What is the best way to socialize new piglets?

[dejavoodoo114]

We picked up 2 Red Wattle gilts on Friday. They are 3/4 Red Wattle and 1/4 Large Black. They were just weaned and not used to humans. What do you think the best way to socialize them would be?

We have been teaching them to eat out of our hands so they know where the food comes from. I am not sure where else to go with this and advice would be appreciated. These girls are for our freezer but all of our animals love us and love attention no matter what their future is. I don't want these girls left out.

 

[animalfarm]

We picked up 2 Red Wattle gilts on Friday. They are 3/4 Red Wattle and 1/4 Large Black. They were just weaned and not used to humans. What do you think the best way to socialize them would be?

We have been teaching them to eat out of our hands so they know where the food comes from. I am not sure where else to go with this and advice would be appreciated. These girls are for our freezer but all of our animals love us and love attention no matter what their future is. I don't want these girls left out.

First thing...VERY important! Stop feeding them from your hands. In just a few weeks these pigs will be growing like out of control weeds and within weeks they won't know the difference, or care, what is your hand as opposed to what is feed and which pig is going to get it first. You could lose your fingers in seconds. Put their feed in a pan. Do not let them crowd you or lean on you in any way. When they are bigger they can knock your legs out from under you. They could break a leg if they bump you wrong. This can happen with the tamest pigs.

Put the feed in the pan, do not let them nudge the feed bucket or you. Stand next to them while they are eating and scratch their backs. If you do this every time you feed them, they will soon be manageable and safe to be around. They will get over their fear of you as food is more important than running away. Do not hand feed. I cannot stress it enough.

 

[dejavoodoo114]

Wow, Thank you very much for responding to my post. I will make sure no one feeds them from their hands from here on out. Thank you!

 

[animalfarm]

Your welcome. Not to worry, all piglets act like you burned them with a torch when you try to touch them. Its instinct. They will get less sensitive as the days go by.

 

[dejavoodoo114]

I spent some time in barn with them today. They ran as soon as we entered but I just sat watching them. Then one of our pyrs came in and the gilts came right up to him. Since he was next to me I knelt down and then the started nuzzling around me as well. When we went to leave they didn't run as far. They are so cute now but I don't want bad behavior when the are bigger. One tried climbing on my knees and I gently pushed her off. Was this correct? I would have loved to have her in my lap but I was worried. What should I have done? What behavior should be discouraged and what encouraged or allowed?

 

[animalfarm]

You done did good.

As they get older you will have to use more force to keep them off. Just watch how they treat each other when they are playing or fighting for food. They won't be nice or delicate and they don't get their feelings hurt. Pigs are not good animals for cuddles. They will love a good a good belly rub, tailbone rub, back scratch, behind the ear scratch ect... but they are much too strong to be nudging or crawling on you. They also have very strong jaws and sharp teeth so getting bit would be a bad thing. Pigs are meat eaters. You are meat. You don't want them ever checking to see if you are edible and you don't have the experience to figure out what their intent is. When they are reaching 150+lbs you will see my point and be quite happy to not have them trying to crawl into your lap. It will be plenty fun enough to watch them wiggle around and squeak when getting that scratch. You will also learn to do your scratching with gloves on as pigs can be a tad mucky from the wallow you will make them in the summer.