Owning pigs as a pet, even if they are tea cup pot belly pigs can sound disgusting for anyone involved; however, you might be surprised to find out how nice tea cup pot belly pigs can be as a pet.

Tea Cup Pot Belly Pigs

One of the first things that you should know about these pigs is that they are very intelligent and affectionate and loving to their owners. Another thing that might be holding you back from owning tea cup pot belly pigs is that belief that they, like other standard farm pigs, have a very bad smell; however, these creatures are actually very clean and odor free. Tea cup pot belly pigs are also non-allergenic, unlike other domestic pets; thus, this type of pet is really a healthy option especially for those suffering from severe allergies and asthma.

Another factor to consider is that tea cup pot belly pigs require a lot of care and attention. They also need an ample room and space for their proper growth and development. People who live in smaller places like apartments and flats are not advised to get tea cup pot belly pigs as a pet.

Tea cup pot belly pigs can grow up to 65 pounds when they reach their 2nd or 3rd year of life. You should also be aware that tea cup pot belly pigs require a long term commitment since they have a life span of up to 12 to 15 years and can even be longer when given the proper care and attention. Because these pigs are highly intelligent, you can train them as long as you are patient and are willing to exert some effort and do a small amount of work. In fact, you can even use some of the tricks used to train a dog with your tea cup pot belly pigs.

Tea cup pot belly pigs may also require a lot of attention from their owners. If you cannot provide this to your cute little pigs, then they can end up destroying the things around them out of pure boredom. Although you may think that this may not be a very important factor for your tea cup pot belly pigs, you definitely need to provide them with the proper diet. Tea cup pot belly pigs require a low protein and low fat diet, which means that you should not give them table scraps or left over foods. Consulting and asking recommendation from a veterinarian or visiting a local pet shop near you could help you find different feeds that are specifically recommended for tea cup pot belly pigs. It is also a good idea to incorporate vegetables and fruits in your tea cup pot belly pigs' diet. These will help them grow properly and stay healthy.

Teacup Potbelly Pig

The craze for having pigs as a pet actually started with potbellied pigs which became very popular among pet owners through the United States and Canada in 1985. They were so popular at this time because this breed of pig was so clean, small, smart, and affectionate. However, they cost around $25,000 to purchase which only meant that they were not affordable for those looking to bring home a pet. Sad to say, as the fad was gone, many potbellied pigs found themselves in animal shelters, left along the streets or given away for free. Though the fad for potbellied pigs was long gone, breeders did not stop developing new breeds of pigs that are more favorable and more affordable for would-be pet owners. This led to the introduction of a newer breed in the form of a tea cup pot belly pig!

Getting to Know the Tea Cup Pot Belly Pig

One of the most attractive traits of a tea cup pot belly pig is the fact that it is a very smart and intelligent creature. However, their intelligence can sometime cause trouble for the owner. This is simply because it wouldn’t take a long time for your cute tea cup pot belly pig to learn how to access your cup boards and refrigerator doors in order to feed or have a taste of your food stocks. Aside from that, a tea cup pot belly pig can also learn some ways on how to get your attention just to persuade you to feed him, such as making an annoying squeal or noise in the morning to wake you up.

The fact that this creature acts like human beings in many different ways is another endearing feature many tea cup pot belly pig owners enjoy. However, the human traits of a tea cup pot belly pig can cause your beloved pet to be overly sensitive and demanding at times. It can also become bored and pout, which may result into your pet knocking over the objects at home or rooting through the house. Thus, if you want to be an owner of a tea cup pot belly pig, you have to be prepared to provide your pet the monitoring and discipline it needs.

Before you bring home a tea cup pot belly pig and make it your pet, you should first realize that aside from the possible behavioral problems, it also requires proper care and attention. While it's nice to see your pet eating a lot, it will not do him any good since a tea cup pot belly pig is still a pig, and like other normal pigs, it is prone to obesity and overfeeding your pet might only lead to health risks.

The Birth of Teacup Pigs

Teacup Pigs

After a trial and error series of pregnancies, farmer and Pennywell Farm owner Christopher Murray, with the breed developed by British breeder Jane Croft, has finally succeeded in making his miniature pigs give birth to eight cute tiny piglets. He named the smallest pig as Tetley. After several press releases and with the help of media, teacup pigs have become very sensational and popular.

Fantastic Pets in the Form of Teacup Pigs

At birth, teacup piglets weight only around 9 oz. and are just the size of a small teacup. When fully grown at the age of 2, teacup pigs grow anywhere between 12 and 16 inches and weigh approximately 65 pounds. Teacup pigs can live between 15 and 20 years. They can make fantastic pets for 4 main reasons: they are smart, clean, sociable and loving!

Purchasing Teacup Pigs

Before thinking of purchasing teacup pigs, you have to be aware that they do not come cheap! Aside from the price of $1,200 each, Jane Croft, the breeder of teacup pigs, sells these teacup pigs in pairs, which means you have to spend around $2,400 for a pair of teacup pigs! Moreover, in the U.K., you have to be licensed livestock keeper in order to purchase teacup pigs. Here are the basic criteria that must be met by would-be teacup pig owners.

•    Would-be owners must agree not to leave the teacup pigs alone in the house;
•    Would-be owners must be home all the time;
•    Would-be owners must have a yard or garden;
•    Would-be owners must find a company for the teacup pigs at all times;
•    Would-be owners must agree to buy teacup pigs in pairs

A lot of people in the U.K. are waiting to be given the chance to purchase teacup pigs. Well, it's not surprising because it actually took Jane Croft 9 years to breed these cute teacup pigs, and as of today, only the Pennywell Farm in Devon, England is the only one breeding the original teacup pigs, so beware of scoundrels!

Breeders of Teacup Pigs in the U.S

While teacup pigs are also getting more and more popular in the U.S., it seems rather hard to find true breeders of teacup pigs in the country. Nevertheless, you can surely find some in the near future as the demands for teacup pigs are really high. However, you still have to be very careful in choosing a breeder since a lot of scoundrels are taking advantage of this latest pet craze. You don’t want to throw your $1,200 or $2,400 away, do you?

Teacup Pig

At a price of around $1,200 each, teacup pigs are actually now being sold as companion rather than a single pet since Jane Croft, an English breeder developed them recently. The growing trend of teacup pigs involves the purchase of two pigs per person and the purchase is only available to those who stay home all day and of course to those with the budget. But before we go further, let us first examine the why a teacup pig as a pet is very much IN today.

Teacup Pig Described

A teacup pig can make a wonderful pet for those who have fur allergy and can't have cats and dogs for the main reason that a teacup pig has hair instead of fur. Moreover, a teacup pig, just like other normal farm pigs, is proved to be smarter than other domestic pets such as cats and dogs, because it can follow easily and thus, it is easier to train.
At birth, a teacup piglet usually weights approximately 9 oz. and is actually just about the size of a regular teacup. Once it has turned into a full grown teacup pig at its 2 years of age, it is only between 12 and 16 inches high and would weigh around 65 pounds as an adult.
According to Jane Croft, the original breeder of teacup pigs, a teacup pig is really a fantastic pet since it's really cleat, highly intelligent, loves to be loved, and gives so much back to you as its master.
Several studies have shown and proven that pigs are much more superior to dogs or other domestic pets. Pigs are also proven to be highly sociable creature; thus, they require stimulation and social interaction to prevent loneliness and boredom. People who have a teacup pig will easily recognize this.
A teacup pig is the product of the previously popular potbellied pigs and other porcine pig breeds: Kune-Kune, Gloucester Old Spot, and Tamworth. It takes about two years of a teacup pig to mature and become full grown, but it becomes sexually active even before its age of maturity comes. This is the reason why Jane Croft requires interested buyers to buy teacup pigs in pairs of two.
How intelligent is a Teacup Pig?
Teacup pigs are very clean animals, but more than that, this breed of pig are highly smart and intelligent. You won't have problem housebreaking them or giving them litter training or walking training, because unlike dogs and cats, teacup pigs can easily absorb whatever it is being taught to them.
Will a Teacup Pig Make a Good Pet?
After all that's been said about a teacup pig, you can now easily answer this question without any hesitation. Clean, loving, friendly, smart – what more can you ask for a pet? This is the reason behind the growing trend for having a teacup pig as a pet!

Pennywell Micro Pig

Pennywell Farm is the largest and most popular farm tourist attraction in Devon, the southwest of England situated at the suburbs of Buckfastleigh in southern Devon. Pennywell is an organic farm which was opened to the public by husband and wife Chris and Nicola Murray in 1989. The main idea behind this organic farm was to allow their visitors to have a hands-on interaction with the farm animals. Well, the idea was a success but to the couple's delight, Pennywell Farm became really popular after they have publicized their original pocket pigs in the form of Pennywell miniature pigs, also called as the Pennywell Micro Pig.

In 1992, 3 years after the inception of Pennywell Farm, Chris Murray came up with the idea of breeding pocket pigs from the original New Zealand kune kune breed. He intended to breed the Pennywell Micro Pig to be smaller and friendlier than the standard farm pig. Well, it was a huge success. As a matter of fact, each Pennywell Micro Pig they offer is unique and even comes with its own color and markings.

At its birth, an average Pennywell Micro Pig weights just 8 oz. or 250 g. It can grow to about a quarter or a fifth of the size of a standard piglet, which was approximately the size of a Cocker Spaniel dog breed.

Buying a Pennywell Micro Pig from Pennywell Farm

Pennywell Farm requires all its buyers to first secure CPH number from DEFRA Food & Farming Group. After acquiring the CPH holding number, the buyer will be entertained by Pennywell Farm. Pennywell Farm will then arrange a payment of deposit for the pig. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The Pennywell Micro Pigs sells from $900 to $1400.

A Pennywell Micro Pig may be exported; however, the buyer must organize and pay for all the paperwork, licenses, and transport of the pig.

Feeding a Pennywell Micro Pig

A Pennywell Micro Pig is fed on a sow and weanur nuts diet, which is available from commercial agricultural feed merchants. Pennywell Farm suggests that all Pennywell Micro Pig owners stick to this diet for their pet and just change the amount depending on whether or not you will allow the pig to graze. If you don't intend to allow your pig to graze, you have to feed the pig with one big handful of pig nuts two times a day; however, it is also possible to reduce this amount to one handful a day if you decide to allow your pig to graze. The same thing applies if you wish to feed your pig with fruits and vegetables; however, you have to limit the amount of these foods and if possible, use these as a treat or reward only. A Pennywell Micro Pig should be given water at all times.

There you go - some important information you need to know about a Pennywell Micro Pig. Want to know how to have one as a pet? Secure your CPH holding number now and call Pennywell Farm for a reservation of a cute Pennywell Micro Pig!

micro pig care

When most people hear the word "pig", the first thing that comes to their mind is the smelly creature wallowing and indulging itself in a muddy farmyard. Well, not anymore! Recently, micro pigs otherwise known as "mini pigs" have become a popular choice for a home or domestic pet. Of course, as the term "micro pig" suggests, it is smaller in size compared to a normal farm pig, with a height similar to a medium-sized dog and a weight between 120 and 200 lbs when fully grown at its 2 or 3 years of age. Common micro pig color is white, black, silver, or a combination of black and white. A micro pig has a life expectancy of around 15 to 20 years.

With a hefty price tag of $1500, it is not hard to understand why those who own a micro pig would really do everything to keep their pet healthy. If you are a new micro pig owner or are planning to have one, you might be wondering how to keep your pet healthy. Read on and learn some useful tips on how you could keep your micro pig healthy and alive for a long time.

Diet

With regards to diet, micro pigs are considered as omnivores; thus, they will eat almost anything including meat, fruits, and vegetables, and even sweets, bread, chocolate, etc. given the chance. Therefore, a micro pig has the tendency to overeat, and like humans, become overweight or obese and unhealthy. To prevent your micro pig from having such health problems, you should feed him with a balanced diet such as special pig feeds that can be bought from the local pet shops or online.

Exercise

Exercise is also very important for your micro pig to stay healthy and fit. Like a dog, micro pigs should be walked once or twice a day to avoid obesity. Without exercise, your pet can become aggressive and lazy.

Proper Interaction

As pigs are smart creatures, they can easily get bored especially if they do not get enough stimulation. Lack of stimulation can also make micro pigs aggressive and destructive and perform annoying actions, such as eating carpets, uprooting plants, etc. One way to prevent your pig from transforming into a dinosaur is to give him a friend. Remember, your pet is a social creature so you should not keep him alone as staying without a friend for a long time may also lead to loneliness, which is of course not good for your micro pig's health.

Medical Checkup

Like any pet, micro pigs require regular medical treatment. However, you have to find a vet who specializes in farm animal care. Some of the problems which may require your attention are tusks and hooves. You should also have your micro pig neutered; otherwise, your pet will produce a really bad odor.

With all that said, with attention and care your pet requires, your micro pig will really make a great companion for a long time!

Teacup Pig Breeding

A teacup pig is affectionate, clean, and adorable. It doesn't bark, and is easy to train. The future is clear for pig breeders and for those planning to venture into this career. No doubt, teacup pig breeding is one great profession to consider.

Teacup Pigs are non-allergenic, and can mingle with people and other pets quite easily. Rupert Grint, a star of Harry Potter, reportedly owns one. Unfortunately, those who want to have one are having trouble and difficulty finding these cute little pigs. Fret not - you will certainly have the chance to own one because teacup pig breeding is also becoming one of the hottest professions in UK.

One of the most popular teacup pig breeders these days is Jane Croft. She gave up her job recently to become a full time breeder of teacup pig. As a matter of fact, she receives hundreds of calls and emails almost every day from people interested in buying her teacup pigs and the surprising thing is these people are from all over the world.

Pigs are said to be smarter than cats or dogs and are considered to be the fourth smartest and most intelligent species on Earth following humans, monkeys, and dolphins. Pigs are also extremely sociable and companionable. This is why when you want to have a teacup pig; you should also purchase another one so they don't feel lonely when you are away.

A teacup pig loves to learn tricks and amazingly, it can follow the tricks easily. However, it has the tendency to become lazy as it gets older. This is why you should give your teacup pig daily exercise to keep its weight down. Moreover, you should learn how to discipline a teacup pig since it can easily become spoiled and may attempt to dominate you in terms of getting its own ways.

Speaking of size and weight in general, a teacup pig is only a size of teacup upon birth. Though it grows to just one-tenth the size of a standard farm pig, it can reach a full height of about knee-high and a full weight of about 55 to 60 pounds so that means saying goodbye in carrying your pet in your backpack or purse.

It took months for Jane Croft to determine the right combination of pig breeds until she finally settled on crossing breeds of Miniature Pot Bellied pigs with Kune Junes, Tamworths, and Glouster Old Spots to come up with her cute teacup pigs. Now, the challenge for breeders is to make the teacup pig breed smaller and smaller, one thing many is waiting for. Thus, the trend for teacup pigs will continue and therefore, would boost the profession of being a teacup pig breeder.

Tea Cup Pot Belly Pig

Help Choosing Your Mini Pig

Size:

A tea cup pot belly pig is miniature when compared to a standard farm hog, hence, the moniker "tea cup" pot belly pig. A standard farm hog can weigh up to 1,000 pounds when full grown while a tea cup pot belly pig can only weigh between 100 and 250 pounds at the same stage. With proper feeding and daily exercise, your tea cup pot belly pig will reach its predetermined genetic size. Remember, your tea cup pot belly pig's weight can be adversely affected when overfed, underfed, or when it doesn't have enough exercise.

Lifespan:

An average tea cup pot belly pig has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years but again, your way of taking care of this pet can have a significant effect on its health. It can either be longer when cared of properly or shorter when not. Thus, assuming all the responsibilities that come with owning a tea cup pot belly pig is a serious consideration for any one planning to have one.

Height:

An average tea cup pot belly pig can be anywhere from 16 to 26 inches tall.

Weight:

It is a pig's nature to eat whatever given to them. However, a tea cup pot belly pig is prone to becoming obese and this is a serious health condition that must be avoided. It would be a better idea to always measure your pig's weight to make sure that you are feeding your pet with just the right amount of food it needs. Here are the steps to follow when weighing a tea cup pot belly pig without a weighing scale.

1. Girth Measurement: Take the measurement of your pig starting from behind the front legs to just above its shoulder area.

2. Square the result: Once you have the girth measurement, multiply it by itself.

3. Length Measurement: Get the length measurement of your pig by starting at the top of the head in the middle of the ears and measure down up to the base or start of the tail.

4. Multiply the girth measurement by the length: Take the result of the girth measurement and multiply it by the result of the length measurement.

5. Weight Calculation: Divide the result of the multiplication by 400 and the weight result you will get is accurate within 3%. That means you have to factor the result by the 3% variance.

Physical Assessment of Weight

It is typical for this breed to have a plump appearance. In general, tea cup pot belly pigs have rounder body, full round jowls, and a pot belly. There are some that are more athletic and slender. However, check if you can see your tea cup pot belly pig's hips, ribs, and other bones. If you can, then your pet is underweight. If it seems like your pig has swallowed a melon or its eyes are surrounded by many folds of fat, your pig is overweight.

Owning Teacup Piglets

Micro pigs are sure to become the latest rage. They are also called teacup piglets because when they are born, they could easily fit in a large teacup. These cute and adorable pigs are from a rare breed of pigs which originated from New Zealand. They are officially called Pennywell Micro Pigs as the very first breeding of these pigs was done at the Pennywell Farm in England.

Just like anything trendy and new, you should expect to spend at least an arm and leg to have one of these cute teacup piglets. A teacup piglet can actually cost you around $1,000 to $2,000 but you can buy them for as low as $300 in UK since the craze in UK has started earlier than in the U.S.

Pigs are known for their bad reputation of being dirty, smelly, and stubborn; traits you would not want in an animal you call pet. However, many teacup piglet owners claim that these pigs are very affectionate, adaptable, and possess the intelligence which can even be greater than a dog's intelligence. However, these teacup piglets can be very lazy and aggressive when not given proper socialization and exercise. Nevertheless, owning one or two of these teacup piglets pose more benefits to the owner. Teacup piglets have long lifespan and for the most part, they are ideal for those sensitive to fur because they are non-allergenic. They can also be trained to use a litter box and leash and lastly, they are not as noisy as dogs and cats because they don't bark and whimper.

But before you get too excited with all the benefits teacup piglets can offer, ask yourself first if you are willing to spend at least a thousand dollars to have one. If not, then you'd better go for the adoption option. Teacup piglets adoption is not yet available in the U.S. but since it is now common in UK, you can expect to see some adoption centers in the U.S. soon. If you live in UK and are considering the teacup piglets adoption option, here are the steps to do it.

1. Find out if you are qualified to adopt one - You have to meet some requirements before you get qualified and considered to adopt teacup piglets. Some of these are owning a zoned outdoor space and having a veterinarian with experience in taking care of piglets.
2. If you have met all the requirements, contact a specialist teacup piglet breeder - Find breeders participating in the adoption program from your local directory or online. You will be asked to acquire a holding number issued by the Rural Payments Agency before your adoption application will be processed.
3. Get your new teacup piglets - Congratulations! You are now a new owner of cute teacup piglets!

Teacup Pigs

Newly born teacup pigs are selling like hotcakes in many reputable breeders' barn. Surely, owning and having teacup pigs as a pet has gotten an unbelievably large surge in popularity since these adorable pigs were featured on the show Today.

Teacup pigs are just the size of a large teacup when born - hence the name "teacup" pigs. They can grow up to 12 to 16 inches tall and should have an average modest weight of 65 pounds. You can just understand why teacup pigs are becoming a hot commodity. Teacup pigs are cute, adorable, trainable, loyal, and are safe for those who cannot have ordinary household pets such as cats and dogs because of fur allergies.

However, you should remember that buying teacup pigs is not as easy as buying a dog or cat from the nearest pet shop. If you want to have a teacup pig, you have to look for a reputable teacup pig breeder that would meet some of the strict criteria of the first teacup pig breeder, Jane Croft. One of these is to sell teacup pigs not only for money but also for the benefit of the teacup pigs. This is the reason why Jane Croft doesn't sell a single teacup pig. It should leave her barn wit a pair and Croft makes sure that her teacup pigs would be passed on to owners who are willing to spend time with them and would not leave them alone.

Teacup pigs are also said to be intelligent and their intelligence has even surpassed that of many dogs. This is why if you want to be an owner of one of these teacup pigs, you should be ready to give your pet some training and some basic tricks such as litter-box training and house breaking training. This way, the smartness and intelligence of these pigs won't be wasted. It only means that you should be ready to assume responsibilities when you want any of these teacup pigs.

How much does a teacup pig cost? Expect to pay at least $1,100 for each teacup pig so if you purchase a pair of teacup pigs from high-quality teacup pig breeder such as Jane Croft, you have to get your $2,200 ready.

Are teacup pigs already available in the U.S.? Unfortunately not! However, with the growing popularity of teacup pigs, we can expect to see some of these cute little pigs in some American households soon!

Now, with all the things mentioned above, ask yourself, are you ready to have one or two of these teacup pigs in your household? If you are, then no doubt, you will be an envy of your neighborhood in the nearest future!