Indoor or Outdoor?
You’re planning to get a mini pig, you’ve read they should live inside the house and you’ve read that they will do okay in the great outdoors so what’s the best fit for you? Either is totally okay but there are definitely considerations to think about for each.
Living Outside
Pigs are social animals that naturally live in herds; for this reason, we suggest that if you’re planning to house your miniature pig outside that, you get a minimum of two. They can be different ages, but they should be females or fixed males. Intact males should not be housed with females or kept as pets, as they can be unpredictable and lead to unwanted pregnancies.
Mini Pigs are relatively hardy. Their outdoor housing should include a fenced area where they can explore, root and play. Shaded areas and a wallow to cool down during the summer are very important as pigs are prone to heat-related illnesses due to their inability to sweat. They need a basic shelter that protects them from the elements. Offer deep bedding with straw or hay during the winter. A heated area is an option but is not mandatory. Another benefit to housing multiples is that they will keep each other company and play with each other and cuddle to stay warm in the winter.
Living Indoors
Mini pigs can live happily in an indoor setup. There are some factors to think about when choosing to house indoors. Indoor-housed mini pigs tend to be less active and walk on smoother surfaces than the typical outdoor pig, which means they sometimes need to have their hooves trimmed throughout their lives. Pigs are more intelligent than dogs, meaning they get bored, and though they are overall animals that LOVE sleep, they need stimulating activities to keep their minds and bodies busy. If you are planning to house indoors, you start with a single pig, you become the pigs’ companion and herd, so it is unnecessary to have multiples.
Pigs can easily be house-trained and trained tricks and crate trained. To learn more about training, check out Mini Pig Training.
Basics of Mini Pig Housing
for every household
Regardless if you are housing indoors or outdoors mini pigs require the same basic care needs…
Shelter:Â A dry place to sleep. They prefer a well-bedded sleep area with straw or hay for outdoor pigs and dog beds and blankets for indoor pigs.
Food and Water:Â Pigs should have constant access to water. Mini pigs are prone to weight gain. Feeding a rationed diet two to three times a day is good practice. Learn more about Mini Pig Nutrition.Â
Cool down Area: Pigs are not able to sweat, so their only way to cool down is to physically go to cooler areas, get in cool water and coat their skin with cool mud. Outdoor pigs should be offered a shaded area with good airflow. A shallow pool or a wallow in the ground should be offered. Either option should have cool water added regularly on hot days. Many indoor pigs will still enjoy a pool outside and shaded areas with good airflow. I would only offer a mud wallow if you can bathe your indoor pig. Cool spots in the house are also a great option.
Stimulation: Stimulating activities include strong toys and various rooting substrates such as dirt, straw, hay, and paper for outdoor pigs. In addition, toys and teething chews should be accessible. These can be as simple as logs or as complex as purchased toys. You can substitute rooting substrates for indoor pigs with more house-friendly options such as ball pit balls, snuffle mats, treat balls, and blankets. Yak cheese chews (nonmeat flavours) and pieces of wood are great options for teething options.
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