for a 1000 lb pig. I can’t wait to taste the meat. Now we are regular pig farmers. It’s a great life.
Walter you have a great site.
Matty
You are right! This is what happens to most animals. They are cute when they are little but then they get big and their owners can't take care of them. So they get rid of them. That guy is huge! I don't have a pig but I have a horse.
Araya
http://www.stabledays.typepad.com
Archimedes, the boar in the photo above is now around 1,000 lbs. One of his son's, Spot, measures out over 1,400 lbs. I'm careful not to get stepped on.
I have both a farm pig and potbellied pig. The potbellied pig is a nasty little brat and tries to bite me. The farm pig jumped into the back of my stationwagon quite willingly and hung out and ate marshmallows from my hand all the way home and is a sweet pig. I hope she has babies, because it will be really REALLY hard to eat her. She’s a sweetheart.
I would eat the potbellied pig. Nasty is tasty. I eat mean people. If the nice one has good conformation then I would try breeding her to another good pig. Temperament is highly inheritable.
This is our pet pig, he wieghed in around 1100 pounds in this picture. He was 7 ft long. He was house broken and tame as a dog.
Hmm… Perhaps you misunderstand. I didn’t say you can’t have a 1,100 lb pet. But it is something one should consider very carefully. Most people are not ready to deal with that large an animal, the feed costs or the manure output. I have many that big but I don’t recommend them as pets, especially not as house pets. In most cases for most people a better choice would be a dog, cat, ferret or perhaps a fish.