Teacup Pig Advice

Efficient and Effective Basic Caring Tips for Teacup Pigs

As most of you may already be aware, adopting small pigs or mini pigs as they are known has now become a craze for pet lovers. They may come in different names such as micro mini, teacup, pixie and miniature Juliana pigs but all refer to an intelligent, social animal that are proven to be great companions as pets. They usually grow to be about 25-45 pounds and may reach 10-15 inches in height at the shoulder. There are breeders that claim to raise mini pigs that will be smaller as adults but be sure to look at the parents first before being convinced that they will really be that small. The life span of teacup pigs is expected to be about 15 to 20 years. If you are considering keeping one or two in your home, you need to piggy-proof your residence first so that they will be given proper care. These teacup pigs are naturally curious, active and friendly critters but with patience, can be successfully housebroken after a time. They can even be taught a lot of tricks and training them as house pets is not a problem at all.

However, before you commit to keeping mini pigs as a home pet, you also have to consider first what is really involved in caring and growing them. Just because you have seen Victoria Beckham and Paris Hilton parading their teacup pigs around that you should rush to buying one for yourself too. These adorable animals are not to be taken as fashion accessories and simply a passing fad. So before undertaking such a long term commitment, you have think hard how you are going to indulge in the loving companionship that a micro pig can provide. Pig ownership is not about how lovely they look in your arms but it should be more about how well you are able to care for them. Do not worry though, this article will guide you through the steps and with patience and understanding on your part, you are surely going to breeze through the first weeks of owning a teacup pig with success. Just bear in mind that the care and feeding of these miniature pigs are similar to that of larger potbelly pigs so you need not fret so much.

Here’s a rundown on what you should ask yourself first in order to be fully prepared in caring for micro pigs.

Do you have enough time to spend with them? Teacup pigs are very sociable animals and they loved to be cuddled a lot so you have to give them a particular time every day. Ideally, they should be kept in pairs so that both of them can have fun together and avoid getting bored.

Can you allocate the appropriate space in your home for them? If you are living in apartments or condos, you might reconsider before getting two pixie pigs. However, you can easily create a certain corner for them, just be sure that your place is piggy proofed.

Are there regulations in your area that prohibit the upkeep of farm animals including teacup pigs? You have to be sure about this so that you will not have regrets later.

Caring Basics for Teacup Pigs

Generally, pigs like to root and the micro ones are no exception since it is in their nature. Thus, you have to look around your neighborhood where you can take them out regularly. If you have a backyard, find an adequate space with shelter, where they can roam around at certain times. This is ideal when they are still under a year old but when they grow bigger, you may consider letting them stay outside for most of the time.

While they are still small though, about 6-10 months old, it is recommended that you create a controlled environment for them. A gate similar to those used for puppies or toddlers should be placed to block the doorway of their own space. A blanket may be placed in a corner to serve as the bedding and a litter box several steps away from the bedding can be prepared too. Since teacup pigs are clean and intelligent, they can easily learn to use the box with proper training. For food dishes, a flat pie pan will do and a dog drinking can be used for water. Ensure that the area you choose to be the piggy house is draft-free for their safety.

Prepare your expectations beforehand that the cute, tiny pig you got from the breeder will remain the same. You have to expect them to grow bigger especially if you have not seen the size of their parents. They are indeed delightful pets and can conveniently fit into a teacup during their tender age, but a fully grown pixie pig will of course outgrow the teacup. At this point, let me warn you that a lot of breeders out there today may claim that their litter will only grow up to a particular size. Be cautious about these claims as no one can really guarantee up to what size can mini pigs grow. Here at Pampered Piglets, we gladly show photos of the parents upon request to assure all our buyers that we are selling only the most miniature breed.

A special feed specifically for micro pigs should only be the food that will be given to them. There are a lot of manufacturers that supply these teacup pig food such as Mazuri, Purina, Heartland, Manna Pro, Nutrina amongst others. Even if they tend to eat anything, it is up to you to control their diet to avoid getting them obese. They may also sleep a lot if you feed them the wrong food. Giving them the right piggy chow will enable them to get adequate nutrition without gaining unnecessary weight. Those micro pigs who are still in its infancy stage can be freely given plenty of food which can amount to one and a half cups of feed daily. Those really small teacups will eat less.

You can supplement the micro pig’s diet with small servings of fresh vegetables as they grow older. Fresh fruit however, should be limited as these contain high level of calories and sugar. When the time for training them comes, use treats to encourage them. But you have to limit bribing them with treats as well to avoid making them spoiled and overweight. Another drawback is that mini piggies can get very aggressive when they are not given the goodies that they want.

When you think you are already completely prepared to get a micro pig as a pet, then you can head over to our various available piglets for sale. Take note of the breeds so that you will find one that best suits your preferences. Congratulations in owning a wonderful pet, in advance!