The Perfect Piggy: A guide to Teacup Pigs, Micro Pigs and other Pet Pigs
By Joanne Rowe
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About this ebook
Are you fascinated by these cute little pets?
Would you like to learn more about these miniature pigs?
Ever wondered how big a Teacup Pig actually grows?
If the answer to above question is 'yes', then you'll love 'The Perfect Piggy' care guide.
'The Perfect Piggy' gives you a set of explicit, practical, step by step guidelines that will help you with buying, owning, and training your dream pet. It's a complete care guide for Micro pigs, Potbelly Pigs and other breeds of pet pigs.
Seven things this book does for you:
1. Saves you money - micro pigs are expensive, but are you aware that there are cheap alternatives that are a fraction of the cost. In some cases you can even get a pet pig for FREE. This book explains where to find these cheaper and free alternatives.
2. Demonstrates how to train a pig - learn why some pet pigs are well behaved and others trash their owner’s homes? Follow the simple rules outlined in this book to ensure your pig is a model pet and a pleasure to keep.
3. Stops you being scammed – This book takes you though the characteristics of what a Micro pig is, and what it isn't. Following these simple rules will help prevent you becoming victim of the Micro Pig scammers and bad breeders.
4. Shows you how to buy the best quality stock - With the help of this book you’ll learn how to spot the difference between good quality pigs, and the bad ones.
5. Takes you the through the correct way to introduce your pig to other pets, like dogs. This book covers the safe way to introduce your pig to small children and other family members. This book also covers what you should do if things go wrong.
6. The book covers the legal guidelines when moving your pigs in USA and UK. Zoning regulations, CPH numbers, USDA laws and BPEX movements are all covered in this book. The book also offers general advice for those living in other countries.
7. Highlights the importance of correct diet. A good diet ensures your pet will live a long and healthy life, minimising the chances of obesity. This book explains in depth the things you should and shouldn't feed a
pet pig.
With full colour pictures of piglets and adults, you'll find out what a Micro Pigs actually looks like, and how big they really grow.
You'll also be shown how to setup the perfect pig proof fencing at your home, how to trim your pet's hoofs, and how to build the perfect piggy home for your prized pet.
All these sections are accompanied with high resolution photographs, diagrams, and there are clear explantations of everything throughout the book. This book will show you the best way to buy and take care of any pet pig.
Pigs are fantastic creatures when they are treated correctly, but they can be a nightmare to keep if you get their care wrong. Make sure you get off to the best possible start with the help of this book.
The author of this guide is Miss J Rowe an expert in Micro Pig care and the owner of LancashireMicroPigs.co.uk - one of the UK’s leading websites on miniature pigs.
Joanne Rowe
Been breeding micro pigs for several years and i run/own the UK's most popular Micro Pig and teacup pig site. I love pigs and read everything i can about them.
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Book preview
The Perfect Piggy - Joanne Rowe
The Perfect Piggy
A guide to Teacup Pigs, Micro Pigs and other Pet Pigs
By Joanne Rowe
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2013 Joanne Rowe
All rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced without permission of the authors. This book should not be lent, hired out or circulated in any other manner or form.
Cover Illustration Copyright © 2013 by Joanne Rowe
Book design and production Lancashiremicropigs.co.uk
Editing by Vanessa Green
Chapter opening illustrations © 2013 Joanne Rowe
Author photograph by Joanne Rowe
Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com
Disclaimer:
This book is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of veterinarians. The reader should regularly consult a veterinarian in matters relating to their pig's health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.
This book is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The author and publisher are not offering it as legal, medical, veterinary, or other professional services advice. Neither the publisher nor the individual author(s) shall be liable for any physical, psychological, emotional, financial, or commercial damages, including, but not limited to, special, incidental, consequential or other damages. Our views and rights are the same: You are responsible for your own choices, actions, and results.
Contents
Glossary
Introduction
Breeds Of Pet Pigs
The British Micro Pig
The Shape Of Micro Pigs
The Kune Kune Pig
Kune Kune Appearance
The Kune Kune As A Pet
The Potbellied Pig
Appearance Of The Potbelly
Potbellied Pigs In The UK
Other Types Of Pig As Pets
Which Breeds Are Best: The Conclusion?
Micro Pig Size - How Big Do They Grow?
Micro Pig Size And Height
How Big Do They Grow...?
Pig Scams And Bad Breeders
It's Going To Stay Small
Conclusion About Micro Pig Size
Buy A Pig Or Adoption
Introduction
Points To Consider
Adopting From A Sanctuary
Being Offered A Pig
Finding A Good Breeder
Too Good To Be True?
Buying Stock
How Old Is Your Pig?
Height And Size
Teeth & Tusks
Weight
Behaviour
Pig Age Conclusion
Physical Features Of Healthy Pigs
Head
Body, Tails, Rump
Hair And Skin
Personality
Pig Behavioural Problems
Poo/faeces
Size And Weight
Conclusion
Which Sex Is Best?
Males (Boars, Barrows)
Females (Sows)
Spaying And Castration
Spaying Your Pig
Checking If A Pig Is Spayed Or Pregnant
Getting Your Home Ready
Getting Started
Outdoor Pigs
Wallows And Shade
Steep & Slippery Surfaces
Toilet
Grazing
Rooting
Sleeping Areas
Feeding Area
Plants Bad For Pigs
Fencing
Wire Fencing
Wooden Fencing
Electric Fencing
Watering Your Piggy
Simple Watering System
Automatic Watering System
Plastic Or Metal Water Feeders: Which Are Best?
Header And Non Header Tank Water Systems
Header-less Water System
Water Pipes
Feeding Your Pig
Feeding Your Pig
Basic Feeding
Grazing
Pig Feeds
Vitamins & Minerals
Pig Treats
Pig Behaviour And Food
Making A Pig Lose Weight
Pigs, Laws And Movements
Your Country's Pig Laws - Find Them Out
UK Pig Movements And Law
CPH Number (UK Only)
Moving Pigs & UK Buyer And Seller Requirements (UK Only)
21 Day Standstill Period (UK Only)
Moving Pigs In The USA And Zoning
Moving Pigs In The USA
The Journey Home
Moving Adults Pigs
Mixing Pigs
Once At Home
The First Few Days
Introducing Other Pets
Dogs And Pigs
Pigs And Small Children
Adult Pigs And Small Children
Potty Training
Two Types Of Potty Training
Getting Started
Young Piglets
Starting The Training
Partial Potty Training - Letting Your Pig Go Outdoors
Dealing With Accidents And Relapses
Behaviour And Training
Behaviour
Pig Aggression
The Way A Pig Sees The World
The Terrible Twos
Harness Training
How To Harness Train
Good Habits From The Start
Food
Boredom
Pair Of Pigs
Pig Toys
Rooting Box
Discipline
Pig Tricks
Pig Health
Diagnosing Problems
Vaccinations
Rabies
Pseudorabies (Aujeszky's Disease)
Worming
Lameness
Heat Stress And Prevention, Sunburn
Sunburn
Pig Lice
Mange And Scabies
Skin Care
Old Age Pigs (OAPS)
Hoof Care
Tools For The Job
Hoof Care And Piglets
How To Trim Your Pig's Feet
Problem Pigs And Untamed Animals
The Rolling Technique
Sedation
Tilt Table/pig Slings
Pig Chutes And Tilt Tables
Preventative Tips
Breeding Pigs
Unexpected Pregnancies
Selecting Animals
Getting Setup
The Sow
Farrowing
Nesting Area
Bringing The Sow In To Farrow
The Birth
Helping A Sow Give Birth
Post Birth
The First Two Weeks
Castration
Weaning
Conclusion
Useful Sites And Links
Sanctuaries
Useful Video Links
Further Reading
Glossary
Here is an explanation of some of the technical terms used throughout the book:
1. Sow - Female pig.
2. Gilt - Female pig. This term is applied to them just before they farrow.
3. Boar - Uncastrated male pig.
4. Barrow - Castrated male pig.
5. Swine - Another word for pigs.
6. Farrowing - Giving birth.
7. Vulva - External parts of the sow's genitals.
8. Sow Nuts - Dry feed designed for pigs, usually comes in pellet form.
9. Hogging - Also known as 'monthly cycle', 'come into heat', 'heats' or 'in season'. This is the oestrous cycle of a sow.
10. Hogs - Another term used for pigs but it usually means the domestic farm breeds reared for meat
Introduction
This book originally started out as a short, seven-page care guide that we used to give to people who bought Micro Pigs from our farm in Lancashire, England.
Our little guide simply outlined the basics of Micro Pig care, and ensured that the new owners got off to the best possible start. Our original guide was a real success and many of our customers found it really helpful.
One day we decided expand on the things in the guide, we thought we'd try and write everything we knew about pet pigs and Micro Pigs. The result is the book you are reading now.
We've learnt a lot in the years that we have been keeping and breeding these types of pigs, and we want to pass on the benefit of our experience to any new, or existing, owners.
The aim of this guide is to give you lots of practical hints and tips. If you follow our advice you and your new pet will get off to a great start.
This book has been written primarily for British and American owners. Unlike other books we will cover the laws concerning pigs in their respective countries. We also offer some general advice for those folk who live in other countries.
I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.
-Winston Churchill
Breeds of Pet Pigs
Coloured Micro Piglets Grazing
The British Micro Pig
The origins of the British Micro Pig can be traced back to Cumbria, England. In 1995, a man named Rob Rose (www.valleyofthepigs.co.uk) was the first person in the UK to create the first generation of the breed we now call 'Micro Pigs'.
The first generation of Micro Pigs were much larger than the pigs you see today. Rob achieved these sizes through selectively breeding the smallest and fittest animals with each other. Slowly, overtime, he managed to reduce the adult sizes of these pigs, eventually resulting in the Micro Pigs we see today.
Selective breeding is commonly used in the farming industry, and has been for hundreds of years. Generally the desired traits in pigs have been for a bigger animal with more meat, fat, and weight, with the Micro Pig the process was simply reversed.
The actual British Micro Pig (and other worldwide equivalents) is a hybrid; it's the result of crossbreeding various standard breeds with miniature Potbellied pigs. The purpose of this crossbreeding was to produce a small pig, in a variety of colours, with a good temperament.
Another misconception about these pigs is that the New Zealand Kune Kune was used in the breeding of the British Micro Pig. This is not true; the Kune Kune should never be used in the breeding of these pigs. If you come across pigs which have been bred with Kune Kunes then these pigs are not true British Micro Pigs. Be wary of breeders making such claims.
There are other breeders around the world who have achieved the same result via a different path. In the US, the Royal Dandy is another breed famous for being a small pet pig. I've also heard of several other Micro Pig breeds in Europe and other parts of the world.
There has always been a demand for a small pig which makes a great pet. It should come as no surprise that various breeders around the globe have come up with their own solutions to fulfil this demand. Who came first? Well, no one knows. Some breeders have kept records, some haven't. With no official global regulator, or pedigree system, no one can actually be sure. Personally, I don't think it matters much when buying a pet pig, there are far more important things to consider. One thing we have always told people about these pigs is that the size of them doesn't make them easier or harder to care for - it's all about how you keep them: and that's the basis of this book.
The Shape of Micro Pigs
One thing to bear in mind about these animals is their shape. As mentioned earlier the Micro Pig is a hybrid - it's a mixture of pig breeds - so their shape can vary.
Some Micro Pigs can be closer to their original Potbellied ancestors; this can be evident in their shape and stature. Black Micro Pigs are the greatest example of this and bear the closest resemblance to their original Potbellied ancestors. The black piglets share a lot of features with their original Potbellied parents, including: a pug nose, a dish shaped face, and a prominent pot belly.
The black type piglets are often the smallest in height of the various different coloured varieties Micro Pigs due to their genes being more closely aligned with the common potbelly.
Other Micro Pigs, especially the coloured varieties (pinks, gingers, browns and any non-black pigs) have less of the Potbellied genes inside them and their shape will usually resemble their non-Potbellied forefathers. Various different breeds including Gloucester, Tamworth and Berkshire have been used in the breeding of micro pigs, and evidence of their genetic heritage can be seen in their shape.
The coloured Micro Pigs are usually taller than their black counterparts due to the introduction of non-Potbellied genes to their family history. The differences in height can vary greatly depending on which generation of pigs you are looking at. However the coloured pigs can have the illusion of looking smaller due to their frame and girth being smaller. There is also the lack of the pug nose, and dish shaped face, that the potbelly is famous for.
Both types of pig do share the trait of having a straight tail. Any legitimate Micro Pig should have a straight tail (non-curly), this is an important feature to keep an eye out for when buying a Micro Pig. Curly tails can be an indication that you might be buying, or looking at, a domestic hog, so please beware.
The Kune Kune Pig
Kune Kune Piglets
Kune Kune are a very popular pig from New Zealand. During the 19th century it was imported to New Zealand, from Asia, by whalers. The origins of the pig before this time are unclear.
In the early 1900s the pig grew in popularity with New Zealand's native Maori. In Maori the word Kune Kune means 'fat and round'. The Maori prized the pig due to its friendly nature, its tendency not to roam, and its great grazing ability (the pig could be fattened on grass alone).
During the mid-20th century the popularity of the pig dropped; modern commercial breeds were gaining recognition and were preferred for use in pork production. More traditional breeds like the Kune Kune were slowly made redundant by their more efficient cousins.
The breed was thought to be nearly extinct by the 1980s. There was estimated to be only around fifty purebred Kune Kune left in New Zealand. But thanks to the efforts of a handful of New Zealand breeders a recovery program was put in place that helped save the breed.
In the 1990s the breed was imported into the UK for the first time. Later, around the mid-90s, they