Housing and Environment for Your Mini-Pig

Miniature pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) are truly not miniature. At maturity, around 3 years of age, a healthy mini-pig will be 2–3 feet tall at the shoulders and weigh 70–150 pounds. Mini-pigs may be successfully housed inside if they are given enough space, an area in which to root (dig), and proper environmental enrichment (see handout “Behavior of Mini-Pigs”).

Indoor pigs should be provided a pig-safe room that is equipped with plenty of toys and a rooting box.

The outdoor environment should be fenced to prevent your pig from escaping. There should be several pig-safe play toys in the yard to keep your mini-pig entertained, both physically and mentally.

Pet pigs that are forced to live in overcrowded, dirty, or confined conditions may become stressed and develop abnormal, stereotypical behaviors that should be addressed with the help of a veterinarian.

How much space does a pot-bellied pig need?

Recommendations for housing space vary for mini-pigs, depending on their size. One recommendation suggests at least 12 square meters (about 130 square feet) for two pigs, or about 0.5 square feet per kilogram of body weight per pig. Larger pigs need more space to thrive.

Pigs spend a lot of time sleeping, so they must be provided with proper bedding in which to nest. Suggested bedding materials are fleece blankets, sleeping bags, straw or hay, and aspen shavings. If pigs are not provided with proper bedding, they may try to rip up carpets, blankets, or pillows to carry to their nesting area. Pigs may ingest these items, which can cause gastrointestinal obstruction.

In addition to indoor space, pet pigs should ideally have access to a safe area of untreated lawn outside in which to root and chew on grass. Pigs should be allowed to exercise (either outside or inside) twice a day, for a minimum of an hour per day.

Their outdoor area should also have a wading pool large enough for your pig to lay down in and soak. Pavers or concrete areas outdoors are mandatory, to help keep the hooves ground down.

At what temperature and humidity should a pig be housed?

The temperature at which pet pigs should be kept depends on their age. Ideal temperatures for pigs are approximately 84°F (28°C) for piglets, 75°F (24°C) for juveniles (14- to 16-weeks-old), and 60°F-75°F (15°C-24°C) for adults.

Pigs become overheated easily, as they cannot sweat. If they are allowed outside, they must have access to shade and be protected from direct sunlight, or they can get overheated and sunburned. Pigs allowed outside in warm weather often enjoy rolling around in mud baths or splashing in kiddie pools. Ideally, pigs should be kept at a humidity of 55%-70%. They should have a light cycle that is as close to a 12-hour day and 12-hour night as possible.

Can a pot-bellied pig be house-trained?

Pet pigs generally like to urinate and defecate in a single area that is far from where they eat and sleep. Unlike cats or some other mammals, they do not cover up their solid waste, so they do not need loose material in which to eliminate. Pet pigs can be trained to eliminate both inside and outside. They can be trained to urinate and defecate outside exclusively by taking them out every half an hour, starting at a young age, and allowing them to select an elimination site.

Changes in the household or bad weather may upset this training in previously trained pigs, and they may need to be re-trained to go exclusively outside. Pigs in urban environments may be taught to walk on a leash/harness and go outside to eliminate, much like pet dogs.

If outdoor elimination is not feasible, they can be trained to use a litter pan indoors by confining them to a small area during the time they regularly eliminate and letting them have more freedom after they successfully use the pan repeatedly. Litter pans (such as large, plastic storage boxes with low sides) may be filled with newspaper, aspen or pine shavings, or puppy pee pads to help absorb waste.

What does it mean if my pig grunts while using the litter pan?

When pigs urinate, they generally raise their tails and arch their backs, but they do not vocalize. Grunting while eliminating may be a sign of discomfort due to a medical problem such as a bladder stone or sludge in the bladder. Pigs that grunt and strain while urinating or have bloody urine may be suffering from a urinary tract obstruction and should be examined by a veterinarian right away. Grunting during defecation can be a sign of constipation or a more serious problem such as a rectal tumor. This sign should also be checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible.