Safe For Pig?

Question
I am considering getting a miniature pig! I'm in the process of moving even deeper into rural area, and I know that pet pigs are welcome because my neighbor down the street had a potbelly for several years.

I have a couple questions about if the location is adequate. It is rural, and has a lot of area for roaming and a small stream where I can take it. While there isn't a fence, my grandfather kept a goat out there for many years. He has a little hut where it used to stay and from there a sort of overhead wire system where, on a leash, it can roam around the expanse of 1.5 acres. The goat was mainly to eat blackberries, and while I know grass is fine for pigs I was wondering if they will eat blackberry bushes - and it's safe for them to do so - and daffodils.

Also, to the front of the house, there IS a highway. The house is almost directly on the highway and I was wondering if a pet pig will leave if a door is open for a short amount of time, and if it will roam out to where cars are. My grandma told me a pet like that isn't safe but I know that pigs are extremely intelligent. It is not possible for me to build a gate to the front and while I don't plan on letting the pig out of the house without being with me or tied up to that system... Well, things happen.

Thank you very much!

Answer
I'm glad you're taking the time to consider the environment before adopting a pig. So many people simply rush out and get a pig, or other exotic pet, without considering the pets special needs.

It sounds like your location could be ideal, with a little modification and time.

The overhead wire system works great for goats and dogs. But not so well for pigs. Goats, dogs and similar animals have big heads and big bodies and skinny necks. This makes it easy to put them in a harness, and for the harness to stay on. Pigs are different. Their necks are just as thick as their bodies, and it's very easy for them to slip out of a harness. Even experienced pig people have had their pigs slip out of a well-fitting harness! So, leaving a pig out on a harness without someone near by to watch is not safe.

Predators are a concern in most rural areas (at least in the US). Coyote in particular are creeping into suburban areas, and coyote enjoy eating small piglets. Roaming dogs will not hesitate to attack a large pig.

Fences don't just keep things in - they keep things out, too. In rural areas, even a simple hog or cattle panel fence will discourage most (not all) predators. Fencing 1.5 acres is expensive, and probably not necessary.

Younger pigs love to be around their "people". Out in the wild, there's safety in numbers which is why pigs live together in a herd. A young piglet will probably not stray more than a few dozen yards away from you. A young adult pig will wander and explore quite far. But as pigs get older, they become "homebodies". A mature pig will stay inside his own "territory", unless he's chased out by a predator or person. Senior citizen pigs will not roam far at all, and really don't need to be confined by a fence or anything else. But all pigs should be indoors at night, or inside the safety of a secure, fenced run.

If your house has a porch or steps with a banister on each side, it might be possible to put up a simple gate there. The idea is, if the pig escapes through the front door (yes, I know these things do happen!), he will see a gate blocking his way, and stop or return to the house.

Most pigs are a little frightened of machinery noises, like cars. But a pig that's grown used to the sound may not understand the danger that a busy highway poses. In your case, it sounds like the backyard is wonderful, so hopefully your pig not be interested in the noisy, dirty highway in front at all.

My suggestion would be to put a small pen, about the size of a garage, around the hut. This way you can put the pig out there and he will be just fine. No need to worry about a slipped harness or hungry predator. When you are home and can keep an eye on things, you can let your pig roam freely in the back. Because there is safety in numbers, and pigs are natural herd animals, you may want to consider adopting two pigs, to keep each other company when they're outside.

Pigs seem to have a good instinct for knowing what is safe to eat and what is not. Daffodils are poisonous, but my pigs have always ignored them. The blackberries are safe to eat, but your pig may or may not be interested in them. Mine ignore the blackberries and eat the roses.