Your piglet will need a safe, secure pet pen during the transition into their new home. A pen that allows you to comfortably bend down and reach inside will make handling and bonding much easier. Pack-and-plays or sturdy round pet pens with secured bottoms work well for young piglets. As your piglet grows, you can transition to a crate, but it should still be large enough to comfortably fit a litter box and allow room to move around freely.
Your piglet will need pine pellet litter for their litter box. We do not recommend using cat litter or loose pine shavings. Cat litter is designed to clump when wet and can cause dangerous internal blockages if ingested. Loose pine shavings also are not ideal, as they quickly become soggy and messy when wet. Pine pellet litter is a much safer, cleaner, and more absorbent option for mini pigs. Once your piggy is able to comfortably hold their bladder overnight — typically around 9–12 months of age — they can usually begin transitioning to pottying outside instead of using an indoor litter box.
A slide-under-the-bed storage bin or a standard cat litter box works well for your piglet’s litter box. There is no need to cut an opening in the front, as piglets can easily step or hop into the box on their own. If the litter box will be placed on hardwood or slick flooring, adding a rug or non-slip mat underneath can help prevent sliding.
We recommend Manna Pro Potbellied Pig Feed for our piglets. While our babies are mini pigs — not traditional potbellied pigs — this is the feed our veterinarian has consistently recommended based on the excellent health results we’ve seen over the years. Compared to several leading mini pig feeds we have previously used, we have found that pigs fed Manna Pro tend to have: *healthier skin and coats *fewer allergy-related issues *less tearing or “weepy” eyes *healthier weight maintenance *improved digestion with fewer constipation issues Overall, it has produced the healthiest and most consistent results for our piglets.
When your piglet first comes home, a heavy, flat-bottom food and water dish works best. Heavier dishes are less likely to tip over or slide around during mealtime. As your piggy grows and settles into your home, you may find through trial and error which types of dishes work best for your individual pig and lifestyle. Every piggy and family setup can be a little different, so don’t be afraid to adjust as needed.
A rooting box is a fun and enriching activity for mini pigs. Mini pigs naturally enjoy using their noses to explore, push, and search through items. A well-bred pet mini pig will typically root lightly by nudging and moving things around with their nose, rather than aggressively digging up large areas of yard like a farm hog. The term “rooting” is often misunderstood or exaggerated when describing pet mini pigs. While rooting is a natural behavior, healthy, properly raised mini pigs are usually much gentler with this behavior than traditional farm pigs.