Since pigs are becoming popular, new owners are making sure their pigs are provided with their needs and cared for properly.
How much space do pigs need? Pigs need a minimum of 400 square feet each for pasture as recommended by the University of Arkansas Extension.
When deciding how much space is needed, a few factors need to be taken into consideration first such as how many pigs are there, their breed, the size and age.
Pet pigs are different from livestock pigs. However, the larger your pig is, the more they’ll need a large space. Pigs may survive in small spaces but to make them comfortable, they need room to freely move around in.
As long as there is enough space to eat and put their mess in, your pig can be comfortable enough.
For pet pigs, giving them the freedom to roam the house is the best option as they are curious animals and may have the desire to explore.
If it’s not possible to give your pig that much freedom, the size of one room should be enough to satisfy them and keep them occupied as they tend to get bored and depressed.
Pigs love to live outside, so as much as possible, you can let them free out in your yard as long as there are fences to keep them inside and protected from other predators.
If you own an older pig that has developed a status within a herd, it is a good idea to separate young pigs from matured ones to prevent disorder.
This means more space will be required for your pigs, depending on how many they are.
Since space is important for almost any animal, we put together detailed information for different types of pigs and the average space they would require.
TYPES OF PIGS AND THEIR NEEDS
As mentioned above, the space requirement could depend on how old or large your pigs are. Here is a table to show the scales for better understanding.
| TYPE OF PIG | SPACE NEEDED | DETAILS |
| Growing pigs up to 10 kg | 0.14 square meters | Ensure allowance for pee and poo area |
| 11-20 kg | 0.22 square meters | Ensure allowance for pee and poo area |
| 21-40 kg | 0.36 square meters | Ensure allowance for pee and poo area |
| Piglet House Pet | Access to at least one room | Ensure access to litter box |
| Adult Pig House Pet | Access to at least one or more rooms | Ensure access to litter box |
For additional sizes and their list, you may follow this helpful list in the link below.
Link: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/animals/pigs/piggery-management/housing/basic-housing
Different ages of pigs have different needs.
For young pigs, they don’t need big spaces but should at least have freedom to walk and run around. They tend to be playful at youth.
As for adults, they might need more freedom as they are curious animals. They are intelligent and can feel emotions. Isolating them to one area or caging them up might lead to stress or depression.
Stress or depression in pigs could cause strange behavior or may even lead to sickness.
You also have to take note that the smaller space you will provide for your pig, the more work you’ll have on your end. When bored, they might make more mess.
If they are allowed to explore, they are entertained and pleased which means they won’t find the urge to make a mess for fun.
Adult pigs may also develop a territorial behavior if kept with other pets or pigs and that makes it necessary to provide larger space to avoid fights among the other animals.
Other than figuring out how much space you might need to prepare, you might start wanting to find out what are the small breed of pigs you can keep to save as much space as possible.
DIFFERENT BREEDS OF PIGS AND THEIR AVERAGE SIZES
- Miniature Pigs
Miniature pigs are bred through selective breeding and are the product of mating two small different breeds together. An average miniature pig could grow up to 10 inches tall.
But here’s the catch, miniature breeds are not an official breed which is why there is NO guarantee that your mini pig will stay as small as it is.
Their small size would require at least the same space as an average piglet will.
2. Kunekune
An average Kunekune can grow up to 24 inches tall. Kunekunes have very short legs paired with short and round body and may have two wattles until its chin.
An adult Kunekune can weigh between 60 kg and 200 kg.
It’s one of the most popular small breed of pigs and the most commonly used for selective breeding.
This breed is believed to have originated from an Asian domestic breed. The local Maori people of New Zealand adopted the Kunekune which means “fat and round”.
3. Juliana Pig
The Juliana breed of pigs are small colorful spotted pigs can weigh between 20 to 40 pounds and their average height ranges from 14 to 17 inches.
Just like miniature pigs, they are bred through selective breeding.
This breed is said to originate from Europe. It’s a type of miniature pig, but only it is colorful unlike the usual black or pink pigs.
Juliana pigs are an old breed and have grown popular over the years. Because of their small physique, they won’t require too much space to live in.
These three breeds are the most popular small pigs you can adopt or buy. But before getting one of these cute breeds, there are important things that must be known to anyone who plans to own a pig.
MINI PIGS AND HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR THEM
Like what was mentioned above, mini pigs or any other small breed that is introduced to you has a chance to outgrow their small size.
There is no guarantee that they will really stay small for the rest of their lives.
The reason why this is important to know is because of the growing number of abandoned pigs all over the world.
Pigs get abandoned when they grow unexpectedly larger.
However, this may pose a problem as there are not enough shelters and rescuers to take them all in. It is encouraged to think twice before getting a pet pig for yourself.
- PIGS NEED THE RIGHT FOOD
They need a healthy diet to stay in shape and not grow obese. Most importantly, PIGS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EAT MEAT.
Eating meat is the easiest way for them to be infected by diseases coming from the meat and may be transmitted to people.
Pigs are not picky eaters, you can feed them different types of fruits and vegetables. Real pig pellet is the healthiest choice for them. They can also eat acorns and nuts.
They also eat grass, roots and insects. That’s why a pasture area is recommended when raising a pig.
You can look at one of our articles about what to feed your pet pig.
- PIGS ARE INTELLIGENT AND CAN FEEL EMOTIONS
Just like what has been already mentioned, they are capable of feeling positive and negative emotions. If they are cooped up for too long, they tend to get bored or grumpy.
They can show different kind of emotions and that’s what makes them very interesting.
Pigs are full of personality and that’s one thing to consider when deciding how much space should be given to them. Some of them may be content with what they have, but some can be demanding for more.
When abandoned, pigs can be depressed to the point of getting sick or intentionally starving to death.
To avoid depression in your pigs, giving them a companion could be helpful and that would mean there will be more space needed.
As much as possible, pigs should stay in a permanent home as moving them one family after another could cause them to become grumpy or lonely.
This is why owning a pig comes with great responsibility and owners should be prepared.
RELATED QUESTIONS
- HOW LONG DO PIGS LIVE?
The life expectancy of an average pig is 15 to 20 years. This is long compared to their wild counterpart that only lives 4 up to 8 years.
Although the popular pet breed “mini pigs” are said to have shorter lifespan due to their complicated and selective breeding, many pig owners claim their pets lived up to 15 years and more.
This information brings us to the conclusion that there are times that they can live longer than their expected lifespan as long as they are healthy and loved.
- IS IT LEGAL TO OWN A PIG?
The answer depends on where you live. Laws differ on every country especially regarding animal welfare. It’s highly recommended to check with your local officers to verify first before you adopt a pig.
If it requires a license, please register your pig for its safety and yours too. It might also come with various benefits, so it’s worth the cost.
- HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RAISE A PIG?
Taking into consideration what we’ve mentioned about such as the feed, water, housing or bedding, healthcare and if applicable, licensing and for other studies we’ve looked into, the total could take up to $600 and more.
If you’re looking to save some budget, you can feed them grass or try growing the feed yourself if you have the space.