Pigs and Goats as companions?

tmfinley · #1 09/13/08, 07:05 PM

I posted this on the pig forum, but figured I might get a few more responses here. Will a pig and a goat make good companions for each other?

I just sold all of my goat bucks and have an area perfect for pigs. I am getting some feeder pigs in December, but figured I could also get a couple now since I have the room and I have a source of close to free food.

The problem is the only place I can find any feeder pigs only has 1 left. I don't want to keep only one pig with no companion. I do have one buckling I wouldn't mind keeping or a wether also. Would either make a suitable companion for a pig or would a pig make a suitable companion for a goat, or not?

The pig is about 50 lbs now.

Tiffany

RiverPines · #2 09/13/08, 08:46 PM

Pigs are dirty and like making messes. They are omnivorous too.
Their pens smell like pigs! Poo is nasty!

Goats are herbavours. They have neat marbles for poo. They dont like mud and messes all over.

I wouldnt mix the 2.
I had pigs and I can not see them with goats.

Pigs also are not a herd animal. They are fine alone.

The only thing a pig as in common with a goat is that both can be found on a farm.

Slats · #3 09/13/08, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverPines

They are omnivorous

Pigs catch and eat live chickens. I figure they wouldn't turn their snouts up at a goat either. Especially in a caged environment where the goat will be easier to catch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverPines

They are fine alone

I agree. I've raised a few feeder pigs and they were more than happy being alone.

tmfinley · #4 09/13/08, 11:05 PM

Hmm... well I tend to think of pigs as a herd animal and wouldn't feel right raising one by itself.

The area I they would be in is a bit larger than 1/2 an acre and we live on sugar sand so the mess wouldn't be inescapable for the goat.

I know pigs can be aggressive, but if they are put together when the pig is young I wonder if they will be ok with each other.

Slats · #5 09/14/08, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmfinley

Hmm... well I tend to think of pigs as a herd animal and wouldn't feel right raising one by itself.

To each their own. If you decide to run the two together don't be surprised if one morning you go out to feed and you see a pig and go looking for a goat that's no longer there.

As RiverPines said "They are omnivorous"

I said "Especially in a caged environment where the goat will be easier to catch." Pigs are still omnivorous outside of a caged environment and are opportunists. It's in a pigs nature. Most likely the goat will buddy up to the pig and the pig will take the opportunity to make a happy meal out of it.

The pig nuzzles the goat with it's snout, the goat doesn't run, then chomp chomp. Easy pickin's.

Feathers-N-Fur · #6 09/14/08, 01:40 AM

How well fed will your pig be? Mine don't bother the chickens that run all over their pen, or the goat kids that are being weened in the sow pen. I even had a kid get her front legs caught in a tree. I have no idea how long she was stuck. If one of the pigs had wanted to eat her, they would have. My pigs have no problem letting the goats and chickens eat out of their feed troughs with them, they don't share with each other very well though. The pig people will tell you that pigs are very social, every bit as much as the goats. If you have 2 pigs they will grow faster because of the competition for food. I don't think that will carry over to a goat. But just as companions, I think it would work out as long as your pig isn't going hungry. They understand who their buddy is. The risk is there, but I don't think it is a very big risk.

6e · #7 09/14/08, 09:35 AM

We had young pigs housed in a pen next to the sheep pen and a couple of lambs got too close to the fence. They pulled the lambs right through the fence and ate them. And these were young pigs. Maybe 45-50 pounds pigs. No. I wouldn't house them together.

tmfinley · #8 09/14/08, 10:06 AM

Ooh, sorry that happened to you, but that was exactly what I was looking for here. Some real evidence for or against.

Thanks,
Tiffany

lasergrl · #9 09/14/08, 10:18 AM

my pigs (potbelly type) and goats just pain dont like each other. I dont think they would be companionable even if they didnt eat each other.

Kshobbit · #10 09/14/08, 10:36 AM

Please do not put pigs and goats together. My story is too awful to tell here.

Lada · #11 09/14/08, 11:11 AM

If you have the space to separate them, then do that. Yes, some pigs can socialize with other animals, but they're just like people and any other animal...some of them are nice and some aren't. I grew up on a small pig farm. Some of our pigs were just sweeties and some of them I was soooo glad to see get on that truck. I'd hate to see you get a mean pig and lose a goat or chicken or whathaveyou.

A pig will do just fine as a singleton. If it turns out to be a nice piggy, YOU can be it's buddy and bring it apples and it will get up and stick it's head up for you to scratch behind its ears. They don't herd naturally...they're not a herding animal and won't miss or need other pigs.

LittleRedHen · #12 09/14/08, 11:42 AM

I have my 145 pig in the same pen as my goats but it is 3000ish sq feet of space. They dont bother one another except at feeding time. The male goat will butt the pigs butt to try and be pushy. They are the same size.

I believe feeder pigs that are well fed and with ample space can share a pen with anything. Mine eats in the same barrel as baby chicks and he doesn't even eat them. The only time i had problems with pigs eating animals was when slightly bigger pigs found a broody hen with her chicks and they ate the chicks but nothing any bigger than that

LittleRedHen · #13 09/14/08, 11:43 AM

sorry that was 145 lbs ..f orgot to add lbs to it

LittleRedHen · #14 09/14/08, 11:45 AM

I did want to add though, pigs have no problems being alone either.

desertshi · #15 09/14/08, 11:48 AM

Pigs ARE herd animals. If you let them roam free they gravitate to eachother and follow eachother around just like goats, horses, cows etc. They play with eachother just like any other animal as well. Just keep an eye on them, if either gets aggressive, be prepared to seperate for their saftey. Goats are very prissy though, if mine get caught out in a drizzle, they stand on ANYTHING to not stand on the ground that is getting wet. LOL. :-)

RiverPines · #16 09/14/08, 12:23 PM

Pigs are not herd animals. Herd animals need a herd in order to survive.
A pig can survive just as easy alone or in a herd.

Pigs may be social but their is a big difference between social and a herd animal.

A herd animal needs others as a necessity.
Social wants others as a want, not a need.

Lada · #17 09/14/08, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverPines

Pigs are not herd animals. Herd animals need a herd in order to survive.
A pig can survive just as easy alone or in a herd.

Pigs may be social but their is a big difference between social and a herd animal.

A herd animal needs others as a necessity.
Social wants others as a want, not a need.

Thank you. Think wild boars...those are the predecessors to pigs, and they roam and hunt alone.

BlueHeronFarm · #18 09/14/08, 12:36 PM

Our goats do not like our pigs. The pigs are too big, too ungraceful and too - well, piggy.

Our LGD likes pigs- and they seem to like her. When the pigs get loose, they roam together.

If I were you, I would wait until you can get a pair of pigs. But that's just my .02.

RiverPines · #19 09/14/08, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lada

Thank you. Think wild boars...those are the predecessors to pigs, and they roam and hunt alone.

Many may say the domestic pig is different, but they are not that different from the wild counterparts. They are still omnivores and they are a predatory species.
Goats like their wild counterparts are still herbivores and prey animals.

Goats recognise predatory animals buy the eyes. Front set eyes are on a mammal say predator. Side set are prey.

Why mix a predator with prey and an omnivore with a herbivore? Just not logical not practical to me.

desertshi · #20 09/14/08, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverPines

Why mix a predator with prey and an omnivore with a herbivore? Just not logical not practical to me.

People mix preditor with prey on most farms. Think about it...guardian dogs...they guard sheep, goats and other farm "prey" animals, but they are still a dog and are still, then, preditors!! Just a thought....

Also, I strongly believe that animals that are by nature social, which pigs are, should not have to be alone. Wild pigs do live in groups. But just like any deer hunter will tell you, sometimes you can find one alone, that doesn't mean that a deer isn't a herd animal.

If someone decides that two animals of whatever species can make good companions, and not hurt eachother, by all means DO IT! Like I said before, just watch them and decide for yourself if they are going to get along or not. You will know pretty soon. If not, no big deal, just make sure you give that piggie lots and lots of pets and scratches!! That is my $.02