Although micro pigs aren’t picky eaters, they thrive best on a diet rich in fibre and protein. Foods high in sugar can have unfavourable effects on their weight and general health. Read on to learn what your mini pig’s diet should consist of.
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What to feed micro pigs?
A mini pig’s diet should consist primarily of grains and leafy greens and of up to 12% protein. Fruit can be given in moderation as treats.
Pigs are omnivores, so they are likely to eat nearly everything that comes their way, but that does not mean they should.
A balanced diet for a pig is one that doesn’t make it gain weight and is made mainly from commercial food pellets and healthy greens.
The easiest thing to do is have 50% of your pig’s diet come from commercial pig pellets that you can buy from pet shops.
Some owners opt for a natural diet but that would mean that to ensure your pig’s diet is well-balanced you’d have to prepare its every meal.
Expert site Minipiginfo.com recommends a commercial-food based diet. They explain that for a pet pig to be healthy and live a long life it needs a certain amount of daily vitamins and nutrients. Commercial feeds are specially formulated to deliver that.
In addition, if you’re looking to get insurance for your pig, ExoticDirect is the only insurer in the UK that can cover up to £2,000 of vet fees for micro/mini/teapot pigs. Get a quote here
Also in this article: What can micro pigs not eat? | Where to buy mini pig food | Popular pig food brands | What fruits can mini pigs eat? | What vegetables are good for mini pigs? | How much and how often should you feed your mini pig?
What can micro pigs not eat?
- Fish
- Milk
- Meat
- Bones
- Offal
- Apple seeds
- Pear seeds
- Potatoes
- Raw beans (a lot of beans contain a substance that is toxic to pigs and therefore shouldn’t be given raw)
- Salty foods
- Dog food
- Cat food
Foods high in calories, sugar, sodium and carbs should be avoided. Empty-calorie foods, eg foods that are high in calories but have no nutritional value, can cause weight gain.
It is illegal to feed a pig scraps of food and leftovers such as meat, bones, used cooking oil and offal.
The RSPCA recommend pigs to be fed commercially prepared foods from agricultural merchants.
Fruit and veg that contain a pit should be de-pitted beforehand to avoid airway blockages.
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Where to buy mini pig food
There are a number of online shops that sell popular pig food brands. A local agricultural merchandiser in your area might also be able to supply you with a commercially prepared feed.
If you prefer the tried and tested however, you can order the popular pet pig feed brands online, including from eBay and Amazon where you can also find reviews from other pet owners.
Wherever you choose to buy your pig food from, make sure it’s not specifically made to fatten up your pig as some commercial feeds are made for farm pigs.
Popular pig food brands:
- Purina mini pig food
- Mazuri
- ManaPro
- Ross Mill Farms
- Allen&Page
Commercial pet pig feeds are also often known as pot belly feed. Some of these brands might also cater for farm pigs and make grower feeds, make sure you buy the right feed as pet pig food needs to maintain your pig’s weight and shouldn’t make it gain weight.
What fruits can mini pigs eat?
- Fig
- Melone
- Nectarine
- Jackfruit
- Kiwi
- Date
- Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
- Kumquat
- Lemon
- Lime
- Grapes
- Grapefruit
- Guava
- Mango
- Oranges
- Papaya
- Banana
- Berries
Bear in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive. De-pit any fruit that contains a pit before you feed it to your pig. Feed fruit in moderation.
How much and how often should you feed your mini pig?
The recommended amount to feed is based on a pig’s current weight. It is important to make sure you don’t overfeed. If you supplement your pigs diet with other foods, like fresh salads and green veggies, make sure to adjust the commercial feed portions accordingly to avoid weight gain.
The American Mini Pigs Association recommends feeding a pig 2% of its current or ideal weight a day. This means weighting your pig’s commercial feed.
Some mini pig food brands like Mazuri and Mana, come with a chart of recommended daily allowances based on a pig’s body shape – this makes it really easy to decide how much to ration out.
What treats can you feed mini pigs?
- Carrots
- Celery
- Sunflower seeds
- Raisings
- Cucumbers
- Apples
- Unsalted nuts
- Unsalted popcorn
Always feed fruit and dry fruit in moderation, ideally only during training. Pigs are prone to weight gain so monitor your pig’s weight and adjust its diet accordingly.
What vegetables are best for mini pigs?
Dark leafy greens such as kale or spinach are very good for pigs. Other healthy vegetables you can feed are:
- Yams
- Zucchini
- Pumpkin
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Radish
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Asparagus
- Artichoke
- Parsnip
- Peas
This is not to say that your pig will eat every single item on the list – they might display preferences. Some pigs might prefer their veggies cooked. If that is so, try not to cook their veggies with salt or oil.
Bear in mind that some pigs may dislike certain foods, so keep an eye on what your pet pig enjoys to eat and take its preferences into account, too.
Is your micro pig insured? Get a quote for £2,000 of vet fee cover, death and theft cover | Vet fee cover only also available | We’ve been insuring exotic pets since 1996 | Check out our customer reviews on Feefo