Important Factors To Consider When Looking After Pigs

Before you think about getting any pigs, you must obtain a County Parish Holding Number (CPH). A CPH is an individual number identifying land and buildings where you intend to keep your pigs. You can find details on how to apply for a CPH on GOV.UK website. When all the legalities have been met, and you can get some pigs, you must think carefully about the available space and how to house your pigs.

Pigs should not live alone. Depending on your space, they are better suited in pairs or small groups. I have three mini pigs, and whilst they are much smaller in size and stature than standard pigs, don’t be fooled into thinking they are tiny—they are not! Despite being smaller than standard pigs, they still need plenty of space to roam, and the destruction they cause is no less than that of a standard-size pig!

Pigs require warm, dry, draught-free housing. This can come in several forms. You may opt for a traditional ‘ark’ or give them access to a barn or a shed. Although pigs prefer to be outside when the weather is good, they will require somewhere to sleep and shelter from the weather. This may be the extremes of winter when there is hail, rain, and snow or even in the summer months when they need shade from the sun – remember, pigs can succumb to heat stroke and sunburn, so providing them with somewhere to shelter is essential.

At present, my pigs have access to three pig arks. They are rather spoilt! Sometimes, they will all squash into one ark together, particularly if it is very cold. However, they often prefer to spread about, with Dotty sleeping alone and her friends Dolly and Huxley sharing an ark together.

Each ark has a wooden floor, and I use straw for bedding. I have been known to pop a duvet in the arks during very cold weather, but after they shredded it and left me to collect feathers for months, I decided that this wasn’t the best idea I had, but I believe they had fun with it! When the temperatures drop, I now add a few blankets. Pigs love to bed down, and Dotty, in particular, enjoys arranging her bedding. Cheap dog blankets can be bought online, which are sufficient for adding extra warmth to the arks in winter.

Pigs thrive in a free-range environment where they can roam outside, root in the dirt, forage for food, wallow in mud baths, and generally enjoy the outdoors while accessing shelter when necessary.

Pigs like to play and explore. Tyres and hard plastic balls are excellent boredom busters for the pig paddock, and they provide endless hours of fun for both the pigs and those spectating!

Whether you choose to house your pigs in a barn, pig ark or shed, there are several important factors to consider:-

They need to be warm and dry
They need to be draught-free
They need to be well-ventilated
They need to have proper drainage
Access to water at all times is necessary
Pigs need somewhere to wallow when the weather is hot
Pigs need to be able to root outside, preferably with free access to the outside at all times


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