#pigpet

Food

Pigs love to eat (what else is new?) and the proper type and amount of food he/she gets is very important. There are several companies that make mini pig chow. The most popular feeds are Heartland, Peak Performance, Mazuri by Purina, Nutrina and Manna Pro.

These feeds are designed for pot belly pigs and should always be the mainstay of their diet. Pig chow has what they need in it. It is a complete food made to give them what they need, especially protein that a pig has to have and can't make themselves.

We have to try and remember that these pigs are Omnivore not Herbivore. They cannot make their own protein. That is why it has to be fed to them and they will get that in their pig chow. In the wild the protein would come from; dead animals, worms, bugs, etc. The pig chow we give them has the protein added so it makes our life easier.

As long as the pig gets its normal feeding of the pig chow things are OK, but a pig fed nothing but fruits and veggies will have problems.

Part of good pot belly pig care is proper diet. Feed your pig at least twice a day. A general guide is piglets should be fed on a free-choice basis (as many times as they want) or about 2 cups of pig chow from 6-8 weeks old (or as soon as pigs will nibble on it) until 1 year old. At around 1 year you may need to decrease the amount slightly. This will depend on your pigs metabolism and activity level. Each pig is different.

Avoid feeding your pig dog or cat food Cat food is made for cats as dog food is made for dogs. They do not have the proper nutrients for your potbellied pig and the protein level is too high. Dog food can be given in case of emergency (like you ran out of feed) but only for a short period of time.

Get a feed that is low in protein, 12% or 14% and has as little fat as possible. If your pig constantly goes back and forth between the food and water bowls then you may want to either put the water bowl farther away or put some water on piggy's food. Do not soak it, put on just enough to moisten it.

Food amounts should be cut down if your pig is able to graze a great deal. For instance, in the summer months my pigs are outside grazing all day so I can cut back on the amount of food I feed them. Usually I will cut it in half. In the winter we do increase the amount fed to the outside pigs as they need that protein to burn off. In the winter we usually double what would be their normal amount.

Please do not feed your pet pig "people food" or you will end up with a fat and unhealthy pig. They are just like humans: Eat junk food and you get FAT!! Plus, it is not good for their (or your) overall long term health. When a pig becomes overweight, their legs will eventually give them problems. This is quite common in overweight pigs, along with other health conditions.

Give your pig one children's complete chewable vitamin daily. Your pigs overall health and appearance are the best guides to determine the proper amount of food. Basically, when it comes to diet, good care of potbellied pigs is pretty much the same as good care of yourself. No sugars, low fat, do not overdo it with feeding! The key is moderation.

Foods to Feed in Limited Amounts

Fruits: High in calories from fructose.

Corn: High in sugar from fructose.

Potatoes, Yams, Sweet Potatoes: Starchy and high in calories.

Tomatoes: Highly acidic.

Spinach: High in sodium, is okay if pig has clean water to drink.

One other thing: There are many unscrupulous people and breeders out there that tell you if you want your pig to stay small in stature (physical size, not just weight), just feed it less. Not only is this completely ludicrous and false, it can be considered animal abuse in many locations. Pet pigs, especially those just starting out in life, need all the nutrients they can get to avoid serious health problems later.