Before committing to being a pig parent, it’s important to know whether micro pigs stay small.

Micro pigs are only small at birth, but they will still grow to around 300 lbs. when they reach their 3rd or 4th year. They are only called “micro”, “mini” or “teacup” pigs because they are smaller than the regular farm pig.

Surprised?

You’re not the only one.

A lot of people are fascinated by the idea of micro pigs that they tend to believe that these cute little creatures will stay this way forever. But in the same way that babies become toddlers, then would eventually grow to become adults, miniature pigs also grow bigger as they age.

The good news is, knowing the potential size of your micro pig as it gets bigger allows you to prepare for the road ahead. And once you’re equipped with every piece of knowledge you need, you can still take care of a pig whether it stays its micro size or not.

The Average Size of a Micro Pig

Micro pigs, mini pigs, teacup pigs — no matter what you call them, there is always an assumption that they are extremely small and remain that way until they become an adult.

Sure, in their first few weeks, these pigs would only be around 60 lbs or more. But when they reach maturity, they can actually reach 200 to 300 lbs, maybe even more.

You see, just because they’re said to be miniature does not mean that they remain small forever. Compared to regular pigs you see in a farm, they are considerably small. But you can’t carry them around forever.

Just to give you a better idea on how huge the difference is between a regular pig and a micro pig, the former can reach 600 lbs in a snap. At its peak, it can even grow to around half a ton.

Micro pigs don’t reach that size. Especially if you stick to the diet that your vet recommends, your pet micro pig can stay at its micro size.

Note, however, that “micro size” may still prove to be overwhelming for you, especially when your pig reaches a few months.

At 100 lbs, your micro pig can be as big as a fairly small dog. But when it hits 250 lbs, it would be knee-height to a human of average size.

Micro pigs will be at full growth when they reach their 5th year, so if you’re on your 6th month or 1st year, expect that you’ve got a long way to go. This might be a good time to think about whether you can accommodate your pig when it grows even bigger.

Factors that Impact a Pig’s Size

There have been a lot of arguments about whether there really are miniature pigs or not. Just to get it out of the way, yes, there are pigs that are way smaller than your traditional farm pig.

However, the myth here is that these pigs won’t grow any bigger than your other household pets.

The fact still remains that these pigs are smaller in size. Why is this so?

  • Breed

There really are smaller pig breeds. However, they usually aren’t local.

Most of the smaller pig breeds come from other countries. Some of the smallest pot-bellied pigs come from Vietnam. The first Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs were imported to the US in 1986 and were meant to be one of the attractions in different American zoos.

From there, pig farmers took interest and started in-breeding their own pigs with these smaller pig breeds.

This is also when smaller pig breeds made their way to the country. These breeds include kunekune pigs from New Zealand and Ossabaw Island pigs that originally came from Spain.

Eventually, the mixed breeding of these small pig breeds with local pigs, as well as the actual breeding of small pig breeds, yielded a growth in population of much smaller kinds of pigs. These are now more popularly known as micro pigs, mini pigs, or teacup pigs.

  • Food

A pig’s diet plays a huge role in the way it grows.

Pigs are normally heavy eaters. For comparison’s sake, let’s see how much a regular pig eats.

Initially, they would consume around 6 to 8 lbs of feed each day. But once a pig starts becoming more independent from its mother, it starts to eat more. A regular pig can eat around 700 to 900 lbs of feed per day.

As for micro pigs, they normally eat a mix of healthy vegetables like greens, potatoes, celery, etc. Grain may also be added to a mini pig’s diet. They also need around 12% of their food to be protein-rich.

If you don’t like making your own pig feed, there are pig pellets that you can easily buy from any local feed store. For a small pig that weighs 10 lbs, it is usually fed around half a cup of pellets twice a day.

Ideally, pigs should eat 2% of its current weight. The more a pig eats, the more it grows.

Of course, there is also a lot of controversy surrounding micro pigs and the diets they are given. Breeders who are just in it for the money would sometimes advise you to feed your pigs less so that they stay small. Obviously, this means that sometimes, the pigs end up underfed and unhealthy.

To make sure your pig stays healthy, always consult your vet. Regardless if you initially purchased a teacup pig, don’t underfeed it just to make sure it stays small forever. Follow the recommended diet of your vet, and not of the breeder or seller.

What To Do When Your Pig Becomes Too Big

Let’s say you’ve already purchased a micro pig and eventually realize that it’s starting to get too big for comfort. What are your options?

Well, by now, your pig would probably be bumping against every piece of furniture inside your home. So you have two options — keep it, or get rid of it.

Should you decide to keep it, it’s time to check how much room you have out on your yard. Provide an outdoor shelter that does not just give your pig its primary needs, but also provides room for its enjoyment.

But if you decide to get rid of your pig, don’t worry about it. Sometimes, getting rid of it is the best way for you to show concern, especially if you know that you are unable to continue giving it what it needs.

It’s a good thing there are a lot of shelters you can leave your pigs to. The rise in interest in miniature pigs has also increased the demand for shelters, basically because a lot of owners realize that they were not really prepared to take on such a huge task.

You can ask your local animal shelter to see if they have room for one more pig. If not, you can check online or ask your vet for recommendations. For sure, your vet will know a shelter or two where your pig will surely be taken cared of.

Related Questions

What is the size of a kunekune pig?

Kunekune pigs are said to be the smallest among all the breeds of pigs and are only around 13 lbs at 9 weeks, by which time they have been weaned and can be ready to go into a new home. As they age, they start to grow from around 130 lbs up to 220 lbs or more.

What are some small pig breeds?

Some of the pig breeds popular for their smaller than normal size are kunekune pigs, pot-bellied pigs, Ossabaw Island pigs, and Juliana pigs. They are definitely smaller than the regular pig, and would sometimes grow up to half the size of your usual farm pigs. However, this means that they can still grow up to around 300 lbs or more, which is still way larger than your usual pet dog.

What is a Juliana pig?

The Juliana pig is also called the miniature painted pig because of its size and appearance. It originated from Europe and is leaner and longer than a pot-bellied pig, with colorful spots all over its body.