Minimum fencing requirements for single pot belly?

[gabbyraja]

I am looking to buy a female AHH piglet this month or next. I would like to just get by as cheaply as possible over the winter in the spot where I plan to put my garden next spring. In Spring I'll be getting other animals and better fencing. I was thinking t posts and some 4 ft rolled field fencing might be good enough, and might also keep some critters out of the future garden if I reinforced the bottom few feet with hardware cloth.

Full disclosure: I am toying with making this piglet something of a pet and allowing it in the house part time. My children are allergic to typical indoor pets and took it pretty hard when we found out and had to rehome their pets. I think having an indoor/outdoor pet would be ok, but also feel they need lots of free time outside, digging and pasture, so need a fenced area. But will probably only use it half time.

TIA for your recommendations.

[gerold]

Originally Posted by gabbyraja

I am looking to buy a female AHH piglet this month or next. I would like to just get by as cheaply as possible over the winter in the spot where I plan to put my garden next spring. In Spring I'll be getting other animals and better fencing. I was thinking t posts and some 4 ft rolled field fencing might be good enough, and might also keep some critters out of the future garden if I reinforced the bottom few feet with hardware cloth.

Full disclosure: I am toying with making this piglet something of a pet and allowing it in the house part time. My children are allergic to typical indoor pets and took it pretty hard when we found out and had to rehome their pets. I think having an indoor/outdoor pet would be ok, but also feel they need lots of free time outside, digging and pasture, so need a fenced area. But will probably only use it half time.

TIA for your recommendations.

The field fence will be fine. The hardware cloth may not work to good. The piglet may tear it up. May be best to use chicken wire around the bottom on the outside to reinforce it. As far as having a pig in the house :-) good luck.

Best,
Gerold.

[Rogo]

=== The field fence will be fine. The hardware cloth may not work to good. The piglet may tear it up. May be best to use chicken wire around the bottom on the inside to reinforce it. ===


Just the opposite would be true here -- chicken wire is useless but half-inch hardware cloth is tougher.

Where I'm presently at the acreage is surrounded with chainlink fencing. The free roaming pigs must be content since they don't root out. Actually, they only root their sleeping spots. The other stock also stay put.

[HTG_zoo]

You might find that an inside outside pet brings in more allergens and is worse for the kids. Some reptiles can be down right dog like though!

I have a 300 pound york cross behind 3 ft tall chain link, the trick to keeping him in seems to be electric fencing and keeping him well fed. My potbellies are in a pen in my garage, they're young and I'm trying to tame them. I'll train them to the electric fence before I put them outside. It really helps a lot.

[gabbyraja]

So, maybe the the field fence and hardware cloth, and run a hot wire on the inside if she starts trying to escape?

Really, I was talking hardware cloth to keep OUT rabbits and such next year when it becomes the garden... Didn't really think about it being useful for fencing the pig.

[HTG_zoo]

I'd run hot wire before they start trying to get out... more effective that way. It will also keep animals out of the garden next year and if you don't use it there you can move it around.

I'd also consider getting 2 pigs, happy pigs stay put better and they are pretty social.

[gerold]

Originally Posted by gabbyraja

So, maybe the the field fence and hardware cloth, and run a hot wire on the inside if she starts trying to escape?

Really, I was talking hardware cloth to keep OUT rabbits and such next year when it becomes the garden... Didn't really think about it being useful for fencing the pig.

I was thinking if the piglet is young and fairly small it may be able to go out the field wire openings. That's why i added the chick wire bit. That's what i use for new born piglets outside the regular field wire. Works ok. When they get bigger i turn them out with the rest of the pigs. I also used chick wire on my garden attached to the field wire to keep out little pests. I haven't looked at hardware cloth it may be ok to use. I don't know if hardware cloth cost more than chicken wire.

[Rogo]

It seems that pig folks on these forums use electric wire. I've raised the large farm hogs and now the very small AHH and have never seen a need for electric. Perhaps it's due to no confinement; the pigs, and all my stock, roam free on the acreage. They always have feed to eat. No rooting. They all only have rooted their sleeping spots.

If it's not the lack of confinement, then perhaps their needs are being met or perhaps I'm sure dang lucky! )

[HTG_zoo]

The OP stated they were wanting to confine the pig to garden area with an inexpensive fence.

[Ness]

Keeping a pet in the home that the kids are allergic too can help with their allergies (there was been a lot of research on this sort of stuff lately).

I'd really suggest training the pig to hot wire, because you've also got the mobility to move them around the fields easily. Most people don't fence in pot bellies because they don't go very far or move very fast, unless you give them real reason too. While they are young they are pretty quick though & squeeze through pretty tiny holes.

I would also suggest you get more then one, they are very social an enjoy each others company.

I would not let my pot bellies in the house, ever. They are pigs. They are nice pigs, they are very cute and I really enjoy having them, but IMHO they are not good house-pets.

FYI I found my PBPs did not start doing a very good job harrowing my fields until now, when they are around 1 year old. Before that they were too small, and ate more grasses then dug anything up. Now they're running around digging up all my thistle & eating the roots & I could just kiss them for it!

GL!

[gerold]

Originally Posted by Ness

Keeping a pet in the home that the kids are allergic too can help with their allergies (there was been a lot of research on this sort of stuff lately).

I'd really suggest training the pig to hot wire, because you've also got the mobility to move them around the fields easily. Most people don't fence in pot bellies because they don't go very far or move very fast, unless you give them real reason too. While they are young they are pretty quick though & squeeze through pretty tiny holes.

I would also suggest you get more then one, they are very social an enjoy each others company.

I would not let my pot bellies in the house, ever. They are pigs. They are nice pigs, they are very cute and I really enjoy having them, but IMHO they are not good house-pets.

FYI I found my PBPs did not start doing a very good job harrowing my fields until now, when they are around 1 year old. Before that they were too small, and ate more grasses then dug anything up. Now they're running around digging up all my thistle & eating the roots & I could just kiss them for it!

GL!

I have yorks and they love thistle roots and also other roots that i didn't want in the field. Yesterday i plowed up a few ac. to plant and the pigs had a field day. :-)

[Hairsheep]

I put up some chainlink fence once for my York/Hamp crosses...they rooted right under, even though they were well fed....seems they wanted an adventure!

[gerold]

Originally Posted by Hairsheep

I put up some chainlink fence once for my York/Hamp crosses...they rooted right under, even though they were well fed....seems they wanted an adventure!

I run barb wire at ground level with the field wire they won't root under that.

[Hairsheep]

Thanks for the tip, gerold!