Yesterday we picked up this almost 4 month old pig. We're in the process of building her enclosure right now so she's being kept in a large dog kennel. She has been shivering pretty bad. We're chicken and duck people, this is new to us. Do they get really cold? Could she just be scared? I hope she's ok, I'm really worried! She has straw in the kennel and I have a blanket draped over it, but she just lays in there shivering!
New pot belly pig concern
- Thread starter keyt1969
- Start date
elevan
Critter Addict ♥
I do not know where you are located or what type of weather you are having...
They definitely do get cold. She could also be scared.
They need a shelter that is draft free and plenty of hay or straw to bury themselves in. And they will bury them selves. Here's a picture of one of ours buried in the hay.
Also what was the environment she came from? If she was kept inside and you now have her outside, she probably is cold.
They definitely do get cold. She could also be scared.
They need a shelter that is draft free and plenty of hay or straw to bury themselves in. And they will bury them selves. Here's a picture of one of ours buried in the hay.
Also what was the environment she came from? If she was kept inside and you now have her outside, she probably is cold.
- Thread starter
- #3
I'm in Michigan. It still gets down to the 20's and 30's at night. Today it was in the 50's during the day.
She's kept in a large dog kennel that is covered with a sheet. She has straw in there. Maybe I'll go out there and cover it up some more. Thank you!
She's kept in a large dog kennel that is covered with a sheet. She has straw in there. Maybe I'll go out there and cover it up some more. Thank you!
elevan
Critter Addict ♥
If you can you may want to put a couple of straw bales around the crate to form "walls" and put a tarp or something water repellent over her as dampness can go right through a sheet.keyt1969 said:
In your first post you say "a blanket draped over it"...did you mean over the straw or over the crate? If over the straw you want to remove the blanket (she doesn't need it and it will get in in the way of her burying herself). If over the crate, I'd change to a tarp.
Since you're new to PBs here's a couple of tips for you:
1. Potbelly pigs aren't full grown until 3 years of age.
2. At full size a pot belly will weigh between 80-150 pounds. There is no such thing as a mini - people accomplish this by underfeeding which is animal cruelty in my book!
3. Don't get a boy unless you seriously do some research as they can do some major harm when they get full size and hormonally charged. They are pigs and shouldn't be treated as dogs. Although they are intelligent and fun, they are a farm / livestock animal.
4. They will be very strong as they get bigger. Make sure your fence is secure to save yourself and your neighbors heartache and headaches later. We have found that only hog panels work for us. Some people will add electric wire around their hog panels too (yes, for potbellies).
5. Make sure your gates have VERY strong hinges. Our potbelly who just passed away this week was famous for ripping gates off their hinges.
6. A kiddie pool full of water is a good thing in summer weather for them to cool off in.
7. Keep drinking water away from bedding or you'll have a waterer full of straw every hour (trust me on this).
8. Try to find miniture pig feed (I get mine at Tractor Supply) so your girl doesn't get overweight. Feed at 1-2% of her body weight.
9. Make sure that she can't get to your fowl and your fowl aren't interested in getting in with her. As she gets older those lovely chickens will look like a moving dinner plate to her.
10. This is a great site and their are a couple of people with PBs, so post as many questions as you need to!
Enjoy your PB!
